The US Army is learning hard lessons from Ukraine and the Middle East on how to prepare and protect air defenders
The US Army is updating its training and defensive tactics for air defense systems based on lessons learned from conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. Officials are focusing on mobility, concealment, and protecting critical assets like Patriot missile batteries from drone and missile barrages.
Why it matters
Adapting military doctrine to modern, high-intensity drone and missile warfare is critical for maintaining national security and protecting personnel in future conflicts.
Recent and ongoing conflicts have tested air defense systems and crews. US Army photo by Sgt. David Rincon The US Army is applying lessons from Ukraine and Iran to better prepare its air defenders. Forward-deployed air defense units are bringing back lessons from combat. Combat simulations are evolving to reflect new battlefield threats and tactics. Intense missile and drone attacks in global conflicts are showing the US Army how it needs to train its air defenders, as well as how to protect them from threats, Army officials said. Lessons on protecting MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile systems and crews are coming in, and Army leaders say those observations are being quickly incorporated into training to help troops keep pace with evolving threats and tactics.
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