The US is looking to make its rotation of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile systems a permanent fixture on Guam to help ease the burden on the cost and deployment of personnel, said Gen. Vincent Brooks, commander of US Army Pacific. Brooks said the Army currently rotates the missile system to Guam on year-long deployments, similar to how the US Air Force rotates its bomber force through Andersen Air Force Base on the island. In the near future, the Army will make its presence permanent, instead of having troops rotate on long-term deployments. The Army has no plans yet to permanently base the system in other countries in the Pacific, such as South Korea or Japan, but the service has “the capability to come if asked.”
For years, sustainment challenges and spare parts shortages have hindered the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter’s readiness. But the Air Force’s experience flying F-35s heavily in operations against Iran have showed what the jet can be capable of, if maintainers get all the supplies and support they need.
