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21st Century U.S. Army Combined Arms for Air Defense (FM 44-8) and Air Defense Artillery Signal Operations (FM 11-44)
21st Century US Army Combined Arms for Air Defense and Air Defense Artillery Signal Operations - FM 44-8 - FM 11-44 Author:Department of Defense These are the latest editions of two important U.S. Army field manuals (FMs). COMBINED ARMS FOR AIR DEFENSE – "Air defense artillery units are a limited resource on the battlefield. This manual explains the air threat on the ground and places the threat in its proper perspective. It also explains how ground commanders can protect their units ... more »from air attack through the use of passive and active air defense measures." AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY SIGNAL OPERATIONS – "ADA provides protective coverage over deploying corps, divisions, brigades, and battalions of the force it supports. ADA protects high value critical assets in the area of operations, such as airfields, key bridges, depots, or similar fixed assets. This coverage normally includes both SHORAD and HIMAD ADA weapons. SHORAD units may be found at echelons from division to EAC. They may be assigned or attached depending on the mission. The HIMAD units are assigned at corps and EAC levels with deployment capability throughout the area of operations. ADA support of operations is based on AirLand battle doctrine. AirLand battle doctrine extends the battlefield in scope, depth, and time, and integrates conventional, electronic, chemical, and nuclear warfare. Doctrine to support the AirLand battle is based on securing and regaining the initiative to defeat threat forces. Operations are designed to throw the threat off balance with a powerful initial blow from an unexpected direction, followed by rapid exploitation to prevent recovery. (2) Flexibility, combined arms cooperation, and integration of efforts are essential to battlefield success. ADA units will support operations that preserve and exploit the initiative. Attack the threat in depth with fire and maneuver. Maintain the agility that is necessary to shift forces and fires to threat weaknesses."« less