The United States Army is set to expand its air and missile defense force by thirty percent over the next eight years, according to the commander of the Space and Missile Defense Command. This growth will include the addition of three Patriot battalions equipped with advanced radar systems, five Indirect Fire Protection Capability battalions, and seven Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems batteries. The expansion is part of a broader effort to strengthen layered defenses against evolving threats, such as drone swarms and cruise missiles, drawing on lessons from recent conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East.

The Army aims to alleviate the high operational tempo of its Patriot units by both increasing their numbers and fielding new systems to counter a range of battlefield threats. Plans also involve integrating new capabilities into composite battalions and supporting the Defense of Guam system. The service is seeking flexible funding to boost its counter-drone capacity as part of a larger transformation initiative.