Sean Gayney, Commander of the US Army Space and Missile Defense Command, recently stated that the US Army plans to increase its air defense and anti missile capabilities by 30% over the next 8 years. This means that the number of combat battalions equipped with the Patriot air defense system by the US Army will increase from the current 15 to 18. In addition, the US Army plans to establish a separate combat battalion equipped with an enhanced version of the Patriot air defense system in Guam, further promoting the global deployment of missile defense systems. To meet the growing demand for air defense and anti missile forces, the US Department of Defense recently signed a 20-year contract with Raytheon, allocating approximately $50 billion to maintain and increase production of the Patriot air defense system. The US Department of Defense stated that the contract did not go through the bidding process because Raytheon is a "supplier that can meet the technical requirements of the system and provide the required components on time". A US military spokesperson stated that the "Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battalion" to be established by the US Army in Guam in the future will become an important component of Guam's defense system. This battalion is specifically designed for Guam's security and does not count towards the total of 18 regular Patriot air defense system battalions. It will be equipped with an enhanced version of the "Patriot" air defense system, supported by the "indirect fire protection capability" system and the "comprehensive combat command system". Among them, the "indirect fire protection capability" system is designed specifically for defending against rockets, heavy artillery, mortar shells, cruise missiles, and drones, and is mainly deployed in fixed or semi fixed locations. The "Integrated Combat Command System" is the latest deployed command and control system of the US military, aimed at seamlessly connecting firepower units and sensors, building an integrated combat network and priority defense zone. In addition, the "low-level air defense and anti missile sensor" radar produced by Raytheon Company will replace the AN/MPQ-65 radar equipped in the current "Patriot" air defense system, enabling the system to achieve 360 degree blind spot monitoring and global interception capability, and greatly expanding the range and interception height. James Mingus, Deputy Chief of Staff of the US Army, stated that all newly produced and soon to be deployed Patriot air defense systems will be equipped with the aforementioned systems, enabling them to be deployed and dispersed in a more flexible tactical mode, doubling overall combat effectiveness. Some comments believe that the above measures taken by the US Army indicate that the US military is accelerating the construction of a modern air defense and missile defense system with distributed combat capabilities, fast response, and precise strikes, and building key nodes in the Pacific region. This reflects the focus of the US military strategy and is also an important part of its promotion of the Indo Pacific strategy. In recent years, the construction of the US air defense system has entered an accelerated development stage. The "Air Defense Strategy Concept Before 2028" released by the US military in 2018 proposes to enhance the defense capabilities of the United States in the event of conflicts with high-tech opponents in response to changes in combat methods. At present, the US military is supplementing and revising the strategy, and is expected to release the "Air Defense Strategy Concept Before 2040" in October. Sean Ganey pointed out that the new strategic concept will draw on the experience and lessons of local conflicts in recent years, pay more attention to the actual needs of the battlefield, fully integrate the development achievements of artificial intelligence and advanced technology, and include the "Golden Dome" missile defense system plan, while reiterating the concept of "scale is capability". The new strategic concept will focus on multiple aspects, including the integration of lethal and non lethal means, integrated offensive and defensive combat mode, human-machine collaboration, and deep application of artificial intelligence. It also emphasizes the concept of "intelligent missile strike before destruction", which means intercepting the opponent's missile before it takes off to cope with the so-called high-intensity saturation strike. According to reports, the "Patriot" air defense system has exposed many weaknesses and shortcomings after multiple combat operations. According to the data, the cost of each Patriot air defense missile is around 4 million US dollars, and the cost-effectiveness for dealing with saturation attacks is not high, and it is almost impossible to intercept hypersonic missiles. Its production is also difficult to meet the surge in demand of the US military in the short term. The manufacturer of this type of ammunition, Lockheed Martin, has an annual production of about 600 pieces, which is significantly different from the planned procurement quantity of the US military. In addition, most of the relevant technologies in the US military's strategic vision are still immature, and there are many variables in their future development. (New Society)