Key Takeaways
- The U.S. Army is expanding its homeland defense mission to address a variety of threats beyond intercontinental ballistic missiles.
- This includes developing capabilities to counter drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons.
- The Army will soon take on a greater role in air and missile defense under U.S. Northern Command’s direction.
Expanded Defense Mission
The U.S. Army is set to broaden its mission for defending the homeland, moving beyond a primary focus on countering intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) to a comprehensive approach that includes various modern threats. According to Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, commander of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command, this shift reflects the evolving landscape of threats, including drones, cruise missiles, and hypersonic weapons.
The Army’s 100th Missile Defense Brigade, composed mainly of National Guardsmen along with active-duty soldiers, currently oversees command-and-control operations for the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) system, designed to protect the nation from ICBMs launched from North Korea and Iran. The GMD system features 44 interceptors located at Fort Greeley, Alaska, and Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
As part of its expanded mission, the Army is continuing to develop capabilities to counter various threats, including entire drone swarms and cruise missiles. This aligns with ongoing Defense Department efforts to establish President Donald Trump’s envisioned “Golden Dome” homeland missile defense shield. Initiatives in development include the Patriot air-and-missile defense system and the Indirect Fire Protection Capability system, which serves to defend against drones, cruise missiles, rockets, artillery, and mortars.
With this transition, the Army will not only serve as the space component for the GMD system under U.S. Northern Command, but will also take on a greater role as the service component command for all air and missile defense. Gainey indicated that this realignment would enhance operational synergy by better coordinating among various Army Air and Missile Defense Commands (AAMDCs), which will now operate under the purview of the Space and Missile Defense Command (SMDC).
Additionally, Gainey highlighted that the Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Air and Missile Defense (JFCC IAMD) will adapt to support the broader homeland defense mission. This includes evaluating new missile capabilities and conducting joint training to improve missile defense effectiveness.
The new strategic direction is expected to be detailed in the forthcoming Army Space and Missile Defense strategy, anticipated for release within three months. This strategy aims to address the changing threat environment, characterized by the rise of drone warfare, the necessity of artificial intelligence in managing operator workloads, and the increased complexity of regional and trans-regional threats.
A key focus for the Army’s expanded defense capabilities will be “missile defeat,” which encompasses strategies beyond traditional interceptor-based approaches. Gainey underscored that the modern landscape of numerous threats necessitates a more integrated and multi-faceted defense strategy.
As the Army prepares for this transformation, leaders express optimism about the enhanced capabilities to manage the intricacies of holistic air and missile defense. The changes mark a significant evolution in the Army’s approach to homeland defense, positioning it to better safeguard the nation from emerging risks.
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