MISSILE DEFENSE MONDAYS March 14th - 20th, 2023 THE WEEK IN BRIEF On Tuesday, March 14, Sen. Mazie Hirono wanted answers from military leaders about missile defense in the islands amid rising tensions in the Pacific, asking senior military brass about the Pentagon’s strategy for defending Hawaii. U.S. Sen. Mazie Hirono wants answers from military leaders about missile defense in the islands amid rising tensions in the Pacific, asking senior military brass about the Pentagon’s strategy for defending Hawaii. On Friday, March 17, the Naval Facilities Pacific area of operations invested $2.5 billion into building up internal capacities behind the fence on Guam and the region by 2028. The $2.5 billion award is split between seven construction companies and joint ventures contracted to design and build facilities within Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Hawaii and other areas in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, including local company Core Tech International Corp. According to a news release, about 80% of the construction work will be done on Guam, with the remaining projects spread across the CNMI, Hawaii, and other areas in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Also on Friday, North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile to “strike fear into the enemies” as South Korea and Japan agreed at a summit to work closely on regional security with the United States and staged military exercises around the region. The missile, launched Thursday from North Korea’s main airport as leader Kim Jong Un and his daughter smiled from afar, overshadowed a summit held hours later between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minster Fumio Kishida. The meeting in Tokyo was partially aimed at rebuilding security ties between the often-estranged U.S. allies in the face of North Korean nuclear threats. On Sunday, March 19, Ukrainian soldiers are being trained on how to operate a modern surface-to-air defense missile system SAMP/T in Italy, the Italian newspaper Il Giornale D’Italia reported. According to Il Giornale D’Italia, 20 Ukrainian soldiers started the training near Rome (Italy) at the beginning of March 2023. The Ukrainians learn how to down ballistic missiles and other aerial targets with the help of the Italian-French air defense system SAMP/T. This system is designed to take down cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as manned and unmanned aircraft. Click here to read all of this week's headlines. MDAA ALERTS “First to be clear, our missile defense today does not, from a policy perspective, defend against Russia or China.”– Gen. Glen D. VanHerck "In the HASC Strategic Forces Subcommittee: FY24 Strategic Forces Posture hearing, Ohio Representative Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and..." 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 Technical Sergeant Gabriel Ramirez TSgt Ramirez is the noncommissioned officer in charge of the Pass and Registration Section for the 268th Security Forces Squadron, Clear Space Force Station, Alaska. In Pass and Registration, He is responsible for bolstering installation security through rigorous analysis of data, investigations, and proper authentication and documentation. To be able to provide this service, he is responsible for being proficient in using and training others on multiple programs including Defense Information System for Security (DISS), Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS), Air Force Justice Information System (AFJIS), and Open Fox. He uses the listed programs to control access to the installation. He is the subject matter expert in creating and tracking all Restricted Area Badges and DBIDS installation access cards. He provides Security Forces members with information that is vital to their safety and the safety of all personnel on the installation. He has 17 years of service and has served on Active Duty and in the Air National Guard. His first duty station was F.E Warren AFB, Wyoming. During his time there, he earned “Senior Airman Below the Zone” and was promoted above his peers. He participated in the Mighty Guardian exercise and was coined for his actions against a special forces unit. TSgt Ramirez was then assigned to Izmir Air Station, Turkey. While stationed in Turkey, he gained a basic knowledge of the local language. With that knowledge, he was asked to assist the local OSI detachment with “Operation Spyglass” and gained access to information that would help keep personnel secure. His last assignment on active duty was at Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. While assigned there, he responded to a gate runner who was attempting to access the flightline. TSgt Ramirez’s quick response ensured the security of multiple aircrafts and saved the life of a veteran who had stopped taking their medication. His education surpasses over 99.3% of airmen currently serving and is currently a doctoral candidate in psychology. Some of his certifications include, Continuous Process Improvement (CPI) Greenbelt, active shooter instructor, combatives instructor, motivational interviewing instructor, verbal judo instructor, crisis intervention certified, and is FEMA incident command certified. Even with all TSgt Ramirez’s accomplishments, his drive to improve and enhance his skills continue to shine through his actions. Click here to view all the awardees from the 2022 Alaska Missile Defender of the Year Award Ceremony. NEWS HEADLINES MDAA IN THE NEWS Sen. Mazie Hirono concerned about lack of missile defense for Hawaii - Stars and Stripes - 03/14/2023 MISSILE DEFENSE NEWS Indigenous Very Short Range Air Defence missile systems tested twice - The Hindu - 03/14/2023 Defense department makes case to beef up Guam's missile defense - KUAM News - 03/14/2023 Slovakia to replace US Patriot missiles with SAMPT-MAMBA air defense systems from Italy - Army Recognition - 03/15/2023 Canada to send ammunition, missiles to support Ukraine's air defense - Reuters - 03/15/2023 South Korea to Procure SM-6 Missiles and Develop Naval L-SAM - Naval News - 03/16/2023 THREAT NEWS Inspired By 'Seized' US RQ-170 Drone, Iran Flaunts Its New Shahed-191 UAV From Toyota Tundra Eurasiantimes - 03/14/2023 Russia downs U.S. Reaper surveillance drone over Black Sea - The Washington Post - 03/14/2023 China-made Mugin-5 drone downed in eastern Ukraine - CNN - 03/16/2023 Japan accuses Chinese PLAN ships of incursion near disputed Senkaku islands - China Republic World - 03/17/2023 North Korea launches missile into sea amid US-South Korea drills - Army Times - 03/19/2023 OTHER NEWS MQ-9 Reaper Is Capable Of Defending Itself With Air-To-Air Missiles The Drive - 03/14/2023 Missile Defense Agency Officials Hold a Press Briefing on President Biden's Fiscal 2024 Missile Defense Budget - U.S. Department of Defense - 03/14/2023 Egypt in talks with MBDA for procurement of CAMM air defense missile system - Army Recognition - 03/14/2023 Would Acquiring Russian S-400 Missiles Give Iran A Game-Changing Capability Against Israel And U.S.? - Forbes - 03/16/2023 Mali gets warplanes, drones from Russia, Turkey - Turkish Minute - 03/17/2023 Stay Connected: MDAA | 515 King Street, Suite 330, Alexandria, VA 22314 Unsubscribe [email protected] Constant Contact Data Notice Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!