The article "Once More unto the Breach" by Col. Glenn A.

Henke in the March-April

2023 issue of Military Review discusses the challenges faced by air defense artillery
(ADA) in supporting maneuver forces in large-scale combat operations (LSCO). The
article highlights the need for a holistic view of ADA capabilities, with a focus on how
they can support LSCO. The article emphasizes the importance of establishing effective
command relationships and support relationships within the joint force commander’s
area air defense plan (AADP) and the need for a credible threat to drive the
commander’s training objectives.

The article also discusses the evolution of the role of ADA from point defense to
area defense, with an increasing emphasis on integration with joint operations. The
article concludes by highlighting the significant tasks required to ensure that future
ADA capabilities can be employed to maximum combat effectiveness. While the article
does not provide specific examples of successful ADA operations in recent conflicts, it
offers insights into the challenges and opportunities facing ADA in the evolving
operational environment.

The challenges faced by air defense artillery (ADA) in supporting maneuver

forces are multifaceted. Col. Glenn A. Henke's article "Once More unto the Breach" in
the March-April 2023 issue of Military Review highlights several key challenges:

1. Command Relationships and Authorities: Establishing the necessary command

relationships (operational control [OPCON] and tactical control [TACON]) and support
relationships within the joint force commander’s area air defense plan (AADP) is
critical for ADA units ,[object Object],.

2. Positioning Authority: The need for explicit establishment of authority for CFLCC
subordinate commanders to establish their own local defended asset list (DAL) without
a requirement for CFACC approval is highlighted as a critical requirement for maneuver
and ADA commanders ,[object Object],.

3. Training and Equipping for Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO): The article
emphasizes the need to train and equip ADA forces for LSCO, with a focus on exercises
for corps and division commanders supported by ADA brigades, as well as the Roving
Sands series of exercises conducted by the 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense
Command ,[object Object],.

4. Integration of Air and Missile Defense Systems: The further development and
fielding of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS)
makes the distinctions between SHORAD and high-to-medium air defense less
meaningful, presenting a challenge for ADA support to maneuver forces ,[object
Object],.
5. Experience Gap and Evolving Threat Environment: The article points out the
growing experience gap within the ADA branch and the need to reassess tactics and
procedures in a battlefield with a proliferation of air threats, which diminishes the utility
of traditional system categories ,[object Object], ,[object Object],.

These challenges underscore the complexity of providing effective air defense artillery
support to maneuver forces in the evolving operational environment.

The role of air defense artillery (ADA) has evolved significantly over time. Col. Glenn
A. Henke's article "Once More unto the Breach" in the March-April 2023 issue of
Military Review provides some insights into this evolution:

1. From Point Defense to Area Defense: Historically, ADA was focused on point
defense of critical assets, such as airfields and command and control centers. However,
the proliferation of air threats has necessitated a shift towards area defense, where ADA
forces are responsible for protecting larger areas of operation ,[object Object],.

2. Integration with Joint Operations: The article highlights the need for ADA forces
to be integrated with joint operations, particularly in the context of air and missile
defense (AMD) operations. This requires establishing effective command relationships
and support relationships within the joint force commander’s area air defense plan
(AADP) ,[object Object],.

3. Holistic View of Capabilities: The article emphasizes the need for a holistic view of
ADA capabilities, with a focus on how they can support large-scale combat operations
(LSCO). This requires a reassessment of lift requirements, training and exercises to
reintroduce the entire ADA portfolio of capabilities to the maneuver force, and
fundamental unit design activities to ensure that future capabilities can be employed to
maximum combat effectiveness ,[object Object],.

4. Integration of Air and Missile Defense Systems: The further development and
fielding of the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System (IBCS) has
made the distinctions between SHORAD and high-to-medium air defense less
meaningful, presenting a challenge for ADA support to maneuver forces ,[object
Object],.

Overall, the role of ADA has evolved from a focus on point defense to area defense,
with an increasing emphasis on integration with joint operations and a holistic view of
capabilities to support LSCO.