As the US Army prepares for future conflicts, including a new focus on a 2040 battlefield, it is revamping its air and missile defense (AMD) strategy for the first time in five years, according to Lt. Gen. Sean Gainey, head of the Army Space and Missile Defense Command.
“Observing the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine makes it clear what challenges lie ahead that we must tackle moving forward,” Gainey stated during a recent speech. He emphasized the urgency to look further into the future, aiming to develop a new AMD strategy that fosters readiness in the face of emerging threats. “We are drawing insights from past conflicts to shape the force necessary to assure, deter, and, if required, fight to win on the battlefield of tomorrow.”
Gainey announced the strategy revamp during the Space and Missile Defense Symposium in Huntsville, Alabama, indicating that he intends to complete it by October 2025. The plan involves collaboration with several offices, including the Army Fires Center of Excellence and the Army Futures Command, to create a new “integrated approach” that extends the AMD 2028 strategy, initially published in 2019.
While specific questions regarding the updated strategy were not disclosed, it is anticipated that the AMD force of 2040 will need to operate under constant surveillance and engage in continuous combat. This will require a comprehensive 360-degree coverage, described by Gainey as “non-negotiable,” alongside enhanced applications of artificial intelligence.
“This strategy will provide us the opportunity to establish a foundation for capability development, enabling us to address future threats by leveraging the analyses being conducted by the Army’s Futures Command,” he explained to reporters following his address.
Since General James Rainey assumed leadership of the Army Futures Command nearly two years ago, he has concentrated on conceptualizing what the future force will entail, which includes a forthcoming tactical fires study and a new operational concept that may alter existing formations.
Additionally, the Army is preparing to roll out several new capabilities within the AMD domain, such as the Patriot radar replacement known as the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense System, the Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2 (IFPC Inc 2), and the Integrated Battle Command System, among others.
With significant changes in force structure anticipated and new AMD capabilities on the horizon, Gainey, Rainey, and their fellow leaders have numerous critical topics to address in the updated strategy.
“This team acknowledges that now is the time to confront these challenges: AMD remains paramount in our considerations, at the forefront for our partners and senior leaders,” Gainey concluded during his presentation.
