MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

January 17th - 23rd, 2023

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

On Tuesday, January 17, U.S. Central Command is making progress tying together air, missile, and drone defenses—but there’s still more to be done to achieve “single-pane-of-glass” integration, officials say. Fully integrating sensors and defenses will demand further innovations, both in integrating new technologies and repurposing existing ones, said CENTCOM Deputy Commander Lt. Gen. Gregory M. Guillot in a virtual discussion Jan. 17 hosted by the Missile Defense Advocacy Alliance.

On Thursday, January 19, Computer storage solutions provider One Stop Systems (OSS) has received a $3 million contract to modernize the US Missile Defense Agency’s (MDA) radar simulation system. The agreement will see OSS provide 4UV compute accelerator systems to enhance the agency’s AI-based radar simulators that improve missile accuracy and speed. The initial tranche of 4UV systems was delivered in late 2022. The remaining systems are expected to be shipped in the first half of the year.

Also on Thursday, the US Coast Guard says it tracked a suspected Russian spy ship off the coast of Hawaii in international waters as heightened tensions between Washington and Moscow remain over Russian’s war in Ukraine. The Coast Guard noted the situation is not unusual but that it is tracking it closely. “While foreign military vessels may transit freely through the U.S. economic exclusive zone (EEZ), as per customary international laws, foreign-flagged military vessels have often been observed operating and loitering within Coast Guard District Fourteen’s area of response,” the release stated.

On Monday, January 23, the distinctive sound of an approaching wave of loitering munitions, commonly known as kamikaze drones, had become all too familiar over the cities of Ukraine since Iran began supplying the Russian military with its domestically designed and manufactured Shahed-136. With its roughly 2,000 km range and 30 kg explosive payload, these destructive, swarming drones have become an almost daily terror for civilians in the capital Kyiv since September, routinely striking apartment buildings and energy infrastructure.

Click here to read all of this week's headlines.

MDAA ALERTS

Combat Proven Integrated Air and Missile Defense – CENTCOM

"Today celebrates the month where we first had our first modern combat interceptor missile defense, and that was back in January 18th in 1991 in the AOR of CENTCOM in Saudi Arabia, protecting a US base and the first use of Patriot in combat. That was 30 years ago. And Patriot and air missile defense in CENTCOM..."

Click here to read more.

MDAA WEBSITE UPDATES AND FEATURES

Ukrainian War Updates

Track the number and type of missiles used in the Ukrainian war, the number of casualties, and daily news highlights.

Track updates on the conflict in Ukraine.

Taiwan Incursion Updates

Track the number and type of incursions in the Taiwan Strait, the number of missiles fired, aircraft crossing the ADIZ, and daily news highlights.

Track updates on the tensions in the Taiwan Strait.

MISSILE DEFENDER OF THE WEEK

Major Marconi Cabatbat

Maj Cabatbat is the Senior Air Defense Officer (SADO) and Senior Offensive Duty Officer (SODO) Offensive Team Chief at the 613th Air Operations Center (AOC) at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The Defense Team have significantly contributed to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s (USINDOPACOM) missile defense mission through their combined knowledge, professionalism, and leadership. During this period, the Defense Team participated in multiple Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) and Joint Air and Missile Defense exercises that resulted in increasing the capability and lethality in the USINDOPACOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). The Defense Team participated in exercises such as Keen Edge, Keen Sword, Combined Combat Post Training, and Night Blue with the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command and Air Defense Artillery Fires Control Officer section. Their integration and training increased our joint operational readiness and knowledge of our combined weapon systems. Additionally, the Defense Team participated in multiple real-world operations integrating with allies and partners in the Pacific region. Distance Sea Operations enabled the Defense Team to integrate with their Japan Air Self-Defense Force counterparts to execute the mission to deter peer and near-peer aggression in the AOR. Operation Noble Eagle provided critical roles in PACAF objectives to validate air defense team management of limited resources in a multiple threat environment, timely response & implementation of continuum of operations utilizing theater operationally resilient systems to defend the AOR, and finally providing real-time operational Command and Control for all Dynamic Force Employment in the USINDOPACOM AOR aligned with our National Defense Strategy. Maj Cabatbat is a member of the Hawaii Air National Guard with 20+ years of service. Prior he was an F-15C Eagle Crew Chief, F-15C Fighter Pilot and now F-22 Raptor Driver with 2,000 fighter hours. Maj Cabatbat is married to his high school sweet heart Becky and they have two daughters and one son on the way.

Click here to view all the awardees from the 2022 Indo-Pacific Air & Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony.