Three battalion Soldiers sitting in front of a wall of various computer screens executing mission rehearsal exercises at Fort Sill Mission Training Complex.

A Strategic Inflection Point for Air Defense Deception Tactics

By Erick P. Forsythe

Read Time: < 11 mins

This article argues that military and tactical deception must become a core element of modern air and missile defense doctrine to improve survivability in large-scale combat operations.

Land-based Phalanx Weapon Systems (LPWS) conducting Counter-Rocket Artillery Mortar (C-RAM) for base defense during deployment supporting Operation Inherent Reslove (OIR), 2023.

Read Time: < 10 mins

Flatten the On-site Learning Curve: Pre-deployment Training Improvements: Pre-deployment Training Improvements

This article examines how Army air defense units can reduce the deployment learning curve by incorporating realistic counter-UAS, electronic warfare, and airspace management scenarios into pre-deployment training. Drawing on operational lessons from ...

By Iain Herring and Edited By Captain Gavin Berke and Captain Ethan Gordon

SGT STOUT armored vehicle with 8 wheels, guns on top, driving across a muddy and snowy road with some woods in the far background.

Read Time: < 10 mins

Recommended Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures to Combat Groups 1 & 2 UAS Threats in SGT STOUT Battalions

This article examines emerging threats posed by Group 1 and Group 2 unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and recommends updated tactics, techniques, and procedures for SGT STOUT battalions operating in large-scale combat environments. Drawing lessons from t...

By 1 LT Christopher Rosene

Read Time: < 6 mins

How To Use Artificial Intelligence (AI) Capabilities?

As AI rapidly reshapes warfare, the military must define what machines do and what humans decide. Using structured frameworks, the Army seeks to reduce operator overload, accelerate decisions, and integrate AI responsiblywhile preserving human autho...

By Chief Warrant Officer Three Travon Graves, 32d AAMDC AMD Systems Integrator

Read Time: < 9 mins

Restoring Maneuver in MSHORAD

Restoring SHORAD for LSCO requires moving MSHORAD from static rear defense to maneuver‑integrated support. Drawing on CTC lessons, the authors call for doctrine that employs SGT Stout in direct support of CABs to enable early engagement, defense in d...

By CPT Christopher Roberts, CPT Brett Yelverton, and 1LT Mark Haroutunian, 6th Battalion, 56th Air Defense Artillery Regiment

Historical Vignette: June 7th, 1944: D-Day + 1, the 413th Antiaircraft Battalion at Omaha Beach
Courageous 413th AAA Battalion soldiers landed on Omaha Beach under heavy fire, rapidly assembling surviving equipment to deliver vital air defense and direct fires that supported the 2nd Infantry Division’s advance and strengthened the Allied footho...

By CPT Peter Neil
Pearl Harbor and the Growth of a Branch
MSG Johnson examines how Pearl Harbor's failures in command and control, radar deployment, interoperability, and communication directly shaped the modernization and doctrine of today's Air Defense Artillery branch.

By MSG Carl J. Johnson
Composite Air Defense Artillery Formations: Converging Non-Kinetic and Kinetic Capabilities
Composite Air Defense Artillery (ADA) formations integrate kinetic and non‑kinetic capabilities—such as EW, cyber, sensors, and decoys—into a single habitual structure to accelerate kill chains, reduce interceptor expenditure, and improve resilience ...

By CW5 Noel I. Del Real
Armor in 2025: Getting Armored Brigades Back into the Fight
Learn how the U.S. Army is modernizing armored brigades to survive lethal drone swarms and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in future combat. Discover critical recommendations for integrating direct-fire C-UAS and layered sensing to maintain armor's d...

By CW2 Trenton Huntsinger, 1st Cavalry Division Artillery
The Future of Army Air Defense in the Indo-Pacific
Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense (AIAMD) is transforming U.S. Army air defense in the Indo-Pacific by introducing advanced capabilities, new force structures, and enhanced multilateral integration to counter evolving regional threats and ensur...

By MAJ Hazumu Yano
Setting SHORAD up For Failure: FY24 NDAA’s Odd Omission
This article examines the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (FY24 NDAA) and its omission of Air Defense Artillery from combat arms designated for higher fitness standards. It argues that Short-Range Air Defense (SHORAD) should be in...

By First Lieutenant Alexander Philip Mosher, U.S. Army
We Are All Air Defenders Now
A U.S. Army strategy paper arguing that small drones have revolutionized modern warfare based on lessons from the Russia-Ukraine conflict. CPT Peter Clifton recommends restructuring the Army to create dedicated drone operator positions and integrate ...

By CPT Peter Clifton, U.S. Army
Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense in the Offense
This article examines the performance of the U.S. Army's SGT Stout air defense system during NATO's Joint Viking 2023 exercise in Norway. The piece provides a comprehensive analysis of how the Stryker-based air defense platform integrated with Norweg...

By 1LT Brian Patterson
Fortifying America's Iron Dome-Modernization in the National Capital Region
Fortifying America’s Iron Dome – Modernization in the National Capital Region” explores the urgent need to upgrade and modernize the Integrated Air Defense System (NCR-IADS) that protects Washington, D.C. Framed around the concept of a “Golden Dome” ...

By LTC Benton B. Gammons
Cav Scout Divisional Air and Defense (DIVAD): Checkmate Battery 4-60th Integration into Calvary Scout Formation for Project Convergence Capstone 2024 (PC-C4) Testing and Evaluation
Lessons learned from integrating M-SHORAD Stryker air defense systems with cavalry scout formations during Project Convergence Capstone 2024 at NTC Fort Irwin.

By 1LT Russell Rozensky
Lessons in Battalion Command: Leadership, Readiness, and Legacy
Explore firsthand insights into battalion command from LTC Christopher T. Majors, emphasizing leadership, readiness, people-first strategies, and building a lasting legacy. This comprehensive guide outlines lessons for current and future Army leaders...

By LTC Christopher T. Majors
Preparing for Protracted Conflict with China and the Air and Missile Defense Shortfalls
This article offers a comprehensive assessment of the air and missile defense (AMD) posture of U.S. and allied forces in the Pacific in light of China’s growing capabilities. The article draws lessons from WWII Coastal Artillery, evaluates modern mis...

By COL Trey Guy
The Field Grade Perspective
Brigadier General Henke outlines the six essential elements of the 'field grade perspective' that majors must develop to succeed at the battalion and brigade level. These include understanding increased workload expectations, developing systems think...

By Brigadier General Glenn A. Henke
Enhancing C-sUAS Capabilities: A Comprehensive Training Program
The 3-2 ADA Battalion developed a comprehensive Counter-sUAS Training Program to address evolving drone threats in large-scale combat. Emphasizing passive air defense, interoperability, and MOS-agnostic training, the program enhances soldiers' capabi...

By 1LT Greyson L. McLain
IBCS Paradigm Shifts: Decoupling Components and Crews
This article examines the transformative impact of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) on Army Air and Missile Defense operations. It highlights how IBCS decouples sensors, launchers, and command systems, enabling a mo...

By LTC Joshua Urness