Tag Archives: MDA

MDA, NORTHCOM Heads Warn Funding Lapses Could Leave Missile Defense Gaps  

MDA, NORTHCOM Heads Warn Funding Lapses Could Leave Missile Defense Gaps  

A target missile was launched from the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kauai, Hawaii during Flight Test Standard Missile-45. The USS JOHN FINN (DDG-113) detected and tracked the target missile with its onboard AN/SPY-1 radar using the Aegis Baseline 9.C2 weapon system. Upon acquiring and tracking the target, the ship launched an SM-3 Block IIA guided missile which intercepted the target. Missile Defense Agency photo

This post has been updated to clarify comments from Gen. Glen VanHerck in Wednesday’s hearing.

The head of the Missile Defense Agency warned the House that a continuing resolution will leave gaps in testing and work on test ranges will “come to an all-stop” until the president signs a new budget into law, MDA director Vice Adm. Jon Hill said on Tuesday. Read More

MDA: U.S. Aircraft Carriers Now at Risk from Hypersonic Missiles

MDA: U.S. Aircraft Carriers Now at Risk from Hypersonic Missiles

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) sails behind the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Mitscher (DDG 57), March 3, 2021. US Navy photo.

This post has been updated to correct the spelling of the first name of the director of the Missile Defense Agency, Vice Adm. Jon Hill.

U.S. aircraft carriers are already facing risks from hypersonic weapons that are now entering the inventory of American adversaries and the Navy has developed early defenses for the threat, the head of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency said last week before the Senate. Read More

Japan Backing Away From Aegis Ashore

Japan Backing Away From Aegis Ashore

The Missile Defense Agency (MDA) and U.S. Sailors manning the Aegis Ashore Missile Defense Test Complex (AAMDTC) at the Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) at Kauai, Hawaii, successfully conducted Flight Test Integrated-03 (FTI-03). MDA photo.

Japan is backing away from installing two Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems in the country over technical concerns, Minster of Defense Taro Kono told reporters on Monday. Read More

Japanese Navy Successfully Tests Latest Aegis BMD Upgrade from Destroyer JS Atago

Japanese Navy Successfully Tests Latest Aegis BMD Upgrade from Destroyer JS Atago

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force guided-missile destroyer JS Atago (DDG 177) returns to Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam after participating in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2010 exercises. US Navy photo.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) demonstrated Japan’s sea-based ballistic missile defense capability, when destroyer JS Atago (DDG-177) intercepted a missile target off the coast of Hawaii this week. Read More

Ambassador: Aegis Ashore Program Focused on Rogue States, Not Russia

Ambassador: Aegis Ashore Program Focused on Rogue States, Not Russia

Romanian Aegis Ashore site. U.S. Missile Defense Agency Photo

With Aegis Ashore ballistic missile defense systems set to operate in Poland by the end of the year and currently active in Romania, all NATO members will be covered against Iran and North Korea’s ballistic missile threats, the Romanian ambassador to the U.S. said on Wednesday. Read More

Some Clues Emerge On New Pentagon Ballistic Missile Defense Review

Some Clues Emerge On New Pentagon Ballistic Missile Defense Review

U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA), the Japan Ministry of Defense (MoD), and U.S. Navy Sailors aboard the guided-missile destroyer USS John Paul Jones (DDG 53) successfully conducted a flight test Feb. 3 2017. MDA Photo

In a year packed full of new strategic reviews being pushed out by the Pentagon, yet another new document is on the way.

While the Ballistic Missile Defense Review — expected to be released in the coming days — is the last of several reviews to emerge from the Pentagon over the past two months, in many ways it might have the most immediate effect, analysts say. Read More