Fires (U.S. Army)

Fires (U.S. Army) is the collective term for the United States Army's warfighting function that integrates the lethal and non-lethal effects of Artillery, Air defense, and Target acquisition assets. This branch, centered at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, is responsible for providing decisive, long-range precision strike and protective capabilities to maneuver commanders. Its evolution reflects the shift from massed cannon fire to a sophisticated network of sensors and shooters, deeply integrated into Joint warfare and multinational operations.

Definition and mission

The Fires warfighting function is defined by the United States Department of the Army as the related tasks and systems that provide collective and coordinated use of Indirect fire, Air defense artillery, and Joint fires through the targeting process. Its primary mission is to destroy, neutralize, or suppress enemy targets and to protect friendly forces, critical assets, and maneuver freedom from air and missile attack. This encompasses planning and executing Counter-battery fire, Close air support integration, and Electronic warfare in support of the Combined arms team. Key doctrinal publications like ADP 3-09 and ATP 3-09.30 govern its employment, emphasizing synchronization with operations conducted by the United States Marine Corps, United States Air Force, and allied nations.

Historical development

The lineage of Army Fires traces back to the American Revolutionary War with the formation of the Continental Army's artillery regiments. The Field Artillery Branch was formally established in 1907, with the Coast Artillery Corps handling coastal defense. The massive artillery barrages of World War I and World War II, such as those during the Battle of the Bulge, demonstrated its destructive power. The Cold War saw a focus on Nuclear artillery and the development of systems like the M110 howitzer. The transformative shift began after the Gulf War, leading to the 2007 merger of the Field Artillery and Air Defense Artillery Branch under the unified Fires concept, a move formalized by the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. This integration was proven in subsequent conflicts like the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan.

Organization and structure

Fires units are organized from the Brigade combat team level up to Echelons above corps. A typical Armored Brigade Combat Team includes a Fires Battalion equipped with M109A7 Paladin howitzers. At the division level, a Division Artillery headquarters commands multiple battalions, while Corps and theater levels are served by Fires Brigades and the 11th Air Defense Artillery Brigade. The 18th Field Artillery Brigade and the 75th Field Artillery Brigade are examples of strategic-level formations. Key institutional homes include the Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill, which oversees the Field Artillery School and the Air Defense Artillery School, and the United States Army Space and Missile Defense Command.

Capabilities and systems

Modern Fires capabilities are built on a "sensor-to-shooter" network linking advanced platforms. Key rocket and missile systems include the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS, which can fire MGM-140 ATACMS and precision-guided GMLRS rounds. Cannon systems feature the M777 howitzer and the M109 howitzer. Air defense relies on the MIM-104 Patriot, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), and forward-area systems like the M-SHORAD. Critical enabling assets are the AN/TPQ-53 counterfire radar, the RQ-7 Shadow drone, and the Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System. Future programs include the Extended Range Cannon Artillery project and the integration of hypersonic systems like the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon.

Training and doctrine

Training for Fires professionals is conducted primarily at the Fires Center of Excellence at Fort Sill. Key courses include the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course and the Joint Fires Observer course. The core doctrinal principle is "Fires in support of maneuver," executed through the Decide, Detect, Deliver, Assess methodology. Exercises like Joint Warfighter Assessment and Saber Strike validate tactics in combined environments. Critical skills taught are Call for fire, Battle damage assessment, and the use of the Joint Targeting Cycle. The doctrine emphasizes interoperability with partners like NATO and key allies such as the British Army and the Australian Army.

Role in joint and multinational operations

Army Fires is a critical component of the Joint force, providing ground-based long-range effects that complement the air power of the United States Air Force and United States Navy. Fires cells are embedded in Joint Task Force headquarters and Combined Air Operations Centers like Al Udeid Air Base. In multinational coalitions, Fires units coordinate through agreements like the Joint Tactical Air Controller program and the NATO Tactical Air Control Party. Operations in Eastern Europe with the 3rd Infantry Division, in the Indo-Pacific with United States Army Pacific, and in the Middle East with United States Central Command demonstrate its global role in deterring adversaries and assuring allies.