Army seeks public input on study of possible Iron Dome sites

By Cathy KroppMarch 3, 2022

The Iron Dome battery system is a truck-towed, multi-mission mobile air defense system developed to counter very short-range rockets and artillery shell threats .
1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The Iron Dome battery system is a truck-towed, multi-mission mobile air defense system developed to counter very short-range rockets and artillery shell threats . (Photo Credit: US Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army prepares to field air defense system known as Iron Dome Defense System - Army or IDDS-A.
2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Army prepares to field air defense system known as Iron Dome Defense System - Army or IDDS-A. (Photo Credit: US Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Army is seeking public comment on its environmental study of possible sites for new air defense units.

The Army invites government agencies, Native American Tribes and the public to submit input by April 4, 2022 regarding the programmatic environmental assessment and draft finding of no significant impact pertaining to the Iron Dome Defense System–Army. The Army will consider all timely comments prior to making a final decision on where to place IDDS-A units.

Copies of the PEA and draft FONSI are available online at https://aec.army.mil/index.php?cID=352.

Comments should be emailed to usarmy.jbsa.aec.nepa@army.mil with “IDDS-A Public Comments” in the subject line. Comments can also be submitted via regular mail to U.S. Army Environmental Command, ATTN: IDDS-A Public Comments, 2455 Reynolds Road, Mail Stop 112, JBSA-Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-7588.

The PEA discusses placing one or two IDDS-A units – known as batteries – at one or two of seven military installations: Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Campbell, Kentucky; Fort Riley, Kansas; Fort Sill, Oklahoma; Fort Stewart, Georgia; and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. The PEA includes analysis of potential environmental impacts associated with Soldiers, materiel and training that are required to field IDDS-A.

Establishing, or “fielding,” IDDS-A batteries would improve the defense of fixed and semi-fixed sites. These sites include airfields and forward operating bases in deployed settings. The Army plans to field two IDDS-A batteries by Sept. 30, 2022.

IDDS-A enhances the Army’s capacity to defend against attacks from aircraft, cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, and rocket, artillery and mortar fire. IDDS-A is part of the Army’s larger air and missile defense modernization strategy.

Each IDDS-A battery would consist of approximately 60 soldiers, 13 heavy expanded mobility tactical trucks, six missile-firing units, one radar system, battle management and communications systems, and support equipment.

At this time, the Army does not expect to build additional facilities or training ranges in support of IDDS-A. Based on the PEA’s findings, the Army anticipates the environmental impact to be negligible or minor.

The Army has been developing an air defense system for years, but it is not yet ready to deploy. The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 required the Army to deploy an interim missile defense capability while the Army continues to develop an enduring solution. After evaluating existing air defense systems, the Army chose IDDS-A as its interim missile defense capability.

For more information about IDDS-A, contact the U.S. Army Environmental Command Public Affairs Office by email at usarmy.jbsa.aec.mbx@army.mil or by phone at 210-466-1590 or 210-488-6061.