Military Review English Edition November-December 2015 | Page 67

AIR DEFENSE

Money and Modernization

Avenger multimission and embed them into the
Common arguments for phasing out nonstatic-enBCT. According to Maj. Gen. Rossi, “Air and Missile
gagement-AMD have been based on military budget
defense needs to be better incorporated into the macuts and a lack of mission. The Army is downsizing in
neuver scheme of warfighting.”40 This approach would
response to a combination of political requirements
further enhance the combat readiness, capability,
and the near completion of two wars—no question.38
and lethality of BCTs while reducing costs. Historical
Recent budget cuts have undoubtedly created some
accounts of nonstatic-engagement-AMD units profriction between the travide a sound basis for
ditional force structure
projecting the full range
and modernization of
of increased combat
the military. However,
power that the Avenger
history shows that the
multimission would
air defense began phasbring to the fight.
ing out nonstatic-enImagine an air
gagement-AMD assets
defense component
as early as 2005—long
that could counter and
before drastic reductions
defeat advanced threats
in military spending.
such as UASs, cruise
Ironically, regardless
missiles, fixed-wing
of the current fiscal
aircraft, rotary-wing
challenges, the AMD
aircraft, rockets, artil(Photo by Spc. Brian Barbour, 123rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
strategy introduces the
lery, and mortars, and
Spc. Jamael O. Turner, Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery
Regiment,
shows
one
of
the
first
rockets
his
unit
shot
down
with
the
production of the IFPC
simultaneously employ
counterrocket, artillery, and mortar (C-RAM) 4 March 2009 at Joint Base
Inc 2-I, which will be
capabilities
such as
Balad, Iraq. Turner operates the C-RAM, which can identify, track, and
far less cost-efficient
shoot mortar rounds and rockets out of the sky before they detonate.
FLIR optics, an autothan upgrading the
mated .50 caliber gun,
combat-proven Avenger. An upgraded Avenger would
and an automated 25 mm gun—all on a 360-degree
exceed the capabilities of the IFPC Inc 2-I, further
turret—to contribute to a BCT’s ground maneuver
enhance maneuver, maintain rapid deployability, and
combat capabilities. The prospect of providing these
become available to the force more quickly and at a
enhanced capabilities makes the BCT-embedded
fraction of the cost.
Avenger multimission a next-level combat multiplier
The mission of nonstatic-engagement-AMD rethat would be critical to the agility, readiness, and
mains nested with the Army of the future. The force
direction of the modernized Army.
design of the Army beyond 2025 “will be fundamentally changed, uniquely enabled, and organized to conduct Conclusion
expeditionary maneuver of operationally significant
Maneuver is a fundamental priority of the Army.
forces.”39 In the past, nonstatic-engagement-AMD
However, air defense is not organized to facilitate
formations simultaneously enhanced maneuver and
aggressive maneuver tempo. With minimal active and
diminished air threat exposure. The Army should balno upgraded Avenger units available, the aerial threat
ance the execution of the AMD strategy by reversing
may eventually restrict maneuver on the battlefield
the tren d toward static-engagement-AMD developand constrain operating forces. Without a modernment at the expense of aggressive maneuver tempo.
ized nonstatic-engagement-AMD capability in the
BCT, the shrewd and opportunistic asymmetrically
Air and Missile Defense Resolve
inclined adversary that the Army anticipates would
In order to establish balance in the AMD stratexpose combat forces unnecessarily to grave and lethal
egy, the Army should develop a priority and timechallenges, which prudence and common-sense
line to upgrade each Avenger formation into the
planning now could preclude.
MILITARY REVIEW  November-December 2015

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