MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS

January 31st - February 6th, 2023

THE WEEK IN BRIEF

On Thursday, February 2, the People’s Republic of China emerged as the United States’ top strategic competitor, and the pacing challenge for the U.S. military. In the words of the recently published 2022 National Defense Strategy, China aims “to target the ability of the Joint Force to project power to defend vital U.S. interests and aid our allies in a crisis or conflict” as part of its “endeavor to refashion the Indo-Pacific region and the international system to suit its interests and authoritarian preferences.”

Also on Thursday, the U.S. government has continued to express concerns about China’s record concerning the proliferation of nuclear- and missile-related technologies to other countries, with more recent focus on the threat of Chinese acquisition of U.S.-origin nuclear technology. Official U.S. government reports indicate that the Chinese government has apparently ended its direct involvement in the transfer of nuclear- and missile-related items, but Chinese-based companies and individuals continue to export goods relevant to those items, particularly to Iran and North Korea. U.S. officials have also raised concerns about entities operating in China that provide other forms of support for proliferation-sensitive activities, such as illicit finance and money laundering.

On Friday, February 3, the Defense Department announced a new package of security assistance for Ukraine. This includes the authorization of a presidential drawdown of security assistance, valued at up to $425 million, as well as $1.75 billion in Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funds. The announcement includes critical air defense capabilities to help Ukraine defend its people as well as armored infantry vehicles and more equipment that Ukraine is using so effectively, said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, who held a media briefing today.

On Saturday, February 4, President Joe Biden ordered the action to shoot down the Chinese balloon. It was supposed to be ordered on Wednesday, but it was delayed until the balloon was over water off the coast of South Carolina to ensure no Americans on the ground were harmed. “The balloon, which was being used by the PRC in an attempt to surveil strategic sites in the continental United States, was brought down above U.S. territorial waters,” Austin said.

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

MDAA ALERTS

Popping the Chinese Balloon

"General Secretary Xi Jinping and his China are perfecting the approach of violating sovereign territory across the globe. While we have witnessed this pernicious strategy executed more acutely across the Indo-Pacific, they are now visibly violating the United States of America...."

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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

Rear Admiral Benjamin Nicholson

RDML Nicholson is the Commander for Joint Region Marianas; Commander for U.S. Naval Forces, Marianas; and Representative for Guam, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, and Republic of Palau for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). RDML Nicholson’s steadfast and aggressive leadership is paramount to the improvement of joint-service integrated air and missile defense capabilities in the defense of the homeland within the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. RDML Nicholson was crucial to execution of Operation Iron Island, the Army’s experiment to validate the strategic deploy-ability of the Iron Dome Defense System. He also facilitated the 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command’s Talon Lightning Event, deploying a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) remote launcher from Guam to Rota; demonstrating the ability for homeland defense of the entire Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Further, in conjunction with the USINDOPACOM, the Missile Defense Agency, the Army and Air Force, he is leading efforts on Guam to facilitate the development of the Guam Defense System, an effort to greatly enhance the island’s defenses against ballistic missile and cruise missile attack. The success of these initiatives, exercises, and experiments supported USINDOPACOM’s ability to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific by strengthening relationships, building trust, and increasing interoperability among allies and partners. RDML Nicholson is a 1993 graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. He also earned a master’s degree in Systems Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and a master’s degree in National Security from the Naval War College. RDML Nicholson has numerous sea duty deployments from the Western Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Adriatic, Red, and North Seas as well as combat operations in the Arabian Gulf and Gulf of Oman; and counter-narcotics operations around South America. His ashore combat tours include civil-military operations planner in Second Marine Expeditionary Brigade, Helmand, Afghanistan; and commander, Provincial Reconstruction Team and Forward Operating Base, Farah, Afghanistan. His additional assignments include executive assistant to the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; assistant deputy director Middle East Directorate in the Joint Staff; Special Operations Support Team to the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and head of the professional development section in the Chief of Naval Operations staff.

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