“It’s a great time to be in the FIRES business, it’s a great time to be in the air and missile defense business. Our troops around the world are doing incredible things, all our troops, but a special shout-out to our air defenders who may be there in person. I asked all of our commanders to put an arm around our air defense soldiers, especially the Patriots batteries that are out there right now at the highest Operational Tempo in the Army. We recognize what they’re doing and reach out to their families because they are on the front lines right now protecting us. We have asked them to extend in some cases and their Operational Tempo is absolutely incredible so I am very very proud of what they’re doing along with all of our soldiers across the world.” ​​-Gen. James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, at Virtual FIRESCON on October 1, 2020.

Yesterday morning, the Chief of Staff of the Army emphasized the importance of Missile Defense and FIRES to the Army, to the nation, and to the world.

“Great power competition does not have to mean great power conflict, and quite frankly it can’t be.  It won’t be if we stay strong. Peace through strength. Our FIRES community and our air and missile defense community have a lot to do with that, giving us that strength so we can deter those who wish us harm.” Gen.  James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, at Virtual FIRESCON on October 1, 2020.

Lessons from the past lead to the future as the U.S. Army transforms itself from an industrial age Army of 1940 to an Air-Land Battle Army of 1980, and now to an informational age Army of 2020. Information dominance coupled with convergence at the rapid speed of fusing the best sensors connected to the right shooters connected to the right command and control to create overmatch defines winning for the future fight and future deterrence. The Strategic environment with the near-peers is different than it has ever been and the United States is contested at every domain and at every level. Multi-Domain operations to include FIRES are critical to penetrate and create Area Access and Area Denial.

This coming together will result in “speed in the depth of the battlefield that the Army has never had before and continues on their path towards convergence across all-domains. “  Gen. James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, at Virtual FIRESCON on October 1, 2020.

The United States Army leading with the deployment of a Multi-Domain Task Force cannot do this alone, it requires a Joint transformation solution and an Allied Partner shared vision with annual combined exercises. Gen. McConville announced yesterday an agreement between the United States Air Force (USAF) and the Army that commits both parties to “developing a concept for Coalition Joint All-Domain Operations,” the first of its kind since a similar 1984 agreement that intended “to increase tactical coordination between their forces in the field, to improve cooperation in drawing up annual budgets and to reduce duplication in costly weapons programs.” Gen. James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, at Virtual FIRESCON on October 1, 2020​.

For combat maneuvering forces on land and in the air to be effective, the airbases have to be defended with layered air defenses to include cruise, ballistic and future hypersonic defenses. The Army and the USAF are challenged.

In this Army transformation, new systems are coming forward with the MSHORAD Stryker, IBCS, and LTAMS. As Army Air Defense remains a top 6 priority for the Army. As the Chief made it clear, the Army’s greatest weapon is not a transformational new system its most important weapon is its People. Putting People first and getting People right Wins!

“Make No Mistake about it, Winning Matters”

Gen. James C. McConville, Chief of Staff of the Army, at Virtual FIRESCON on October 1, 2020