Patriot-HAWK Exercise

By 1-62 ADA Battalion Courtesy AssetFebruary 20, 2014

Capt Chase Pittman of 1-62 ADA operates as the U.S. Patriot Tactical Control Officer.  At his side Emirati Soldiers operate a simulated HAWK weapons system during an integrated air battle.
(Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SOUTHWEST ASIA- Last month the Soldiers of 1-62 Air Defense Artillery Battalion, who are currently deployed forward, trained with their host-nation air defense artillery forces of the United Arab Emirates, utilizing the Air Force Central Command Air Warfare Center in support of HAWK Exercise IV.

The HAWKEX was organized by the Integrated Air and Missile Defense Center or IAMDC in order to support regional campaign plans through the execution of multi-national integrated air and

missile defense exercises. They also conducted leader seminars to enhance relationships through integration and team building among partner nations.

Within the IAMDC is the U.S. Army's Air Defense Liaison Team or ADLT, whose purpose is to synchronize for the prevention of fratricide, communicate positive identification of aircraft, and determine which weapons systems will engage hostile tracks in the airspace assigned to them.

Throughout the exercise the IAMDC's ADLT worked consistently with the Patriot missile system operators in order to meet the exercise's intent.

The exercise utilized a combined air operations center construct which used liaison officers from each participating nation as the conduit to share information to their respective national cell. Not only did this serve to be a realistic method of command and control, it also highlighted areas to improve among the participants throughout the simulation.

The exercise began with foundational presentations centered on integrated air and missile defense systems and capabilities as well as fundamentals. Discussions and briefings focused on common core information that was used to establish baseline knowledge so each participant had a common frame of reference.

The second day featured the development of an integrated air and missile defense design using a notional scenario. Both countries convened to identify specific assets and used organic and coalition air and missile defense systems to defend against the scenario's threat.

The exercise culminated with two days of simulation runs in the IAMDC Battle Lab. The simulations began under peacetime rules of engagement using complex scenarios designed to challenge the participants in exercising ground based air defense, defensive counter air and command and control procedures. The simulations culminated as enemy forces conducted a full aerial attack against allied forces through the use of air breathing threats and tactical ballistic missiles.

The objective for 1-62 ADA Soldiers was to develop skills for Patriot interoperability in a layered defense and to strengthen its partnership with its host nation counterparts. At the completion of the exercise, the ADLT team had successfully integrated weapons systems such as Aegis combat system, combat air patrols, Patriot, HAWK, and other short range air defense

Both nations' objectives were successfully met, which will posture systems U.S. and UAE Air Defense forces for productive future military partnerships.