Air Defense ArtilleryAir Defense Artillery
Toprotect the United States, deployed forces, and geopolitical assets from aerial,
missile, and surveillance attacks.
ADA originated from the Coast Artillery Corps which was created after the Revolutionary War to defend the US coasts against naval attack and bombardment. Its proud lineage includes battle streamers which date from the War of 1812.
As the US entered WWI in 1917, War Department planners saw the need for an Antiaircraft Artillery (AAA) Corps to protect the ground forces from the new threat of aerial bombardment. German Zeppelins, for example, had made 51 bombardments in England alone, inflicting $7 million in damages and 2000 casualties. The Fokker Dr. 1 and DVII were providing close air support to German ground forces. Coast Artillery units were detailed as AAA units because they were the only artillerymen with experience in firing at moving targets. They were also available, since the threat of the German fleet to the East Coast had been neutralized by an allied blockade.
AAA units entered WWI with neither doctrine nor weapons. Yet they fought with distinction in support of the Allied Expeditionary Force. Doctrine was developed "on the fly" by a resourceful cadre of officers. Training at the Coast Artillery School began in 1918 with a follow on course taught in France at the incipient AAA school. Weapons were procured from the French. Good training and dedication to excellence, characteristic of ADA ever since, belied the humble beginnings of the AAA corps. US AAA units used 1/20th the ammunition of their allied counterparts. A US AAA unit compiled the best kill record of any allied AAA unit.
The AAA Corps entered WWII in a manner that would eventually prove the branch motto: "FIRST TO FIRE". Air Defenders were the first Army units to engage the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. They covered the withdrawal to Bataan in the Philippines. Four months later, starved, sick and short of supplies, AAA units were still fighting, having shot down 82 enemy planes and earning a dozen Distinguished Service Crosses, many Silver Stars and the Presidential Unit Citation.
In Europe, AAA units were thoroughly integrated into US field armies. AAA units were among the first ashore on D-Day and not only provided air cover for the beach head but assisted in destroying the enemy bunkers on the heights overlooking the beaches. AAA units defended the Remagen bridge with the most concentrated defense in history.
At the end of WWII, the AAA Corps was established separately from the Coast Artillery. During the Korean War AAA units at Suwon airbase were the first Army units to engage the invading North Korean Forces. Throughout the war the tremendous firepower of Air Defender's was used to break the stalemate of many battles such as "Heartbreak Ridge" and "Porkchop Hill".
The AAA Corps grew during the Cold War period as the USSR developed both nuclear weapons and the intercontinental bomber force to deliver them. Captured German rocket technology was fully exploited and led to the development and fielding of hundreds of ADA missile batteries around the US. As the Soviet bomber threat waned in the 1960's, the focus of ADA doctrine shifted to defense of maneuver forces.
In Vietnam, the US enjoyed virtual air supremacy. Nevertheless, ADA units distinguished themselves in providing fire support to ground forces, earning more than 450 medals for valor and receiving more than 1000 Purple Hearts. In Operation URGENT FURY, in 1983, Stinger teams went into Grenada on the assault echelon of the 82d Airborne Division. In Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama (1988), 10% of the total enemy casualties were inflicted by one Vulcan platoon from the 7th ID.
Clearly understanding the importance of enemy and friendly airpower in the desert, campaign planners in Operation DESERT STORM interrupted the initial airflow of the 82d Airborne Division into theater so that more ADA could be quickly inserted. D-Day for ADA in DESERT STORM was not 24 February 91 when the ground campaign began, but rather August 1990 when B/2-7 ADA (Patriot), commanded by CPT Joe D'Antona (USMA '84) became operational at Dhahran airbase.
Patriot performed superbly during DESERT STORM. Starting with only a theoretical capability against tactical ballistic missiles in August 1990, the requisite software was developed and fielded and 500 new missiles were built by the time the ground campaign began in February. Eight more software upgrades were delivered during the course of DESERT SHIELD/DESERT STORM.
During DESERT STORM, ADA was involved everywhere, from defending critical assets and activities in the divisions and corps to defending critical assets in Saudi Arabia, Israel and Turkey. 10th ADA Brigade from Germany commanded a task force which included Dutch, US and Israeli Patriot batteries in defense of Tel Aviv and Haifa. ADA lieutenants were debriefed at the Israeli Defense Forces "Pentagon" after each Scud attack. As their dependents celebrated Christmas, the soldiers and officers of Task Force 4-43 ADA began loading aircraft at three different locations in Germany. Within twenty nine hours of "wheels up" for the first aircraft, the TF 4-43 ADA was operational in Israel in two locations.
TF 4-7 ADA (Patriot) deployed from Germany to Incirlik Turkey where they provided ADA protection to critical assets poised at Iraq's "back door".
TF 2-43 ADA (Patriot) deployed from Germany & was attached to 11th ADA Brigade, providing Scud defense of King Khalid Military City in Saudi Arabia.
TF 8-43 ADA (Patriot) deployed from Germany and provided general support to VII Corps.
4-5 ADA/1st Cavalry Division deployed the first Army's Avenger Battery in DESERT STORM/SHIELD and was one of the Army's first units to lose a soldier to hostile fire when its Vulcans supported a Recon in Force into Iraq prior to the start of the ground campaign. Today, as the Army prepares to enter the 21st Century, ADA is leading the way technologically and doctrinally (the basic doctrine on fighting in the air component of the AirLand Battlefield has been promulgated in FM 44-100, US Army Air Defense Operations).
ADA offers a variety of weapon systems and duties for new Lieutenants. After you select ADA as your branch, you will have an opportunity to select the type of weapon system you want and also where you will be assigned.
Provide air defense of a maneuver unit (Infantry, Armor, or Aviation);
defense of a critical asset (TOC, refueling point, ammunition supply point,
airbase, communications node): protection of a critical operation (passage of
lines, river crossing, main attack, deception operations).
A pedestal-mounted Stinger Weapon System. The prime mover is a HMMWV with a few modifications (hardened top for blast protection and internal communications). The turret is gyro-stabilized which gives it a true shoot-on-the-move capability. The turret houses two missile pods which hold a total of eight ready to fire Stinger Missiles. The gunner can launch one missile and 4 seconds later launch the next missile. The Avenger will soon be found in all active US Army Divisions (Mechanized, Armored, Light, and Special) and in Corps Air Defense Brigades.
Major Components. In addition to those already listed the Avenger has an Environmental Control Unit (heater and air conditioner), a 50. cal machine-gun for self defense, a forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor for night and adverse weather capability, a laser range finder, identification friend or foe (IFF), remote control unit for increased survivability, and two grip stocks for converting to standard Stinger operations.
Principle capabilities. Multiple launch capability, adverse weather/visibility capability, shoot-on-the-move capability, auto-track capability.
This system is the interim replacement for the Vulcan as the Line of Sight-Forward Heavy component of Forward Area Air Defense. Fielding of the BSFV to all heavy divisions started in FY 93 and should be completed by the middle of FY 96. This system will form the backbone of the heavy division's Air Defense battalions. Each vehicle will carry a three man air defense crew and a two man Stinger team.
Principal Capabilities. Provides effective terminal defense for maneuver forces against both rotary and fixed winged targets in excess of 4km. The mobility of the Bradley enables the BSFV to maneuver with both mechanized and armored units. Its armor significantly increases the survivability of the Stinger team. It can be employed in either an overwatch position or it can bound laterally or to the rear to support the scheme of maneuver.
Major Components. M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle, 25mm Chain Gun, five TOW missiles and six Stinger missiles.
Large still photo of the Army's Bradley Stinger Fighting Vehicle.
The most capable ADA weapon in the world today. A Corps and Theater level
asset. It's strength is twofold: first, an unjammable radar; second, a fire
control system that is software based & thus can be quickly and economically
be improved to keep up with the threat. DESERT STORM proved this with Patriot
going from no anti-tactical missile capability in August 1990 to a significant
ATM capability in February 91. System upgrades are currently being developed to
ensure that PATRIOT can effectively counter the ever-increasing sophistication
of aircraft and Tactical Ballistic Missiles.
Principal Capabilities.
Patriot can be transported worldwide via C5
cargo plane. Built in diagnostic software; the computer tells you what's wrong
with the system, making maintenance and repair much easier. Patriot battalions
can interface with Hawk battalions and with the Air Force AWACS. Patriot can
engage not only aircraft, but also cruise missiles, tactical ballistic missiles
and, in the future, satellites.
A man portable Air Defense missile system (MANPADS). It is a shoulder fired weapon which homes in on the infrared (heat) and ultraviolet signature of an aircraft. The Stinger also has the capability to interrogate an aircraft using identification friend or foe (IFF). It was combat proven in Afghanistan where it destroyed significant numbers of Soviet fixed and rotary wing aircraft. A Stinger team normally consists of two soldiers, a HMMWV, and six Stinger missiles. These teams comprise Sections and Platoons.
Major Components. Ready missile round, gripstock and IFF interrogator.
Principle Capabilities. Highly effective against
helicopters and fixed winged aircraft out to 5 km. Increasingly sophisticated
seeker guides the missile to target. It has the ability to acquire targets
head-on and in adverse weather.
In 2001 Air Defense Artillery plans to field the Theater High Altitude Air
Defense (THAAD)System. Designed to intercept and destroy hostile ballistic
missiles at far greater ranges and much higher altitudes than Patriot, THAAD
will form the upper level of a two-tier tactical missile defense. Patriot will
form the lower tier. The Corps Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), now under
development, ADA's is vision for a second highly mobile, rapidly deployable,
lower tier system. Together these Air Defense Artillery systems and the soldiers
who operate them will provide a near leak proof defense against the full
spectrum of the air threat.
