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– James Clapper, director of National Intelligence, will brief senators tomorrow on START. Among other things, Republicans believe the president compromised our national defense in a misguided attempt to “reset” relations with the former Soviet Union. (Source)

– The U.S. and Israel reached an agreement to continue developing Israel’s short-range David Sling missile defense system, designed to defend against short-range and theater ballistic missiles, large-caliber rockets, and cruise missiles. (Source)

– NATO recently approved defense contractor Lockheed Martin’s Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) system. MEADS International President Steve Barnoske said, “Joint Project Optic Wind was an early opportunity to prove out the interoperability of the MEADS battle management architecture and its ability to serve as the integrating element for an air and missile defense task force. Open, modular software gives MEADS great flexibility to accommodate additional requirements.” (Source)

 
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin was awarded a $1 billion contract to continue developing the Aegis ballistic missile defense system and create more Aegis-compatible warships. (Source)

Orlando Carvalho vice president and general manager of the company’s surface-sea based missile defense unit said: “This further supports the increasing demand for Aegis BMD capability worldwide, especially in light of the administration’s recent shift in policy in European Missile Defense.”

Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. awarded defense contractor Raytheon two contracts worth over $100 million to design and develop the David’s Sling Weapon System, a joint program between the Missile Defense Agency and the Israel Missile Defense Organization. (Source)

The system is designed to defend against short-range ballistic missiles, high-caliber rockets, and cruise missiles in the terminal phase. Mike Booen of Raytheon said, “Large-caliber rockets and short-range ballistic missile threats are inexpensive, plentiful, easily concealed and largely exempt from international arms control accords. Stunner [interceptor] offers a near-term and affordable solution to this asymmetric threat.”