Photo By Sgt. Zedekiah Kitchens | U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Manning, left, and Sgt. Gareth Serna, right, air defenders...... read more read more
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SEMBACH, Germany – Soldiers from the 52d Air Defense Artillery Brigade joined U.S. Air Force airmen from the 606th and 103rd Air Control Squadrons and Marines from Marine Air Control Squadron 2 for an Air Defense Artillery Fire Control Officer, or ADAFCO, qualification event at the U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa Air Warfare Center, Aug. 19-28. The training tested their ability to track and defeat complex aerial threats as a synchronized joint team.
This computer-simulated event, one of several Spartan Exercises organized by the 5th Combat Training Squadron, focuses on integrated air and missile defense across Europe. It serves as a joint qualification where ADAFCOs embed directly with Air Force control centers. Together, they coordinate air battle management with ground-based missile interceptors.
The modern battlefield features an increasingly saturated aerial threat environment, combining fighter aircraft, bombers, cruise missiles, ballistic missiles, and drones. Now more than ever, joint synchronization is critical. This training event bridges the operational gap between the Army and Air Force. It allows crews to practice clearing airspace between ground defenses and fighter aircraft. It also serves as the only training event in Europe where fire control crews earn operational certification while fully tied into live Air Force command systems.
“This training gives us the chance to experiment with tactics, figure out how to fight, and get everyone to visualize what the threats look like,” said Brig. Gen. Glenn Henke, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command. “Our strong partnership with USAFE allows us to train and execute to realistic standards.”
During the training, Army fire control teams worked with Air Force and Marine air control crews to deconflict airspace and protect key locations. The simulation created heavy, multi-directional attacks, forcing operators to make quick decisions under pressure. Crews coordinated fires across two battalions located in separate geographical areas. Operators from the 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery Regiment also used a Patriot missile task force linked by the Integrated Battle Command System to speed up target engagement.
“This event provides our crews with the most realistic evaluation possible,” said Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kevin Kruthers, standardization officer for the 52d ADA Brigade. “By ramping up the threat intensity, we force operators to make high-stakes decisions under pressure. We’ve also been able to practice how an IBCS-enabled task force integrates into the joint kill chain before deploying forward.”
These practice runs directly support front-line operations. Fire controls teams from the 10th AAMDC regularly deploy to NATO’s eastern flank and around the globe to work alongside the Air Force. Building trust and communication during simulations is invaluable preparation for real-world crises.
The training also sets the stage for adding next-generation equipment, such as advanced Sentinel radars and Indirect Fire Protection Capability systems, into the joint network.
The UAWC is uniquely postured to bring joint warfighters to train to mission sets they otherwise may not be able to. The Warfare Center’s 5th Combat Training Squadron, 19th Electronic Warfare Squadron, 1st Combat Training Squadron, and Communications Squadron provide warfighters with the simulations, threat emitters, live-fly, and connectivity for the high-end training needed to ensure unit and theater readiness.
By testing crews against modern, high-volume threats, the 10th AAMDC and U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa ensure the joint force remains ready to defend NATO territory against any airborne danger.
| Date Taken: | 08.26.2026 |
| Date Posted: | 08.28.2026 06:09 |
| Story ID: | 573431 |
| Location: | DE |
| Web Views: | 17 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Army air defenders qualify alongside Air Force and Marines during joint simulation in Germany, by CPT Lydia LaRue, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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