An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : Media : News : News Article View
NEWS | Sept. 23, 2019

Cyber Domain Links Communication, Improves Pacific Region Readiness

By Sgt. Raquel Villalona 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade

SAGAMIHARA, Japan -- In a U.S. unilateral training exercise, air defense, fires, aviation and maritime elements merged proficiencies to enhance readiness in the Pacific Region.

The 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade partnered with 17th Field Artillery Brigade, U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan, and U.S. Navy HSM-51 Maritime Strike Squadron, aligned communication capabilities through the use of the Link 16 cyber domain on Sagami General Depot, Sept. 9-21.

“Link 16 is a joint data communication that provides the end user with connectivity to other forces,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Keon Ellison, interface control officer, 38th ADA Brigade. “It provides targeting data, air track data. Basically, it provides input into the common operational picture or the air picture that allows the unit to see where everything is and see where other players are on the battlefield.”

The 17th FAB served as the multi-domain task force headquarters for the training event.

“Helping operations was the participation of the 38th ADA Brigade granting access to equipment that we don't organically have in the 17th FAB,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Christopher W. Coker, command and control systems integrator, 17th FAB. “With the use of Link 16, as well as assets such as the MH-60 (Sea Hawk Helicopters) from the U.S. Navy and UH-60L (Black Hawk Helicopters) from U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan, all of those entities coming together, helped us validate and further test what we can actually accomplish as a multi-domain task force.”

Participants sought to increase interoperability and prove that they could share targeting information and sensor information to lethal systems and mission command nodes across the Link 16 network for commanders to make real-time immediate decisions.

“It takes all the domains: air, cyber, and ground, and brings them together into one task force,” said Lt. Col. John Franz, U.S. Army Aviation Battalion-Japan commander. “The task force commander has multi-domain assets scattered across the battlefield in a distributed fashion. The air component provides lethal fires and reconnaissance to that air domain for situational awareness and also protects distributed assets.”

The exercise offered a collaborative approach to address the complexities of joint operations and enhances ‘Fight Tonight’ unit readiness.

“The training was challenging because when we talk about joint partners and multi-service operations, there’s always a little bit of colloquialism that goes along with that,” said Franz. “We had to break through some of those barriers, simple things like frequency exchanges and terminology, to make the training much more effective.”

Link 16 allows the exchange of voice and data needed to build a common operating picture and provide effective mission command.

“Multi-domain operations are about punching a hole in the enemies defenses to rapidly exploit that hole and then go back to that defense,” said Franz. “That helps our partners and allies here in Japan and other services to be able to bring their assets to the fight and to be able to conduct operations with the Army in order to seamlessly show… that we can go attack the enemy and then go back to the defense.”

CONNECT WITH USINDOPACOM
Facebook

Like Us
X
363,233
Follow Us

ENGAGE & CONNECT MORE WITH PACOM

                                                 

IN THE USINDOPACOM NEWS
Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With President Wesley Simina of the Federated States of Micronesia
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout...

AUKUS Trilateral Statement
Graphic intended for use as a placeholder for Statements and Press Releases without accompanying imagery.
March 22, 2024 - The Honourable Richard Marles MP, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Australia; the Right Honourable Grant Shapps, Secretary of State for Defence, United Kingdom; and Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary of Defense,...

U.S., India launch Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024
Courtesy Photo
March 21, 2024 - Indian and U.S. combined armed forces began Exercise Tiger TRIUMPH 2024 with the arrival of amphibious transport dock ship USS Somerset (LPD 25), March 18 and an opening ceremony March 19.This is the third time U.S. and...

USACE: Ensuring Safety Every Step of the Way
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work in Japan for all military services and agencies. With over 60 years of experience in designing and constructing facilities in Japan, JED possesses the experience in Japanese standards and specifications, regulations, construction practices, maintenance requirements, and culture needed to ensure facilities are built with the utmost safety and professionalism. Photo by Charles Maib.
March 21, 2024 - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers - Japan Engineer District (USACE JED) is the premier Department of Defense (DoD) military construction (MILCON) agent in the Pacific, providing facilities-related design and construction work...

THAAD Battery in Guam Successfully Completes Table VIII Evaluation
A Terminal High Altitude Area Defense launcher used by E-3 Air Defense Artillery THAAD Battery as part of their Table VIII certification in Dededo, Guam, March 13, 2024. The THAAD battery, equipped with a state-of-the-art missile defense system, is tasked with defending Guam against ballistic missile threats. (U.S. Army Photo by Maj. Trevor Wild)
March 21, 2024 - In a testament to readiness and operational excellence, Task Force Talon's E-3 ADA THAAD Battery conducted a Table VIII evaluation for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system stationed in Guam, March 11-15,...