WASHINGTON — The recent decision to send a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) battery to Israel, along with approximately 100 personnel to operate it, is intensifying existing pressures on the Army’s air defense capabilities and could potentially slow down the modernization of its missile defense systems, according to Army officials.
During a press briefing, top Army leaders refrained from sharing specific details regarding the deployment ordered by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. However, they expressed broader concerns driven by the increasing demand for THAAD and Patriot missile systems amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and rising tensions between Israel and militant groups allied with Iran, notably Hezbollah and Hamas.
“The air defense and artillery sector is currently facing significant stress, experiencing the highest operational tempo in the Army,” noted Army Secretary Christine Wormuth, referring to the ongoing frequency and intensity of operations. “We are continually striving to maintain discipline and provide Secretary Austin with accurate information regarding the strain on our forces, especially when he evaluates upcoming operational deployments.”
Wormuth emphasized the importance of carefully considering new commitments, stating, “We are in a volatile world, and sometimes we must make difficult choices.”
The Department of Defense confirmed the THAAD deployment on Sunday, stating this action was taken at the direction of President Joe Biden. According to U.S. officials, the THAAD system will be transported from a domestic U.S. location to Israel, with the arrival of both the system and the soldiers expected to take several days. Officials cited the need for anonymity to discuss troop movements.
This deployment exacerbates ongoing tensions within the Defense Department concerning the capabilities the U.S. can send to allies such as Ukraine and Israel, raising concerns about the potential risks to America’s military readiness and its national defense.
“There’s a significant demand for U.S. Army air defense forces,” said Gen. Randy George, the Army chief of staff, during a question-and-answer session at the Association of the U.S. Army’s annual conference. “This is our most extensively deployed formation.”
The decision to dispatch THAAD comes amid speculation that Israel is poised for military action in response to Iran’s missile attack on October 1, which involved about 180 missiles targeting Israel. While Israel maintains a comprehensive air defense framework, recent events, including a drone attack by Hezbollah that resulted in the deaths of four Israeli soldiers and injuries to several others, highlight the growing need for enhanced security measures.
Since October 8, 2023, clashes between Israeli forces and Hezbollah fighters in Lebanon have escalated, with Hezbollah firing rockets across the border in support of Hamas in Gaza. The drone assault represents Hezbollah’s most significant operation since Israel initiated a ground offensive in Lebanon two weeks prior.
Even though the THAAD deployment requires around 100 soldiers, which is not expected to impose substantial additional pressure on air defense forces, Wormuth acknowledged it contributes to the already rapid deployment schedule. The Army has been striving to ensure service members can spend adequate time training and resetting between deployments, following the reduction in operations related to the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
Reducing the “dwell time,” or time spent at home, can adversely affect the Army’s ability to retain quality personnel. Gen. George remarked, “These soldiers are highly skilled, but maintaining a cycle of year-long deployments is a tough situation for anyone.”
The Army is exploring various strategies to mitigate impacts on recruitment and retention, such as increasing personnel and modernizing equipment to require fewer operators. However, ongoing deployments challenge the Army’s capacity to submit systems for necessary upgrades.
Wormuth indicated that Army leadership is focused on clearly articulating their needs when combat commanders approach Secretary Austin with requests for additional systems in the Middle East or Ukraine. “We must bring these units back home for modernization purposes,” she explained. “Thus, we are striving to present that information to Secretary Austin so that he can effectively assess the trade-offs between current and future risks as he advises the president on deploying additional systems.”