SMDC: Here and Now, Relevant and Ready

Army, Dec 2004 by Dodgen, Larry J

The U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command/Army Forces Strategic Command (USASMDC/ARSTRAT) is widely known for its proud heritage and contributions as a major Army command, responsible for space and missile defense. Although correct, it is not a complete description. USASMDC/ARSTRAT also plays a vital role in current capabilities and operations-from facilitating satellite communications and blue force tracking (BFT) to supporting ballistic missile defense and developing the nation's most advanced technology. The command performs essential tasks supporting joint war-fighters now conducting combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, forces supporting homeland security missions and a variety of national security requirements in more than 100 countries. Finally, the command supports the Army's transformation to the Future Force. Clearly, USASMDC/ARSTRAT is relevant for today and ready for tomorrow.

The threats to national security are historically unique. While the specter of global nuclear warfare still exists, we are now faced with other evolving concerns. America is the world's sole superpower, and therefore likely the only country that can organize effective military responses to large-scale regional threats. As a result, potential adversaries, both state and non-state, that choose to challenge America must do so by means other than direct, conventional military confrontation.

Some current threats target the nation's greatest technological capabilities. The proliferation of advanced technology exacerbates the challenge. These threats include attacks against infrastructure, computer network systems and advanced communications; international terrorism; and the potential use of weapons of mass destruction. Concurrently, U.S. operational forces remain susceptible to crude land mines made from unspent artillery shells, attacks from rocket-propelled grenades and an abundance of conventional small arms. USASMDC recognizes that the current and future national security environment are challenging, and just as this command is extensively involved in the Army's transformation, it is engaged in many of the nation's other security requirements as well.

The ballistic missile threat to the U.S. homeland did not disappear with the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Intercontinental ballistic missile technology is increasingly available and is considered one of the more serious threats. In 1972, only nine countries possessed ballistic missiles; today, 36 countries possess or are in the process of acquiring and developing them. Because of this changed security environment, in 2002 the President of the United States directed the deployment of an initial set of missile defense capabilities that would increasingly offer protection against ballistic missiles for the United States, its deployed forces, friends and allies. The initial emphasis of this effort is on developing the ballistic missile defense system while retaining an operational capability.

In October 2003, USASMDC/ARSTRAT, as the Army service component to U.S. Strategic Command, activated the 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense or GMD) in Colorado Springs, CoIo. This unit, which is the nation's first GMD brigade, is manned by Colorado Army National Guard and active component soldiers. In January 2004, the Alaska National Guard activated the 49th Missile Defense Battalion (GMD). This unit will operate the ballistic missile interceptors-groundbased interceptors (GBIs)-at Fort Greely, Alaska. GBIs will also be emplaced at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif.

GBIs consist of an exoalmospheric kill vehicle (EKV) integrated with a booster that launches it into space. The EKV performs final discrimination and steers itself to collide with the warhead. Sensor and fire control systems, literally around the globe, round out the GMD system hardware. Sensors include satellites and high-powered radars at several land locations and aboard U.S. Navy ships. Fire control interconnects communications among all GMD components and manages the battle. The current GMD system provides a ramp to a more robust future capability that will afford increasingly integrated capabilities.

The GMD system is an example of what is doctrinally termed "space force application" in Joint Publication 3-14, Joint Doctrine for Space Operations. Space force application is one of four space mission areas. The other three mission areas are space force enhancement, space control and space support. USASMDC, as the Army proponent for space and ballistic missile defense, is responsible for system operations and training and for development of the corresponding domains of doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership, personnel and facilities.

On the space control front, the Army is developing systems to provide the United States with the ability to take full advantage of space while denying it to adversaries if necessary. This includes contributing to and using situational awareness of space, protecting space systems, preventing adversary use of space systems of the United States, its allies and of third parties, and negating enemy use of their space systems. The 1st Space Battalion's space control and electronic warfare detachment is an operational unit that already provides this support.