On Wednesday, it was announced that Raytheon's AN/SPY-6(V) air and missile defense radar had successfully detected, acquired, and tracked multiple targets during a demonstration at the US Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. The AN/SPY-6(V) radar is slated for delivery in 2019.
Also on Wednesday, Lockheed Martin delivered the 300th interceptor for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system. THAAD is the only system in the world designed to intercept threats both inside and outside the atmosphere.
Additionally, Saudi air defenses intercepted a ballistic missile fired from the Houthis toward Najran on Wednesday night. There were no injuries reported from the attack.
On Thursday, the Russian military conducted a massive test of the nation's strategic nuclear forces involving multiple missile launches. The maneuvers featured submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles fired from long-range bombers. The Russian Defense Ministry said that all missiles hit their designated practice targets.
On Friday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un intends to get rid of his nuclear stockpile and destroy any nuclear materials to achieve "complete" denuclearization. As of yet, North Korea has not taken any verifiable steps towards dismantling its nuclear stockpile.
Click Here to read all the headlines from this week.
MDAA TRIBUTE
Lieutenant General Thomas S. Vandal 1959-2018
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A soldier's general, a many with intensity in vision and in life. Strong from the inside out and from the outside in...
The Rapier Field Standard C (FSC) is a short-range, low-level air defense (LLAD) system that was developed by European-based MBDA Missile Systems. It utilizes...
As the heir to the Soviet nuclear arsenal, Russia deploys the largest and most diverse nuclear missile force in the world. Reports indicate that Russia plans to...
The Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) element provides the Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS with a globally transportable, rapidly deployable...
Major Justin H. Jones was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in 2008 after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy. His first space assignment was to the 10th Space Warning Squadron at Cavalier Air Force Station, North Dakota, where he served as a Missile Warning Operations Commander, conducting missile warning and space surveillance operations. As a First Lieutenant, he served as the Chief of Standardization and Evaluation. In 2012, he was assigned to the 1st Range Operations Squadron at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, where he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Here, he served as a Range Operations Commander and as an operational Flight Commander. He commanded seven space launch operations worth more than $3.4 billion including NASA's Orion capsule test. He then served as the 45th Operations Group Executive Officer where he supported the Commander's management of 5 squadrons and 3 detachments. In 2015, Major Jones was assigned to the Air Force Technical Applications Center at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida. He deployed twice to the PACOM AOR as a Mission Commander aboard the COBRA KING radar collection ship. He also served as the Chief of Operations Training and Standardization and Evaluation for the Mission Support Directorate and as the squadron operations officer for the Technical Applications Squadron. As of February of 2017, Major Jones has been assigned to the NORAD/USNORTHCOM Command Center as a Missile and Space Domain Deputy. He promoted to the rank of Major on 1 January 2018. Major Jones holds a Bachelor's of Science Degree in Biology from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master's of Science Degree in Space Studies from the American Military University. He is married and has two sons, Luke (3) and Logan (1).
Click hereto view the winners from the 2018 Colorado Missile Defender of the Year.
