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Category: Air Defense

Assessing the true value of air and missile defense intercepts in the Red Sea

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Recent media coverage frequently portrays air and missile defense intercepts through the lens of a simplistic cost comparison: the expensive interceptor versus the seemingly cheap missile or drone it destroys. While such headlines grab attention, Wes Rumbaugh, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, argues this approach paints an incomplete and potentially misleading picture. In a recent analysis, he delves deeper, urging a more nuanced understanding of the complex factors at play.

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ATLANTIC OCEAN (Nov. 1, 2017) The guided-missile destroyer USS Jason Dunham (DDG 109) launches a SM-2 missile during a live-fire exercise. Jason Dunham is underway with the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group preparing for future operations. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Zachary Van Nuys/Released)

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All-female crew takes E-3A AWACS for NATO vigilance mission

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In a historic first for NATO and a milestone for gender equality in military aviation, an all-female crew recently completed a successful mission aboard an E-3A AWACS aircraft. Organized by the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (NAEW&CF) Women in Tech (WIT) initiative, this flight, conducted on Feb. 9, as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Vigilance Activities (eVA), marked a significant moment in breaking down barriers and showcasing the vital role women play in safeguarding airspace.


Photo: NATO
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U.S. Army procures 600 Coyote 2C Interceptors

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In a move echoing the urgency exposed by the recent attack on U.S. forces in Jordan, the U.S. Army awarded a $75 million contract to RTX Corporation on Jan. 16 for the production of 600 Coyote 2C Interceptors. This swift action, leveraging the Office of the Secretary of Defense’s rapid acquisition authority and completed within 30 days, underscores the critical need to strengthen counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) capabilities following the tragic loss of three American soldiers on Jan. 28.

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Poland takes flight with advanced early warning aerostats

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The vastness of Eastern European skies might soon be watched over by a new breed of guardians as the U.S. State Department approves a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Poland. This deal, estimated at a hefty $1.2 billion, involves Airspace and Surface Radar Reconnaissance (ASRR) aerostat systems equipped with Airborne Early Warning (AEW) Radars with Identification of Friend or Foe (IFF) capability from Raytheon Intelligence & Space. This acquisition promises a significant leap forward in Polish defense capabilities, US-Allied cooperation, and regional security dynamics.

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Slovakia considers acquisition of Patriot missile system

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Slovakia has expressed interest in purchasing the Patriot missile defense system from the United States, aiming to modernize its air defense capabilities. The announcement, made by Defense Minister Robert Kalinak on Jan. 28, comes amid ongoing discussions about defense strategies in the wake of the Ukraine war.

The sun rises over a 10th AAMDC Patriot missile launcher in Slovakia on July 27. Bravo Battery, 5-7 Air Defense Artillery is preparing for crew qualification tables and NATO readiness evaluations in the coming weeks while deployed to Slovakia providing increased air defense capacity and capability along NATO’s Eastern flank. (U.S. Army photo by 2nd Lt. Emily Park)

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