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Air defenders train with Israeli counterparts

By 1st Lt. Gene Hunt
November 2, 2005

ANSBACH, Germany (Army News Service, Nov. 2, 2005) -- The 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade is already planning and training for Juniper Cobra 2007, the brigade's biennial exercise with the Israel Defense Forces.

Juniper Cobra, which is designed to test and improve the effectiveness of both nations' ADA systems, would not be possible however without intense planning and preparation, officials said.

At the Patriot Conduct of Fire Trainer in Ansbach, Germany, the air defense crews of the brigade's 5th Battalion, 7th Air Defense Artillery have been working directly with their counterparts in the IDF's 137th Theater Missile Defense Battalion since Oct. 30 to begin the process of preparing for an exercise that is still more than a year in the future. The training is slated to end Nov. 3.

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Lloyd Chaffee of the 5-7th said the joint PCOFT training is a good way to solve possible problems before they arise.

“We are practicing techniques and procedures with our Israeli counterparts to work out interoperability issues with the Patriot system and the (Israeli) Arrow system, and trying to resolve those issues prior to JC07,” said Chaffee.

Roy Katz, commander of the 137th TMD Information Coordination Center said this type of “pre-training” is essential.

“This exercise is tough, because both sides use different procedures. Most of the Israelis here today however have worked on this before with JC05, so they are very familiar with it.”

Katz, from Haifa, Israel, also spoke highly of the overall improvements that have been made since the Juniper Cobra exercises began in 2001.

“I have to tell you that I’ve been to JC01, JC03, and JC05 and the improvement between each one is amazing. I’m sure JC07 will be even better still,” said Katz.

Spc. Clayton Skubis, a tactical control assistant in Charlie Battery, 5-7th ADA, participated in JC05, and said he enjoys the opportunity to continue working with an allied nation.

“I learned a lot in Israel. It was nice to be there and to be with the Israelis, but overall it was especially good to learn how to work Patriot with other systems,” said Skubis. He said participating in the PCOFT training with the Israelis was a bonus that helps all the air defenders to gain a better understanding of their own system and the challenges of working with another system.

The Patriot system was originally designed to counter Soviet aircraft and was later upgraded to defeat tactical ballistic missiles

during the Gulf War. Following the Scud missile terror of that war, Israel began to develop the Arrow, its own counter-TBM system.

(Editor’s note: 1st Lt. Gene Hunt serves with 69th Air Defense Artillery Brigade Public Affairs, part of V Corps in Germany.)