READY FOR TODAY – EVOLVING FOR TOMORROW
no officer or senior non-commissioned
officer assigned. Whilst these shortfalls
are likely to be addressed as we move
forward, this example highlights the
potential progress we could achieve: If
we put the right leaders in division ADAM
cells, the M-SHORAD capability will start
to be regenerated. With the cumulative
shortfalls and high operational tempo for
ADA there are many potential solutions
and unfortunately, some of them are
will not prove optimal. The ADA branch
will have to decide which positions are
prioritised over others, or whether some
should be filled by individuals with less
experience (i.e. a key developmental
assigned major filling in for a lieutenant
Skysabre UK
colonel position at division or corps).
Another possible solution includes
additional personnel authorisations in
order to fill the mandatory requisitions.
This problem is not
unique to the US
Army; many, if not all,
NATO partners do not
have the necessary
personnel to support all
manoeuvre units with
the appropriate subject
matter expertise.
The system capability
gap is one, as a
combined and Allied
force, that will take
longer to close. Despite
the acknowledgement German Patriot Live Fire (Artemis Strike17)
of
the
significant
which was a bilateral exercise and live
capability gap to protect the force from a
fire between US and German Air Defence
near-peer threat, there is little appetite for
formations. Leveraging these types of
budgetary growth to increase capability
training to forge partnerships will enable
within any of our NATO Allies’ Defence
the wider air defence force to maximise
organisations. However, we should not
interoperability and therefore fight and
present a one-size-fits-all solution for the
train smarter. If we can achieve this, it
US and our Allies; on the contrary, we
will aid the Alliance in modern defence,
should encourage our Allies and partners
allowing us all to focus on removing
to fight ‘smarter’ with the creation of
weaknesses while not playing to one of
combined and integrated air and missile
our potential adversary’s strengths.
defence task forces. US Army Europe
and the 10th (US) Army Air and Missile
In summary, ADA and NATO Allies are
Defense Command, among others, have
progressing along the right path to enable
laid the groundwork for such a task with
the reintroduction of M-SHORAD into the
exercises such as TOBRUQ LEGACY
operational environment. However, the
17. The exercise involved staffs and
steps that we are taking as countries,
units from several NATO countries, along
formations and individuals can, and
with continental US-based air defence
should be, collated into a defined plan of
personnel and many others. Exercise
action so we are focused on re-growing
Artemis Strike 17 is another shining
not only the personnel capability, but also
example of this increased interoperability
the system capability.
SAMP-T
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maj Trey Guy is currently SO2 Air Missile Defence Plans in the Joint Fires and Influence Branch at HQ Allied Rapid Reaction Corps.
All of the systems depicted in this article (Patriot, SAMP-T, Igla, Avenger/Stinger and SkySaber(2020)) have the ability to provide
Air Defence protection on their own as they are directed by their national formations. What we as an alliance should be working
towards is full interoperability of our systems and our personnel to manage these various systems on the battlefield, if we manage
that then we will be working in concert to thwart potential adversaries.
ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS
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