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| United States Army Fires Command | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | United States Army Fires Command |
| Caption | Insignia of the Fires Command |
| Dates | 2014–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Army |
| Type | Field artillery and air defense |
| Role | Fires integration and materiel |
| Garrison | Fort Sill |
United States Army Fires Command
The United States Army Fires Command was established to centralize field artillery and air defense artillery materiel management, doctrine, and modernization, integrating legacy systems like the M777 howitzer and emerging systems such as the Long Range Precision Fires family. The command coordinated acquisition, sustainment, and training support across installations including Fort Sill, Joint Base Lewis–McChord, and Fort Bliss, while interfacing with acquisition organizations like the Army Materiel Command and research institutions such as the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command. Its charter linked operational requirements from combatant commands like U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command to industrial partners including Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems, and Raytheon Technologies.
The command was activated amid reform efforts driven by lessons from the Iraq War, Operation Enduring Freedom, and analysis from the 2018 National Defense Strategy. Its formation followed doctrinal reviews influenced by publications from the Center for Strategic and International Studies and the RAND Corporation, and procurement shifts highlighted in hearings before the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Armed Services Committee. Early initiatives addressed force structure guidance in the Quadrennial Defense Review and transitions prompted by the European Reassurance Initiative and concerns raised during exercises such as Exercise Defender-Europe. The command evolved alongside programs like the Army Futures Command modernization priorities and the restructuring of Field Artillery School assets at Fort Sill.
The command’s mission encompassed life-cycle management for systems supporting joint fires, coordination with the Joint Staff and U.S. Space Force for space-enabled targeting, and interfacing with the Defense Innovation Unit and Missile Defense Agency on integrated capabilities. It prioritized interoperability with partner militaries engaged in initiatives like the NATO Allied Command Transformation and capability development referenced in the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute assessments. The role included shepherding programs such as Precision Strike Missile and the modernization of sensors and command-and-control capabilities aligned with concepts promulgated by U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command and the U.S. Army Combined Arms Center.
Organizationally, the command nested under administrative authorities tied to Army Materiel Command and coordinated with functional proponents at TRADOC and the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment. It maintained subordinate element relationships with units at Fort Sill, sustainment brigades formerly aligned with Army Sustainment Command, and partnered with research laboratories like the Army Research Laboratory and Edgewood Chemical Biological Center. The structure included directorates for capability development, logistics integration, and materiel readiness, and liaison cells assigned to combatant commands such as U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command.
The command’s portfolio spanned systems from the M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS to legacy tube artillery like the M119 howitzer and the M109 Paladin. It managed capability transitions toward systems including Extended Range Cannon Artillery, Precision Strike Missile, and integrated munitions such as the Excalibur (GPS-guided projectile), while coordinating missile defense elements like the Patriot (missile) and emerging directed-energy initiatives associated with programs at Naval Surface Warfare Center. Sustainment responsibilities addressed depot maintenance at facilities like the Red River Army Depot and supply chain integration with contractors like General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman.
Doctrine promulgated in cooperation with the Field Artillery School and the Combined Arms Center aligned with publications from the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, integrating lessons from campaigns such as the Battle of Mosul and operational concepts debated in journals like the Military Review. Training pipelines supported certification at institutions such as the National Training Center and Joint Readiness Training Center, and exercises at ranges like the White Sands Missile Range. The command coordinated live-fire exercises involving partners from the British Army and Australian Army and fostered wargaming with centers including the Center for Naval Analyses and the McCain Institute-sponsored workshops.
Elements overseen by the command participated in rotational deployments to theaters managed by U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command, contributing to multinational exercises like Operation Atlantic Resolve, Red Flag-integrated fires events, and Vigilant Guard domestic support missions. The command supported interoperability trials with allies under NATO frameworks and bilateral activities with militaries such as the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and the Republic of Korea Army. It also provided materiel and sustainment backing for contingency operations referenced in after-action reports from Operation Inherent Resolve.
Leadership included senior officers with backgrounds in Field Artillery School, prior commands at III Corps, and assignments within Army Materiel Command and U.S. Army Forces Command. Commanders liaised with congressional delegations from districts hosting key installations such as those represented by members of the House Armed Services Committee and maintained engagement with defense industry leaders from firms like Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies. Senior civilian leadership coordinated with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and acquisition leadership including the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology.
Category:United States Army installations Category:Field artillery units and formations of the United States Army