TAMD operations support the main effort of the joint force, preventingenemy air and missile forces from interfering with operations by US forces. The historical theater air threat to US forces and interests was massedattacks by piloted aircraft. Despite the end of the Cold War, this threatremains widespread due to the continuing export of advanced combat aircraft,and now is complicated by the rising threat from theater missiles. Televised coverage of Iraqi SCUDs exploding in Israel and Saudi Arabiafocused US attention on the TBM threat and emphasized its proliferation. The overall TBM threat is predicted to increase in quantity, range, andlethality in the next decade.
Cruise missiles share some of the characteristicsof aircraft but display others that are unique.
A significant cruise missilethreat is emerging from the export of current weapons, the proliferationof indigenous production capabilities, and the likelihood that large inventoriesof antiship cruise missiles will be converted to land-attack cruise missilesusing commercially available technology. The Naval TAD Concept Joint, integrated TAMD operations are one element of US network-basedwarfighting capabilities. TAMD forces neutralize or destroy the threat beforelaunch where possible, engage and defeat attacks which are launched, andminimize the effectiveness of attacks which can t be prevented or stoppedenroute. Dynamic defense in depth integrates mutually supportive, network-basedoperations to prevent hostile air and missile forces from interfering withUS operations. Network-based forces wage dynamic defense in depth acrosstime and distance, engaging enemy forces in every phase of their operationsand throughout the battlespace.