Winds of Change: The Future of the 32D Army Air Defense Command in U.S. Army Europe
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to examine the future of the 32d Army Air Defense Command and the requirements for ground based air defense in Europe as we move toward the turn of the century. With the dramatic political transformation which is taking place in Europe, the virtual disintegration of the Warsaw Pact and pending major force reductions in both NATO and the Warsaw Pact, numerous proposals to modify NATO strategy and forces are now under study. These proposals will involve a comprehensive evaluation of the types of forces in being which should be maintained, the ratio of air to ground forces, and the roles to be played by each NATO member's forces, in conjunction with an overall reassessment of the threat posed by the Soviet Union. Reductions to approximate levels of parity of ground forces will require that NATO and the U.S. place increased emphasis on reinforcing forces and protection of ports, staging areas, and lines of communications. The importance of these facilities and the emerging Soviet air advantage will force the U.S. Army to maintain powerful ground based air defense forces in Europe and to increase the capabilities of those forces. (sdw)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222860
Entities
People
- Jeffrey W. Gault
Organizations
- United States Army War College