The 94th Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) plays an absolutely critical role in the missile defense of the Indo-Pacific AOR. As the threat continues to grow and evolve, the 94th AAMDC is focused on modernization and partnerships to help grow capacity and capabilities. They have done the best with what they have today through their physical presence being forward in the AOR and through critical ally partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. We commend those efforts in team building and demonstrations of our current missile defense capabilities.
Command and Control of air and missile defense today in the Indo-Pacific AOR is under the theater Area Air Defense Commander (AADC), General Ken Wilsbach, who is also Commander of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). He is advised and supported in this role by the Deputy AADC and Army 94th AAMDC Commander, currently BG Mark Holler but transferring to MG Brian Gibson. Both are supported by the 613 AOC at Hickam Air Field Hawaii where all sensor data comes in and overall guidance for effector employment across the theater is issued. To execute specific tactical engagements, designated authorities are delegated to lower echelon commanders in order to ensure timely defeat of incoming threats.
Since its creation as the 94th Coast Artillery on December 16, 1940, the 94th AAMDC has shown the command to be the leader in the integrated air and missile defense of forward stationed US forces from Europe to the Middle East to the Indo-Pacific.
During World War II, the 94th Coast Artillery played a large role in major war campaigns in the East Indies, New Guinea, Leyte, and the Philippines. Then during the Cold War, the group was made a part of the 32nd Army Air Defense Command and re-designated as the 94th Artillery Group, defending NATO against the Soviet Union with Nike Hercules, HAWK, Patriot, Chaparral, and Vulcan air defense systems.
After the Cold War, the 94th Air Defense Artillery Brigade was awarded the Army Superior Unit Award for its supporting actions during operation “Determined Resolve” in the Persian Gulf. The 94th became the center of the first-ever Joint Theater Missile Defense Task Force deployed to Israel supporting Operation Noble Safeguard and Desert Thunder.
As national security concerns shifted to Indo-Pacific, the 94th AAMDC, on October 18, 2005, moved to Fort Shafter Hawaii and became the air and missile defense support for US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM).
This past year the 94th AAMDC demonstrated the fielded capabilities of what it has in operation deployment to do the best that it can with what it has to defend the biggest geographical area in the world with China, Russia, and North Korea threatening its missile forces on the US and its Allies. Here is what the 94th AAMDC has done this past year:
Pacific Fury 21.2: February 4 – 11, 2022
Operation Pacific Fury 21.2 was the first exercise in recent history to involve all INDOPACOM staff and Indo-Pacific service components in a fully integrated operation. In this unilateral exercise, the 94th AAMDC was able to simulate tactical procedures and operations in conflict against near-peer adversaries.
Combined Command Post Training 21.1: March 2021
The joint operation between the Armed Forces of South Korea and the US military that was focused on training Combined Forces Command personnel and major component, subordinate and augmenting staffs through wargaming computer simulations and infrastructures, according to United States Forces Korea. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the exercise took place in a limited manner and was unable to carry out the planned Full Operational Capability (FOC) test. For the first time, the exercise featured the 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (ADA) integrating with the 5th Air Force headquarters in Yokota Air Base, Japan, the 94th AAMDC; 35th ADA Brigade in Korea, and the E-3 ADA THAAD in Guam.
Pacific Sentry 21: June 2021
Pacific Sentry is a theater-level exercise focused on improving the joint operations between the INDOPACOM component forces and their Australian counterparts. The exercise included training air defense forces across the theater with multiple multinational and coalition-led Joint Task Forces. The 263rd AAMDC supplemented the 94th AAMDC with various staff personnel and allowed for a demonstration of the units’ ability to incorporate higher levels of interoperability in a rapid manner. Pacific Sentry 21 also highlighted the capabilities and limitations of the Royal Australian Armed Forces.
Orient Shield 21: June 7 – 10, 2021
The United States and Japan conducted the Orient Shield 21 (OS21) joint exercise. OS21’s purpose was to demonstrate that the U.S. Army and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) could accomplish multi-domain and cross-domain operations throughout Japan. OS21 saw the Guardians’ first deployment of a Patriot to Amami Island. Soldiers conducted bilateral training with JGSDF from the 8th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Group. JGSDF soldiers deployed the Type 03 CHU-SAM system from Camp Aonohara. Then, American and Japanese soldiers trained on an Integrated Air & Missile Defense (IAMD) scenario focused on defending the Southwest Island Chain. OS21 emphasized the United States and Japan’s ability to quickly move a Patriot to a site and provide a defense.
Talisman Sabre 21: July – August 2021
The Talisman Sabre 21 is a biannual exercise with troops from the U.S., Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, and the United Kingdom. Soldiers from Alpha Battery, 1-1 ADA, deployed the first Patriot to Australian soil and conducted the first ever Patriot live-fire in the Australia, as well as the first live-fire west of the International Date Line. Moreover, soldiers from the Brigade headquarters deployed the Air and Missile Defense Planning and Control System (AMDPCS) to act as command and control during the joint exercise. The movement of Patriot and AMDPCS were used to support the U.S. Army Pacific’s Indo-Pacific Pathways strategy to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific by reinforcing relationships and building trust among our allies and partners in the region.
Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) 21-2: August 2021
A joint operation between the Armed Forces of South Korea and the United States acted as the Guardians’ external evaluation (EXEVAL). During the exercise, the Brigade sent a forward to Yokota Air Base and operated from the Brigade Operations Center (BOC) at Sagami Army Depot. The CCPT 21-2 proved that the Guardians were capable of supporting regional operational plans and that the unit was prepared, despite the challenges the COVID-19 pandemic provided.
Iron Island: October – November 2021
The 2-43 Battalion at Fort Bliss, Texas deployed to Guam as part of Operation Iron Island. The soldiers gathered data on operations, deployment considerations, and integration of Iron Dome with existing air defense systems, such as the E-3 ADA THAAD. During the operation, soldiers deployed the AMDPCS to provide command and control, as well as to integrate with the Iron Dome and THAAD battery. Operation Iron Island tested the Army’s newest air defense capabilities and demonstrated its commitment to defending Guam.
Operation Talon Lightning: March 4, 2022
Marked the first test of the newly developed THAAD Remote Launch Capability in an operational theater. The operation displayed Task Force Talon deploying a THAAD launcher, Remote Launch Kit, and T2C2 (Transportable Tactical Command Communications) node from Site Armadillo on Andersen Air Force Base to the CNMI island of Rota via C-17 Globemaster III airlift. The operation demonstrated THAAD’s newest capability that increases the area a THAAD battery can defend, while also increasing survivability by dispersing assets over a larger area. It highlights the joint nature of air defense, specifically, the Air Force strategic airlift can globally deploy air defense assets that enable the Army to defend the same bases and infrastructure the Air Force needs as it develops and implements its Agile Combat Employment doctrine.
Balikatan-22: March 28 – April 8, 2022
A joint exercise focused on maritime security, amphibious operations, live-fire training, urban operations, aviation operations, counterterrorism, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief with the Philippines. BK 22 involved 3,800 members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and 5,100 members of the U.S. military. BK22 displayed the first-ever LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) amphibious insertion of a Patriot Minimum Engagement Package (MEP), consisting of four components. 1-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion traveling from Subic Bay to Aparri on board the USS Ashland Whidbey Island-class dock landing ship, and coming ashore at Aparri to establish a firing position. It then established links with the battery headquarters at North Cagayan Airfield. The purpose of the exercise was to highlight Patriot’s deployability, and the command’s ability to get the right system to the right place at the right time.
Valiant Shield 22: June 6 – June 17, 2022
A biennial field training exercise, consisting only of US forces, that focuses on the joint operations in a multi-domain environment. The exercise will include the testfire of a Patriot air defense missile system in Palau on June 15. The firing will be conducted by the 1st Battalion, 1st ADA regiment and will be the first exercise to include Palau and Micronesia this year. This will be the ninth iteration of the Valiant Shield exercises that began in 2006.
Since the 94th’s exercise on February 4, 2021, North Korea has executed twenty separate missile launches. Taiwan recorded 969 incursions by Chinese warplanes into its airspace—more than doubling the 380 from 2020. Already in 2022, Taiwan has recorded 465 incursions, which is a nearly 50% increase compared to last year. With these provocative demonstrations of power, America’s adversaries have the will to destabilize the Indo-Pacific as we know it.
We have the strategic blueprints for a viable Missile Defense architecture across the Indo-Pacific. It is time to build that capacity in the right places with the right capabilities. For the immediate need, the 94th can bring a capable operational system to Guam to supplement the THAAD with MSE Launchers.
First Line Of Defense!
