The U.S. European Command (EUCOM) has deployed a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to Israel to conduct exercises, a first for the system.
EUCOM said on Monday this was done at the direction of the Secretary of Defense “as a demonstration of the United States’ continued commitment to Israel’s regional security under the Department of Defense’s Dynamic Force Employment concept.”
The deployment will be used in missile defense exercises with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Former Secretary of Defense James Mattis pushed dynamic force employment as a strategy for the U.S. military to be less predictable to adversaries and more agile. A previous example had the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) carrier strike group return to Norfolk, Va., after only three months on deployment, then sending it to the North Atlantic to participate in the NATYO Trident Juncture exercise.
EUCOM said the THAAD deployment integrates capabilities, systems, and personnel stationed in the U.S. and Europe with Israeli partners.
On Twitter the IDF explained EUCOM is “currently conducting a missile defense system (THAAD) exercise deployment in Israel, which is part of US efforts to implement its operational concept & mission to assist in Israel’s aerial defense.”
The IDF called this deployment “an opportunity for the IDF to practice integrating advanced American air defense systems into the IAF [Israel Air Force] Air Defense Array.”
The @US_EUCOM is currently conducting a missile defense system (THAAD) exercise deployment in Israel, which is part of US efforts to implement its operational concept & mission to assist in Israel’s aerial defense. pic.twitter.com/e9z3vOLiJv
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 4, 2019
Israel also noted this is a defensive deployment and not related to a specific current event.
During this deployment, U.S. personnel will work in several locations in Israel, practice operational procedures to augment Israel’s air and missile defense systems, refine network connectivity, validate THAAD system requirements, and conduct multinational training and security cooperation activities.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement that deploying THAAD to Israel “is additional testimony to the commitment of the US to the security of Israel.”
“The bond between the US and Israel has never been stronger. I welcome the holding of this joint exercise,” he added.
This THAAD battery deployed from the 11
th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, 32nd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (AAMDC) at Ft. Bliss, Texas.
EUCOM underscored the use of dynamic force employment by noting the American strategic airlift capability “provides the U.S. military the ability to rapidly deploy forces anywhere in the world.”