fm 44-100 us army air and missile defense operations

FM 44-100
Mature Theaters
6-4. Alliance commitments and in-place joint forces are characteristics of mature
theaters. The theater typically contains a large number of high-value,
fixed assets and a well-known threat. Because of the threat, counterair and
theater missile defense forces are typically in place during peacetime for
threat deterrence and wartime readiness.
Contingency Theaters
6-5. Counterair and theater missile defense activities in contingency theaters
differ markedly from those in established theaters. The contingency theater
lacks the sophisticated command and control, logistics infrastructure, and inplace
forces of the mature theater. In most contingency theaters, the sophistication
and quantity of enemy weapon systems are generally less than that of
a mature theater. However, without adequate air and missile defense, forceprojection
forces in the initial stages of an operation are susceptible to catastrophic
damage from even an unsophisticated enemy.
6-6. Ground forces deploying in a force-projection operation may have little
air support in the early entry stage of the operation. They may have to depend
on the air and missile defense resources that deploy with the force.
Force-projection operations are normally short-duration operations, but may
transition to protracted war. In the initial stages of the force-projection operation,
there will only be a few high-value assets. Counterair and theater
missile defense forces must protect those assets to ensure the continued
buildup and expansion of the lodgment area.
AIR AND MISSILE DEFENSE OBJECTIVES
6-7. Air and missile defense objectives are similar at each level of war. Army
air defense commanders plan their operations to support accomplishment of
the supported commander's strategic, operational, or tactical objectives by
protecting their priority forces and assets from air and missile attack and
surveillance.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
6-8. Air Defense Artillery protects forces or geopolitical and military assets of
strategic significance at the theater strategic level. Such assets or forces are
critical to the successful achievement of national objectives. Normally, the requirement
to protect strategic assets will be established by the NCA. Strategic
missions can be assigned to air and missile defense units at every echelon
of command. Strategic assets could include cities, economic facilities, and religious
or cultural sites that must be protected in the host nation or other regional
power. The protection of such assets may be a precondition for the introduction
of US forces into the region, for basing privileges, or for the formation
and maintenance of a friendly coalition. Other strategic assets could
include production, processing, and transportation facilities for natural resources
or other materials that are of vital interest to the United States.
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