Missile Defense Agency’s new long-range radar steps toward full deployment

Missile Defense Agency’s new long-range radar steps toward full deployment
Missile Defense Agency’s new long-range radar steps toward full deployment

“The LRDR completed a Space Domain Awareness (SDA) data collect event in January 2024 that proved the SDA capability, and the U.S. Space Force and MDA are in the process of formally declaring LRDR ready for SDA early use in April 2024,” according to MDA Director Lt. Gen. Heath Collins.

Next Generation Interceptor selection coming this month, MDA chief says

Next Generation Interceptor selection coming this month, MDA chief says
Next Generation Interceptor selection coming this month, MDA chief says

MDA Chief Lt. Gen. Heath Collins told lawmakers the sharply accelerated schedule was a result of budget constraints paired with agency confidence in its “in-depth” knowledge of competitors Northrop and Lockheed’s designs even before formal design review.

Lockheed Martin strikes subcontractor deals in Saudi Arabia for local THAAD parts production

Lockheed Martin strikes subcontractor deals in Saudi Arabia for local THAAD parts production
Lockheed Martin strikes subcontractor deals in Saudi Arabia for local THAAD parts production

“There are currently only two production lines for these products: the original production line in the US, and now an additional source of supply here in the Kingdom,” Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Jason Reynolds told Breaking Defense.

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Seconds save lives, UX can be the differentiator

Seconds save lives, UX can be the differentiator
Seconds save lives, UX can be the differentiator

Reducing system complexity through user experience design saves time, training and lives.

Boeing nabs DARPA contract for hypersonic interceptor testing

Boeing nabs DARPA contract for hypersonic interceptor testing
Boeing nabs DARPA contract for hypersonic interceptor testing

Under its Glide Breaker project, DARPA wants to develop a prototype kill vehicle to intercept incoming hypersonic vehicles in their glide phase, before they begin high-speed maneuvers.

Poland drops big money on air defense, and becomes first LTAMDS buyer outside US

Poland drops big money on air defense, and becomes first LTAMDS buyer outside US
Poland drops big money on air defense, and becomes first LTAMDS buyer outside US

Poland announced deals potentially worth over $15 billion on Monday, including plans to purchase Raytheon-made Lower-Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensors.

Israel says US has approved Arrow 3 sale to Germany

Israel says US has approved Arrow 3 sale to Germany
Israel says US has approved Arrow 3 sale to Germany

Germany is expected to have an initial operational capability by 2025 and be fully operational by 2030.

Beyond ‘bullet on bullet’: NORTHCOM’s new defense plan looks to kill missiles before they launch

Beyond ‘bullet on bullet’: NORTHCOM’s new defense plan looks to kill missiles before they launch
Beyond ‘bullet on bullet’: NORTHCOM’s new defense plan looks to kill missiles before they launch

“The best missile strategy is to destroy the missiles prior to launch. A focus on missile defeat could enable distributed non-kinetic systems with larger magazines and the ability to engage missiles before they can deploy complex decoys, countermeasures, maneuvers or multiple reentry vehicles,” said Rear Adm. Sean Regan, NORTHCOM’s director of operations.

Missile threats are more than just theoretical — here are realistic solutions

Missile threats are more than just theoretical — here are realistic solutions
Missile threats are more than just theoretical — here are realistic solutions

A study by the National Academy of Public Administration sounded the alarm over missile defense gaps and recommended ways to shore it up, as argued below by two figures who worked closely on it.

Pentagon mulling new critical infrastructure defense ops plan: VanHerck

Pentagon mulling new critical infrastructure defense ops plan: VanHerck
Pentagon mulling new critical infrastructure defense ops plan: VanHerck

“I think the future of homeland defense looks vastly different than it does today,” NORTHCOM/NORAD Commander Gen. Glen VanHerck said Thursday.

Downing of Russian missiles shows ‘profound effect’ of Ukrainians training on US systems: General

Downing of Russian missiles shows ‘profound effect’ of Ukrainians training on US systems: General
Downing of Russian missiles shows ‘profound effect’ of Ukrainians training on US systems: General

“I think about the value of training forces that never previously had a capability like that and then we provide that capability to them. And they’re able to conduct an intercept in that way,” Gen. Charles Flynn said. “To me that’s that’s the bigger issue.”

Why it’s time for the US Army to divest Iron Dome

Why it’s time for the US Army to divest Iron Dome
Why it’s time for the US Army to divest Iron Dome

The Air Defense Artillery needs to be all that it can be. It can ill afford to maintain a single, unintegrated system as an Army of one, writes Tom Karako of CSIS.

Patriot missile system not a panacea for Ukraine, experts warn

Patriot missile system not a panacea for Ukraine, experts warn
Patriot missile system not a panacea for Ukraine, experts warn

“We need to be careful about these scarce precious assets,” said Tom Karako, a missile defense expert with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “While we’re only sending one battery, once it’s there, it’s probably not going to come back.”

Nuclear, missile defense reviews target increasing Russian, Chinese threats

Nuclear, missile defense reviews target increasing Russian, Chinese threats
Nuclear, missile defense reviews target increasing Russian, Chinese threats

The two reviews were largely welcomed by more hawkish commentators and criticized by supporters of more robust approaches to nuclear arms control — with the latter lamenting that Biden has walked away from campaign promises to reduce US reliance on nuclear weapons.