US intends to create a network of small bases in the Pacific in case of war with China

It is the concept of Agile Combat Employment, which provides active protection of objects from large -scale rocket strokes of the enemy. The US Air Force is actively developing a network of displayed bases and airfields in the Pacific, preparing for a possible conflict with China.

As part of the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, it is planned to distribute air operations to many small operational points, which will complicate the potential opponent of causing massive rocket strokes on US facilities. About it writes Defense News, giving the words of the Chief of Staff of the US Air Force General David Alvin. According to the commander, to ensure reliable protection of these bases, improvement of active defense measures is required.

"I would feel more confident if we had a more reliable active protection of the bases. If we have to act from these objects, the presence of active defense will certainly help with the threat of a large number of rocket attacks," he said. Traditionally, the army has provided and maintained air defense systems such as Patriot and Thaad on objects, but these systems are probably too expensive for the Pentagon to place them on several small island bases throughout the region.

The ACE concept involves the use of various bases, including local civilian airports and field airports. The focus is on the training of "multifunctional pilots" capable of performing several tasks, such as aircraft refueling and security. The observers say that during the recent exercises, Bamboo Eagle worked out methods of working in the conditions of modeled battle space and management of distributed units.

However, according to Alvin, the pilots should continue preparation, as the required level of "pilots still do not reach. " An important task is to counter missile attacks, especially in a large number of small bases, each of which cannot be equipped with its own anti -missile defense. The Air Force is also given attention to old but proven methods of masking and deception, using fake goals to confuse the enemy.