2014-02-07 Major General Richard Rowe USA (ret) has made a significant intellectual contribution to the current debate on the way ahead for US DOD budgeting and force structure development.
He captures perfectly the con-ops and technology necessary to plus up U.S. global ADA capability to both deter war and if necessary fight and win.
That being said, today – and in the foreseeable future – combatant commanders must consider the threat from aircraft and ballistic missiles. This includes the imperative of protection that can only be provided by Patriot, THAAD, and the SM-3.
Excerpt follows from the article published in The Hill:
As a planner for the Commander-in-Chief United Nations Command, Republic of Korea-US Combined Forces Command, and the US Forces Korea in the mid-90’s, I assisted in the analysis of options and the development of a request for the deployment of Patriot capabilities to Korea in the midst of a critical time.
Simply put, these capabilities worked and continue the mission in Korea today. Additionally, similar systems committed in 2012 help protect Turkey against potential air threat from Syria.
Nearly a dozen partner nations have followed our path and fielded the Patriot system to meet their theater air and missile defense requirements. These partners have sought and agreed to modernization as well as critically needed common operating standards to protect our coalition forces.
Today, as we design our forces to meet the evolving national security strategy, our nation is shifting to smaller force packages and shorter deployments. As a result, we are likely to continue to put increased pressure on our Special Operations capabilities, our deployable air packages, and our forces to build partner capabilities.
In many of the tough places our soldiers, marines, sailors, and airmen and women will go, they will find the threat includes air and ballistic missile threats.
A smaller Defense Budget means more competition for valuable resources. But still no matter the budgetary implications, we must be ready to provide modernized, technologically updated capability such as the Patriot.
For four decades, our armed forces have had outstanding confidence in our theater air and missile defense provided by the Patriot system. As our next generation continues the mission, they deserve this quality of protection.
Rowe served in senior leadership positions with the US Forces–Iraq, Joint Force Headquarters–National Capital Region, US Northern Command (NORTHCOM), US Army Training and Doctrine Command, and the 82d Airborne Division. His awards and decorations include Distinguished Service Medal, Defense Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and Bronze Star. During his career, he earned the US Army Ranger Tab, the Expert Infantryman Badge, and Master Parachutist Badge.
See also the following: