text: Air and Missile Defense Operations Process
  2-14. ADA units in a direct support role provide dedicated support to a specific element of the force.
  Supporting ADA units coordinate their movement and positioning with the supported unit. A SHORAD
  platoon, for example, may be placed in direct support of a mechanized task force. The platoon will provide
  dedicated support to the task force, and the platoon leader will position the platoon in accordance with the
  task force commander’s concept of the operation. Additionally, a Patriot battalion can be placed in a direct
  support mission to the AADC.
  2-15. ADA units in a general support role provide support to the force as a whole and not to any particular
  subordinate echelon unit or element. ADA units in general support commonly protect theater, corps, or
  division level assets. They are positioned by the ADA commander.
  2-16. ADA units with general support-reinforcing missions provide support for the force as a whole and,
  secondarily, augment the support provided by other ADA units. ADA units must coordinate with the
  augmented ADA units to reinforce the coverage of assets in the area of operations
  2-17. ADA units in reinforcing roles augment the coverage of other ADA units and strengthen AMD
  capabilities of the force. Reinforcing ADA units are positioned to protect one or more of the reinforced units’
  priorities as specified by supported ADA unit commanders.
  MOVEMENT
  2-18. Movement is executed by the most expedient means needed, in accordance with the JFC’s
  requirements for AMD. Strategic lift may be designated to transport sub-sets of ADA batteries or entire ADA
  units. Due to the large size of many ADA components and systems, and when time is available, transportation
  by means of self-movement, rail movement, or sea vessels for overseas deployments is likely to be more
  economical and efficient.
  2-19. When such stationing or deployments cannot be achieved within a timely manner, the JFC will rely on
  Navy AMD assets to protect early entry assets until land-based ADA capabilities can be deployed.
  POSITIONING
  2-20. ADA units are forward deployed to an area of operations and positioned to best protect the designated
  assets against the projected air and missile threats in accordance with detailed defense designs. Sensor and
  launcher placements are selected to maximize surveillance, tracking, and engagements. In designing a
  defense, sensors are positioned to provide surveillance and fire control tracking capability sufficient to protect
  assigned assets and prevent gaps in the coverage. Sensors are emplaced on terrain that provides the best
  longest range line-of-sight in all directions. Shooters are then positioned to optimize the defense of the
  defended assets, enabling lethal coverage over the assigned assets and extending firepower through as much
  of the defense coverage area as possible. The AMD employment tenets and latest intelligence reports inform
  the defense design. Patriot and THAAD forces may use a weighted defense to counter ballistic missile threats
  from known locations or areas, or a balanced defense when there is a potential for multiple types of threats
  coming from various approaches. Because of the nature of their target set, SHORAD forces may be able to
  rely more heavily on the tendency of low flying threats to be canalized by terrain due to their flight level and
  maneuverability. This may allow SHORAD forces to predict the air avenues of approach for enemy air threats
  and position forward of the defended asset, weight coverage, and achieve early engagement before the threat
  is able to reach its ordnance release line. Communications assets interconnect launchers, sensors, and C2
  nodes to enable an integrated defense. Tools embedded in C2 capabilities, such as the Patriot tactical planning
  workstation and AMDWS, enable automated support to defense planning and defense design to both optimize
  component emplacement and to evaluate defense design alternatives. Software functionality is system
  specific, requiring manual steps to develop an integrated defense design across a task force containing
  multiple system capabilities. When planning, positioning, and determining how often ADA units will be
  required to conduct survivability moves, units take into account the range of enemy indirect fires.
  2-21. Positioning ADA units with maneuver forces (generally the case for SHORAD units) or on or near
  installations (generally for Patriot and THAAD units) allows the units to take advantage of security measures
  and forces on those installations. ADA units have limited self-defense capabilities and thus must rely on
  others for that protection. Antiterrorism and force protection considerations are extremely important given
  the ever present threat of terrorist attacks and the need to protect ADA units at all echelons from becoming