If COVID-19 has taught our nation anything, it should be that you cannot fix a problem once you are in the crisis.  The U.S. has clear gaps in air and missile defense capabilities, and we have a plan to address those gaps.  Leaders in the Pentagon and in Congress need to resource, execute, and expand that plan before our warfighters find themselves in a crisis and without the capabilities to meet its challenges.

The Poor Man's Air Force is now much more than just ballistic missiles.  It is unmanned aircraft, rockets, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles.  Today, there are more Poor Men with Air Forces than there ever were before.  Our adversaries always go to the path of least resistance, exploiting our capability gaps for their advantage.  The Army has accepted extreme risk in air, and missile defense and its capability gaps are serious and are prime for successful exploitation by an adversary.

None of our other modernization initiatives will matter if we are all dead.  And the likelihood of that increases the longer the holders of the federal purse strings constrain and delay modernization of our air and missile defense force.  The U.S. simply cannot let the pursuit of the perfect solution be the enemy of one that is good enough - especially when good enough improves today's capabilities and is ready to be fielded.  You cannot fix a problem once the battle has begun - and we have a significant problem.

Lieutenant General David L. Mann (U.S. Army, Ret.), is the former Commanding General of the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command.  His air and missile defense assignments also included Commanding General, Joint Functional Component Command for Integrated Missile Defense (USSTRATCOM), Commanding General, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command, and Commanding General, White Sands Missile Range.  Dave has over 35 years of experience in all aspects of space and air and missile defense operations.  He has commanded U.S. Army air and missile defense forces in Iraq, Southwest Asia, and throughout the U.S.  Dave is currently an independent aerospace defense contractor and a Stellar Advisor for Stellar Solutions, Inc.

Major General Roger F. Mathews (U.S. Army, Ret.), is a former Deputy Commanding General of U.S. Army-Pacific.  His air and missile defense assignments also included Commanding General of the 94th Army Air & Missile Defense Command, Commandant U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery School, Deputy Commanding General U.S. Army Air Defense Center.  Roger has over 36 years of experience in all aspects of Joint and Combined Integrated Air and Missile Defense.  He has commanded U.S. Army AMD forces and conducted operations in Israel, Germany, and the United States.  Roger is currently an independent aerospace defense contractor and a Stellar Advisor for Stellar Solutions, Inc.

Major General Francis G. Mahon (U.S. Army, Ret.), is a former Director for Strategy, Policy, & Plans at NORAD-U.S. Northern Command.  His air and missile defense assignments also included Director for Test at the Missile Defense Agency, Commanding General of the 32nd Army Air & Missile Defense Command, and Deputy Commanding General of the U.S. Air Defense Artillery School & Center.  Fran has over 34 years of experience:  in joint, combined, and inter-agency operations; developing operational requirements; testing and integrating new technologies; and developing tactics, techniques, and procedures for AMD operations.  He has commanded U.S. Army air and missile defense forces in Southwest Asia, Korea, Germany, and the United States.  Fran is currently an independent aerospace defense contractor and a Stellar Advisor for Stellar Solutions, Inc.

Notes:

1. <https://missilethreat.csis.org/dont-dumb-down-this-us-army-radar/#:~:text=Mark%20Milley%20declared%3A%20%E2%80%9CNone%20of,enemy%20threats%20they%20cannot%20see.>
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=LKBpNW9rE44
3. <https://www.army.mil/e2/downloads/rv7/2019_army_modernization_strategy_final.pdf>
4. <https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/ref/FM/PDFs/FM44-2.PDF>,

This article by David L. Mann, Roger F. Mathews, and Francis G. Mahon first appeared in Real Clear Defense on June 16, 2020.

Image: Specialist Tevin Howe and Specialist Eduardo Martinez take part in training on a U.S. Army Patriot surface-to-air missile launcher at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, January 12, 2019. Picture taken January 12, 2019. U.S. Air Force/Tech. Sgt. Darnell T. Cannady/Handout via REUTERS.