ADDITIONAL DEPLOYMENT OF THE PATRIOT, AIR DEFENSE MISSILE SYSTEM
- A part of US $11 billion enhancement plan
- Enhancing capability of defending air at Korean Peninsular
UNITED STATES FORCES KOREA
ROK-US Combined Forces Command, April 30, 2004 - Republic of Korea and
United States has agreed to deploy additional Patriot units, air defense
missile system to Korea temporarily this fall.
This additional deployment is the part of the US enhancement plan that
was announced last year as US commitment to defend Korea.
In the May of last year, Gen. Leon J. LaPorte, the UNC/CFC/USFK Commander
met Mr. Cho Young Gil, the Minister of ROK MND, to discuss how to enhance
ROK and US combined forces, cooperating US $11 billion force enhancement
plan. And right after that meeting, this was announced at the ROK-US
joint media conference.
The new 8th Army unit, the 35th Air Defense Brigade, located at Fort
Bliss, Texas, with their Patriot Advanced Capability 2 and 3 equipment
will deploy to Korea. Two batteries will deploy to Gwangju Air Base and
their brigade and brigade headquarters will be located at Osan Air Base
with approximately 500 soldiers in total.
The PAC2 and 3, the newly deploying system is expected not only to
dramatically enhance the capability of CFC to defend against missile
attacks, but also to minimize the environmental or noise problems for the
local community due to its characteristics of the unit.
"This is part of our $11 billion enhancement plan that continues to
strengthen the ROK-US alliance," said Lt. Gen. Charles C. Campbell,
Chief of Staff, Combined Forces Command and Commanding General, Eighth
U.S. Army. "The deployment of this strictly defensive Air Defense
Artillery Patriot missile unit brings additional deterrent capabilities
to the peninsula."
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