U.S. Army activates air defense battalion in Guam amid N. Korean, Chinese missile threats: report

This will let Google show Yonhap news articles that match or are related to your search

WASHINGTON, Oct. 23 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Army has activated an air defense battalion in Guam to bolster the island's defenses against regional missile threats, including those posed by North Korea and China, a U.S. military news outlet reported Friday.

The 3rd Battalion, 43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, held an activation ceremony on Oct. 16 at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and will assume the air defense responsibilities previously carried out by Task Force Talon, according to USNI News.

Task Force Talon began its rotational mission in 2013 to counter potential North Korean ballistic missile threats, but its responsibilities have since expanded amid China's growing missile capabilities, the report said.

The newly activated battalion is expected to operate Patriot, Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Intermediate Fires Protection Capability (IFPC) systems as part of a layered defense network against ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft and drones.

"Guam's strategic location makes it an important part of U.S. military operations throughout the region by supporting joint force operations while making air and missile defense a critical part of protecting the forces and infrastructure needed to support those missions," the Army told USNI News.

According to the Army, the transition from a rotational task force to a battalion reflects the Pentagon's commitment to establishing permanent air defense capabilities in the Indo-Pacific.

Guam, a strategically important U.S. territory in the western Pacific, currently relies on THAAD launchers and U.S. Navy Aegis-equipped warships on an as-needed basis for air and missile defense, according to the report.

This file photo shows a U.S. THAAD battery in Seongju, South Korea, on May 19, 2017. The photo is unrelated to the U.S air defense battalion in Guam. (Yonhap)

odissy@yna.co.kr (END)

U.S. military bases in Pacific 'highly vulnerable' to N. Korean, Chinese missiles, drones: expert

Navy's flagship submarine returns after longest voyage across Pacific

U.S. Army activates air defense battalion in Guam amid N. Korean, Chinese missile threats: report

这将使谷歌能够向您展示与您的搜索匹配或相关的韩联社新闻文章。

华盛顿，10 月 23 日（韩联社）——据美国军方新闻媒体周五报道，美国陆军已在关岛启用一个防空营，以加强该岛对包括朝鲜和中国在内的地区导弹威胁的防御能力。

据美国海军学会新闻报道，第43防空炮兵团第3营于10月16日在关岛安德森空军基地举行了成立仪式，并将承担此前由“利爪”特遣部队承担的防空职责。

报告称，“利爪”特遣部队于 2013 年开始执行轮换任务，以应对朝鲜潜在的弹道导弹威胁，但随着中国导弹能力的不断增强，其职责范围也随之扩大。

新成立的营预计将操作爱国者导弹系统、末段高空区域防御系统（THAAD）和中程火力防护能力（IFPC）系统，作为针对弹道导弹、巡航导弹、飞机和无人机的多层防御网络的一部分。

“关岛的战略位置使其成为美国在整个地区军事行动的重要组成部分，它支持联合部队行动，同时使防空和导弹防御成为保护支持这些任务所需的部队和基础设施的关键部分，”美国陆军告诉美国海军学会新闻网。

据陆军方面称，从轮换特遣部队过渡到营级单位，体现了五角大楼致力于在印太地区建立永久性防空能力的决心。

报告称，关岛是美国在西太平洋具有重要战略意义的领土，目前依靠萨德导弹发射装置和美国海军配备宙斯盾系统的军舰进行空中和导弹防御，且需视情况而定。

这张资料照片显示的是2017年5月19日部署在韩国星州的美国“萨德”反导系统。照片与驻关岛的美国防空营无关。（韩联社）

odissy@yna.co.kr (完)

专家称，美国在太平洋的军事基地“极易受到”朝鲜和中国导弹及无人机的攻击。

海军旗舰潜艇完成横跨太平洋的最长航程后返回。

据报道，面对朝鲜和中国的导弹威胁，美国陆军在关岛启动了一个防空营。