Fort Bliss Monitor

2-43 ADA Bde. progresses with Air, Missile Defense TF

Spc. Jason Stadel
108th ADA Public Affairs

Soldiers from 2-43 pull guard duty at the fourth FTX of the AMD Task Force.

Since March, 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery has been working with Short Range Air Defense units on developing an air and missile defense composite battalion that would combine High to Medium Altitude Air Defense and SHORAD units into one integrated unit that will use the same air picture from the same tactical operations center.

The first phase of the exercise was a feeling-out process and progress was slow. Now after four phases of the exercise, things seem to be moving forward.

“The progress that 2-43 and 2-44 (Fort Campbell Avenger Battalion) have made is tremendous, and the pace within the unit has been high,” said Maj. Charles Duray, 2-43 operations officer in command. “Within four exercises, the composite battalion has developed tactics, techniques and procedures under an integrated architecture that will be tested under joint conditions.”

During the initial phase of the AMD Task Force testing there were more questions than answers, but now the future of the Task Force looks positive.

“The contemporary operating environment is nothing short of challenging in the third dimension battle space,” Duray said, “Although piloted airframes have decreased in number, the variety of airframes to include sophisticated cruise missiles, [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles], as well as penetration aids for tactical ballistic missiles, has increased. Coupled with this expanded threat is the increase of precision delivered munitions to the target. The AMD composite battalion integrates Patriot, Avenger and Sentinel systems as a direct response to this threat.”

The next step for 2-43 and the AMD Task Force is to validate what has been learned and developed into a functioning air defense unit.

“Our areas of focus will include AMD battalion deployment, joint, as well as AMD tactics, AMD battalion [combat service support] operations, and continued work on the joint communications architecture,” Duray said.

The AMD Task Force has sparked interest from other air defense units across the Army. There will eventually be a number of units involved with the AMD Task Force. In the future the Task Force will go beyond Patriot and Avenger units when the SLAMRAAM system is worked into the new AMD battalions. Last week, 2-43 Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Anthony English, briefed the World Wide Air and Missile Defense Conference on the progress his battalion has made.



www.bliss.army.mil	Published for the Fort Bliss/El Paso, Texas Community	October 7, 2004

<map name="boxmap-b4"> <area shape="rect" coords="0, 589, 120, 600" href="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm/privacy-policy.html?o=1" > <area coords="0,0,10000,10000" href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?tag=&creative=92501&camp=8117&link_code=dl1&path=subst/misc/amazon-cobrand-cc/v3/marketing-from-associates-step1.html/ref%3Db1_assoc_29" > </map>	2-43 ADA Bde. progresses with Air, Missile Defense TF Spc. Jason Stadel 108th ADA Public Affairs Soldiers from 2-43 pull guard duty at the fourth FTX of the AMD Task Force. Since March, 2nd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery has been working with Short Range Air Defense units on developing an air and missile defense composite battalion that would combine High to Medium Altitude Air Defense and SHORAD units into one integrated unit that will use the same air picture from the same tactical operations center. The first phase of the exercise was a feeling-out process and progress was slow. Now after four phases of the exercise, things seem to be moving forward. “The progress that 2-43 and 2-44 (Fort Campbell Avenger Battalion) have made is tremendous, and the pace within the unit has been high,” said Maj. Charles Duray, 2-43 operations officer in command. “Within four exercises, the composite battalion has developed tactics, techniques and procedures under an integrated architecture that will be tested under joint conditions.” During the initial phase of the AMD Task Force testing there were more questions than answers, but now the future of the Task Force looks positive. “The contemporary operating environment is nothing short of challenging in the third dimension battle space,” Duray said, “Although piloted airframes have decreased in number, the variety of airframes to include sophisticated cruise missiles, [Unmanned Aerial Vehicles], as well as penetration aids for tactical ballistic missiles, has increased. Coupled with this expanded threat is the increase of precision delivered munitions to the target. The AMD composite battalion integrates Patriot, Avenger and Sentinel systems as a direct response to this threat.” The next step for 2-43 and the AMD Task Force is to validate what has been learned and developed into a functioning air defense unit. “Our areas of focus will include AMD battalion deployment, joint, as well as AMD tactics, AMD battalion [combat service support] operations, and continued work on the joint communications architecture,” Duray said. The AMD Task Force has sparked interest from other air defense units across the Army. There will eventually be a number of units involved with the AMD Task Force. In the future the Task Force will go beyond Patriot and Avenger units when the SLAMRAAM system is worked into the new AMD battalions. Last week, 2-43 Battalion Commander, Lt. Col. Anthony English, briefed the World Wide Air and Missile Defense Conference on the progress his battalion has made.