Air Defense Artillery in Middle East Operations

1669 Words4 Pages

Our nation has been in conflict with the Middle East for over two and a half decades. Air Defense Artillery has made a huge impact in Middle East conflicts. The threats that make Air Defense Artillery a necessity for these conflicts include a number of aircraft, such as planes, jets and helicopters as well as launched munitions like scud missiles and mortars. Air Defense Artillery is an ever evolving force and has been there for protection of American forces against these threats. Air Defense Artillery is a group of weapons that divide the airspace into two different sectors. Short Range Air Defense, also known as SHORAD, defends against low altitude, short range aircraft and munitions. High to Medium Altitude Air Defense, also known as HIMAD, defends against long range, high speed, high altitude air breathing threats and munitions. Air and Missile Defense units, also known as AMD Battalions, include a combination of SHORAD and HIMAD defensive systems.

The Gulf war was a conflict that took place from 2 August 1990 to 28 February 1991. The reason for the United States involvement in this conflict was to liberate Kuwait from the invasion of Iraq. (Henry) SHORAD had a large role to play in this event through the protection against Iraq’s air breathing and munitions threats.

SHORAD, Short Range Air Defense, covers a wide variety of weapon systems. Some of these weapons systems include the Stinger, the Avenger and Counter, Rocket, Artillery, Mortar (CRAM) missile systems. MANPADS (Man Portable Air Defense System) is a single firing, hand held, shoulder launching Stinger missile system that defends against helicopters and other low flying aircraft such as unmanned aerial vehicles. The Avenger is a HMMWV, short fo...

... middle of paper ...

...ns, and will continue to be there, until peace has been restored and the area is free of an Air Defense threat.

Works Cited

32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Public Affairs Office. "Theater Air and Missile Defense

Implications of Operations in Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom." June 2005: 7-9.

March 7, 2011 www.airdefenseartillery.com

Andrew Leyden. "Gulf War Debriefing Book." Hellgate Press/PSI Research of Oregon. 1997

Department of the Army. TM 9-1430-601-10-1. Operator's Manual for Radar Set, Semitrailer

Mounted: AN/MPQ-53. Headquarters Department of the Army. 1993.

Lisa B. Henry. “Air Defense Units.” Arabian Knights. March 7 2011

www.us.army.mil/suite/designer

Starkey, Rick. "Divisional Air Defense Artillery Units Learn Keys." June 2005: 12-15.

March 7, 2011 www.firsttofire.com

Open Document