text: ADA Battery
  ENGAGEMENT OPERATIONS
  8-25. When operating as a part of an integrated ADA task force, the ADA task-organized battery C2 node
  operates under the direct supervision of the ADA task force C2 node. The ADA task-organized battery C2
  node directly controls weapons and sensors (THAAD, Patriot, and in some cases Sentinel radars). It
  supervises the operations of the Avenger and C-RAM platoon C2 nodes which directly control their sensors
  (unless under battery control) and shooters.
  8-26. When operating as a part of an ADA task force, the fire control element (FCE) of the task-organized
  battery requires accomplishment of four functions: fire control, which has overall responsibility for battery
  engagement operations, to include identification; surveillance, which is maintenance of the air picture;
  weapons control, which monitors or controls battery component operations; and information control, which
  assures continuous information flow between battery components and the task force C2 node. Manning to
  accomplish these four functions is operational load and operator skill set dependent. Medium to heavy
  operational loads require four Soldiers. Minimum manning is three Soldiers, with one Soldier executing the
  surveillance and weapons control functions.
  8-27. When operating independent of the task force, the battery executes full C2 through its C2 node. Patriot
  batteries, with Patriot-unique C2 nodes, cannot transmit to the kill chain (receive only), unless augmented
  with a DPICC, thus limiting operations to procedural implementation of the ROE and increasing risk of
  fratricide. All other batteries, pure or task-organized, must establish digital and voice connectivity with the
  kill chain and fully integrate operations with joint AMD units.
  * The ADA task-organized battery C2 node either directly controls sensors and shooters or
  supervises platoon C2 nodes, as noted in paragraph 8-13 on page 8-4.
  * The ADA task-organized battery operates a full FCE which requires five functions to be manned:
  fire control, surveillance, identification, weapons control, and information control. Multiple
  functions may be accomplished by a single crew member if the operational load permits. Minimum
  crew size is three Soldiers, combining fire control and identification into a single position, and
  surveillance and weapons control into a single position. Medium to heavy operational loads
  require one Soldier per function. An ADA task-organized battery is not resourced to man a fully
  staffed FCE in which each of the functions is accomplished by a single Soldier. Thus, when heavy
  operational loads are expected, the ADA task-organized battery may require augmentation from
  its parent battalion to operate independent of the ADA task force.
  8-28. Battery engagement operations may be conducted in the manual or automatic mode. The manual mode
  requires the operator to confirm engagement recommendations provided by the automated battle management
  aids or to manually select targets for engagement. Air threats, such as fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, UASs,
  and cruise missiles, can only be engaged in manual mode to reduce the risk of fratricide. For ballistic missiles
  and anti-radiation missiles, the operator has a choice of engaging in the automatic or manual mode. The
  automatic mode uses automated battle management aids to evaluate the missile threat, determine engagement
  eligibility, prioritize the engagement, optimize the engagement timeline, and conduct and monitor execution
  of the engagement (subject to operator override). Due to the shortened engagement timeline and necessity to
  optimize the engagement for increased probability of kill, ballistic missile and anti-radiation missile
  engagements are typically conducted in the automatic mode.
  8-29. When a THAAD battery is the base for an ADA task-organized battery, tactical control of fires is more
  complex. THAAD C2 lacks the software to manage non-ballistic missile components of the air battle; an
  attached platoon(s) lacks ballistic missile defense software. The THAAD battery assumes operational control
  of the attached platoon or platoons. THAAD fires are controlled through the AAMDC ADAFCO and
  managed internal to the THAAD battery. The attached platoon, or platoons, is placed under the tactical
  control of the SADC or RADC through linkages to the kill chain.
  SUSTAINMENT OPERATIONS
  8-30. The sustainment concept for an ADA task-organized battery embodies the principles of
  responsiveness, flexibility, and initiative. Force-projection operations require that the task-organized battery
  anticipates needs and not wait to react. This is accomplished through constant coordination and detailed
  planning between the battery and organizations from which it will draw support.