MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

January 24th - 30th, 2023

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

On Tuesday, January 24, the most significant US-Israeli military drills in recent years sent a clear message to Iran that the allies are not too distracted by war in Ukraine and the threat from China to mobilize a large force in the Middle East, analysts said. The exercises over Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean which started on Monday and will last until Friday, involve live fire and 6,400 US personnel, most of them aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush. About 450 troops are on the ground in Israel, an official said.

On Wednesday, January 25, U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn was elected to chair the House subcommittee devoted to nuclear weapons, missile defense and the military’s mission in space. Lamborn, the Colorado Springs Republican who represents Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, served as ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Strategic Forces in the last Congress and takes the gavel under the chamber’s GOP majority.

On Thursday, January 26, North Korea continued to advance its nuclear weapons and missile programs despite UN Security Council sanctions and high-level diplomatic efforts. Recent ballistic missile tests and military parades suggest that North Korea is continuing to build a nuclear warfighting capability designed to evade regional ballistic missile defenses. Such an approach likely reinforces a deterrence and coercive diplomacy strategy—lending more credibility as it demonstrates capability—but it also raises questions about crisis stability and escalation control. Congress may choose to examine U.S. policy in light of these advances.

On Friday, January 27, the Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and Space Development Agency (SDA) reported to Congress that they are currently developing elements of a hypersonic missile defense system to defend against hypersonic weapons and other emerging missile threats. These elements include the tracking and transport layers of the Proliferated Warfighter Space Architecture (PWSA) and various interceptor programs. As MDA and SDA continue to develop these systems, Congress may consider implications for oversight and defense authorizations and appropriations.

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MDAA ALERTS

A Great Day in the National Capital Region

"We opened this new year with our USC SHIELD ‘23 program here, in our Nation’s Capital. We had the honor of engaging with the New Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee for the House Arms Service Committee (HASC), Rep. Doug Lamborn at the Rayburn House Office Building, Washington D.C. The Cohort presented their six course challenge capstone..."

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2022 World Champions

"Last Friday, January 20, 2023, with the intent, alignment, and history, of honoring those in the U.S armed forces, we held our 13th Missile Defender of the Year event here in Alexandria, Virginia, to commemorate the first operational missile defense intercept of a hostile missile. Thirty-two years ago, in Saudi Arabia, the United States fired its first Patriot missile..."

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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

Lieutenant Colonel Lewis Collins

Lt Col Collins is the Senior Air Defense Officer and Defense 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. Lt Col Collins has served in the U.S. Air Force for 20+ years. On November 1, 1999, he commissioned and started his career as a navigator and then transitioned over to being an F-15E pilot. He has flown numerous hours and contributed to instructing and leading the future generation of leaders. Lt Col Collins is married with two incredible sons.

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