Rethinking the push for program transfer When the U.S. Missile Defense Agency was created in 2002, the expectation was that it would initially develop missile defense systems but then transfer responsibility for their procurement to the military services that would operate them. The process has not worked out quite as expected. Missile defense capabilities have...
On July 24, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) fired two MIM-104 Patriot missiles at a Syrian Sukhoi fighter jet, shooting down the plane. The aircraft “traveled two kilometers into Israeli airspace” from Syria, according to The Times of Israel. On July 11 and July 13, Israeli fired Patriot missiles at Syrian UAVs flying near or...
On July 16, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Tina Kaidanow announced that the United States was discussing with Turkey potentially selling the MIM-104 Patriot missile system to the state. This comes as Turkey plans to purchase the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, a deal first announced in September 2017. U.S....
On July 13, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted another Syrian UAV this week with an MIM-104 Patriot missile. The Times of Israel reported that the drone infringed on international law, since it “was flying inside the demilitarized zone between the two countries […], in what the army said was a violation of a 1974...
On July 11, an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) news release stated that “a Syrian UAV entered Israeli territory and was intercepted by the Patriot missile above the Sea of Galilee.” According to The Times of Israel, the UAV had navigated through Jordan before flying 10 km into Israeli territory. Israeli forces had also fired an MIM-104 Patriot...
On June 26, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that it will move forward with existing plans to upgrade South Korea’s missile defense systems. Director of the U.S. Missile Defense Agency Lieutenant General Samuel Greaves discussed the improvements, which include strengthening deployed Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems and procuring more PAC-3 MSEs (Missile...
On June 24, Houthi forces launched two Burkan-2H ballistic missiles towards the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh. Houthi media sources reported the missiles targeted the Information Center of the Saudi Ministry of Defense. Spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition Colonel Turki al Malki said the incoming missiles were intercepted by Patriot missiles over residential areas of...
On June 24, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that they fired an MIM-104 Patriot air defense system missile at a UAV by the Israeli border near the Golan Heights but operating in Syrian airspace. Flying over Safed, the missile did not strike the UAV, which “was engaged in local operations in Southern Syria,” according...
On June 5, Saudi Arabian Air Defense Forces intercepted a Houthi-launched ballistic missile, according to the spokesman for the Arab coalition in Yemen Colonel Turki al-Maliki. Saudi forces allege the missile (likely a Burkan-2) was targeting civilians in the city of Yanbu while Houthi forces claim to have been attacking the Yanbu Saudi Aramco facility....
Switzerland’s Ministry of Defense has earmarked 1.3-1.5 billion Swiss francs ($1.4-$1.6 billion USD) to buy a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system as part of its “Air 2030” program to improve the neutral country’s air defenses. The SAMs under consideration include: David’s Sling from Rafael, Patriot from Raytheon, and SAMP/T from Eurosam. The procurement plan is part...
