Updated April 13, 2021

The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
The Significance of the Multi-Domain
Task ForceCongress has expressed concern regarding the growing
threat to U.S. national security posed by a resurgent Russia
and China. The Army contends in order to address thisthreat, it must be able to operate in a multi-domain [air,land, water, space, cyber, information] environment
which requires new operational concepts, technologies,weapons, and units. The Multi-Domain Task Force(MDTF) is the Army’s self-described “organizationalcenterpiece” of this effort.

What Is a Multi-Domain Task Force(MDTF)?

In the Army’s Chief of Staff Paper #1: Army Multi-Domain
Transformation Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict
dated March 16, 2021 the Army describes the MultiDomain Task Force (MDTF) as “theater-level maneuver
elements designed to synchronize precision effects andprecision fires in all domains against adversary anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) networks in all domains, enabling joint
forces to execute their operational plan (OPLAN)-directedroles.”What Is the Purpose of MDTFs?
The first MDTF was created in 2017 as an experimental
unit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington andparticipated in a variety of experiments and exercises toboth test its capabilities and develop requirements forequipment and units to be included as part of the MDTF
force design. According to the Army, the MDTF’s purposeis during competition, to “gain and maintain contact with
our adversaries to support the rapid transition to crisis orconflict”;

 during a crisis, to “deter adversaries and shape theenvironment by providing flexible response options tothe combatant commander”; and if conflict arises, to “neutralize adversary A2/AD
networks to enable joint freedom of action.”
MDTF Organization
The diagram at Figure 1 depicts a notional generic MDTF:
Figure 1. Notional Generic MDTF

What Is Anti-Access/ Area Denial (A2/AD)?
Anti-Access is defined as any action, activity, orcapability, usually long-range, designed to prevent anadvancing military force from entering an operationalarea. Area Denial is defined as action, activity, orcapability, usually short-range, designed to limit anadversarial force’s freedom of action within anoperational area. In terms of weapon systems, threat
A2/AD defenses are envisioned of being comprised oflayered and integrated long-range precision-strikesystems, littoral anti-ship capabilities, air defenses, andlong-range artillery and rocket systems.

MDTFs are intended to support freedom of action of U.S.
forces. MDTFs are to be scalable from operational tostrategic level and can be modified to support the needs ofJoint Force Commanders. MDTFs also provide supported
commanders the ability to plan, integrate, control, track,and assess the effectiveness of joint counter-A2/ADactivities.
The Army intends for each MDTF to have an All-Domain
Operations Center (ADOC) to enable 24/7 monitoring ofadversary activities in all domains.

Source: Chief of Staff Paper #1 Army Multi-Domain Transformation
Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict, March 16, 2021, p. 12.
Notes: HIMARS: High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System presently inuse by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. While not explicitly stated,the first Military Intelligence (MI) Company depicted is assumed to beterrestrially-focused while the second Military Intelligence Company,
based on its military symbol, is assumed to be space-focused.

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The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)

The Army notes that each MDTF will be tailored toCombatant Commander needs so, in reality, the notional
MDTF in Figure 1 may contain more, fewer, or other typesof units depending on the requirements of its assigned
theater of operations. In addition, the Mid-Range
Capabilities (MRC) Battery and the Long-Range
Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW) Battery depicted in Figure 1are not, at present, established Army units. The Armycurrently plans to field its first MRC and LRHW units inFY2023.
Army Plans for MDTFs
The Army plans to build five MDTFs: two aligned to theIndo-Pacific region; one aligned to Europe; one stationed inthe Arctic region and oriented on multiple threats; and a
fifth MDTF aligned for global response. At present, MDTF1 is headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-McChord,Washington, and aligned to the U.S. Army Pacific.

 According to the Army, MDTF-Europe is to support
U.S. Army Europe and Africa. While much has been
said regarding the MDTF’s role in countering Russia
and China, what, if any, type of role does the Armyenvision for MDTF-Europe in relation to operations inAfrica?

 Will any of the remaining three MDTFs be created inthe Reserve Components (Army National Guard andArmy Reserve)? If not, what is the Army’s rationale for
not doing so?

 Where does the Army plan to station the remaining three
MDTFs? What, if any, are the associated military
construction (MILCON) requirements?

 Aside from the Mid-Range Capabilities (MRC) Battery
and the Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW)
Battery (not scheduled to be activated until FY2023),
what other new units are required to be formed as part of
the MDTF? What are their roles and when will theseunits be operational? Do these units require specialized
equipment also in development?

Army Announces MDTF Stationing in Europe
On April 13, 2021, the Army announced it would station aMDTF in Germany with an expected activation date of
September 16, 2021. MDTF-Europe is to support U.S.
Army Europe and Africa. MDTF-Europe is to be composedof field artillery units; composite air and missile defense
units; intelligence, cyberspace, electronic warfare, andspace units; and aviation and brigade support elements.
Soldiers assigned to MDTF-Europe and their accompanying
family members are to be part of U.S. Army Garrison
Wiesbaden.

 As a theater and Combatant Command asset, how will

Potential Issues for Congress

Additional References

Potential issues for Congress include but are not limited tothe following.

 CRS Report R46721, U.S. Army Long-Range Precision

 How many soldiers will be assigned to a generic (asdepicted in Figure 1) MDTF? Will the Army request
additional endstrength to create MDTFs? If not, howwill the Army acquire the soldiers needed for these newunits? Will the other Services have personnel assignedto MDTFs?

 With MDTF 1 currently operational at Joint Base
Lewis-McChord in Washington and MDTF-Europe
slated to become operational in September 2021, when
does the Army intend to “stand up” the three remaining
MDTFs?

the MDTF operate in support of the Joint Force?

 Assuming that future operations could also involve
allies, how does the MDTF support allies and coalition
partners?

Fires: Background and Issues for Congress, by AndrewFeickert

 CRS Insight IN11019, The U.S. Army and MultiDomain Operations, by Andrew Feickert

 CRS Report R46725, Joint All-Domain Command andControl: Background and Issues for Congress, by John
R. Hoehn
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces

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The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)

Disclaimer
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