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

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

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Updated July 10, 2024
The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
The Significance of the Multi-Domain
Figure 1. Notional Generic MDTF
Task Force (MDTF)
Congress has expressed concern about the threat to U.S.
national security posed by Russia and China. The Army
believes to address this threat, it must be able to operate in a
multi-domain (air, land, water, space, cyber, information)
environment, requiring new operational concepts,
technologies, weapons, and units. The Multi-Domain Task
Force (MDTF) is the Army’s self-described “organizational
centerpiece” of this effort.
What Is a Multi-Domain Task Force?
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 described the Multi-
Domain Task Force (MDTF) as “theater-level maneuver
elements designed to synchronize precision effects and
precision 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)-directed
Source: Chief of Staff Paper #1 Army Multi-Domain Transformation
roles.”
Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict, March 16, 2021, p. 12.
Notes: (1) HIMARS: High-Mobility Artil ery Rocket Systems. (2)
While not explicitly stated, the first Military Intel igence (MI)
What Is Anti-Access/ Area Denial (A2/AD)?
Company depicted is assumed to be terrestrial y focused, while the
Anti-Access is defined as any action, activity, or
second Military Intel igence Company, based on its military symbol, is
capability, usually long-range, designed to prevent an
assumed to be space-focused. (3) Mid-Range Capabilities (MRC)
advancing military force from entering an operational
Battery is now known as the Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF)
area. Area Denial is defined as action, activity, or
Battery.
capability, usually short-range, designed to limit an
adversarial force’s freedom of action within an
The Army notes each MDTF is to be tailored to Combatant
operational area. In terms of weapon systems, threat
Commander requirements, so it is possible the notional
A2/AD defenses are envisioned of being composed of
MDTF in Figure 1 may contain more, fewer, or other types
layered and integrated long-range precision-strike
of units depending on the requirements of its assigned
systems, littoral anti-ship capabilities, air defenses, and
theater of operations.
long-range artillery and rocket systems.
Army Plans for MDTFs
The Army originally planned to build five MDTFs: two
MDTFs are designed to support freedom of action of U.S.
aligned to the Indo-Pacific region; one aligned to Europe;
forces. MDTFs are to be scalable from operational to
one stationed in the Arctic region and oriented on multiple
strategic level and can be modified to support the needs of
threats; and a fifth MDTF aligned for global response
individual commanders. MDTFs also provide supported
commanders the ability to plan, integrate, control, track,
1st MDTF
and assess the effectiveness of joint counter-A2/AD
The 1st MDTF is headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-
activities.
McChord, WA and aligned to the U.S. Army Pacific. Since
MDTF Organization
its 2017 activation, it has participated in a variety of
exercises. In February 2023, the 1st MDTF’s long-range
The diagram at Figure 1 depicts a notional generic MDTF.
fires battalion, 5th Battalion, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment,
deployed a LRHW system over 3,100 miles from Joint Base
Lewis-McChord to Cape Canaveral, FL, during
Thunderbolt Strike, a full rehearsal of expeditionary
hypersonic launch capabilities.
2nd MDTF
On April 13, 2021, the Army announced it would station its
2nd MDTF in Germany. The Germany-based MDTF is to
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The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
support U.S. Army Europe and Africa. On September 16,
addition of the LRFB in FY2026. The 2nd MDTF is to
2021, the Army activated the 2nd MDTF at Clay Kaserne in
focus on supporting the European theater.
Wiesbaden, initially consisting of a headquarters element;
• The 3rd MDTF, headquartered in Hawaii with an
an intelligence, cyberspace, electronic warfare, and space
MDEB, will have an IFPC battalion, a BSB and an
detachment; and a brigade support company.
LRFB stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA, and
Split Stationing of the 2nd MDTF at Fort Drum, NY
is to be fully operational by FY2026.
On December 13, 2023, Senator Charles Schumer and
• The 4th MDTF is to be stationed at Fort Carson, CO, but
Representative Elise Stefanik announced in 2025 Fort
focused on the Indo-Pacific theater, and is to be fully
Drum, NY, would become the home of 1,495 soldiers and
operational by FY2027.
personnel from the 2nd MDTF’s Long-Range Fires
•
Battalion, Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), and Air
The 5th MDTF is to be stationed at Fort Liberty, NC,
Defense Battalion. The 2nd MDTF’s Headquarters and
and is to concentrate on regions as determined. The 5th
Effects battalions, activated in 2021, would remain in
MDTF is to be fully operational by FY2028.
Germany.
MDTF Strategic Fires Battalion to be
3rd MDTF
Stationed in Germany
The Army activated the 3rd MDTF at Schofield Barracks,
On July 10, 2024, the White House issued a joint statement
Hawaii, in September 2022. The 3rd MDTF is to support the
with Germany “following discussions ahead of the NATO
U.S. Army Pacific as a component of U.S. Indo-Pacific
Summit”
Command (USINDOPACOM). The 3rd MDTF participated
in its first exercise May 4-19, 2023, as part of exercise
The United States will begin episodic deployments of the
long-range fires capabilities of its Multi-Domain Task
Northern Edge 23-1.
Force in Germany in 2026, as part of planning for
2024 Army Force Structure
enduring stationing of these capabilities in the future.
Transformation Initiative and MDTFs
When fully developed, these conventional long-range
fires units will include SM-6, Tomahawk, and
On February 27, 2024, the Army released a white paper,
developmental hypersonic weapons, which have
Army Force Structure Transformation, outlining plans to
significantly longer range than current land-based fires in
transform the force. The white paper noted the Army
Europe. Exercising these advanced capabilities will
intended to “complete the build out of the Army’s five
demonstrate the United States’ commitment to NATO
MDTFSs” and that
and its contributions to European integrated deterrence.
Three task forces will be assigned to U.S. Army
Possible Oversight Issues for Congress
Pacific (USARPAC); one will be assigned to U.S.
Possible oversight issues for Congress include the
Army
Europe-Africa
(USAREUR-AF);
and
following:
another will be service-retained with a likely focus
•
on the CENTCOM area of responsibility [AOR].
In view of the Army’s 2024 Force Structure
One MDTF headquarters is already in Germany and
Transformation announcement and April 2024 update, it
another is stationed in Hawaii. As discussions with
now appears the Army has changed its original MDTF
allied countries progress over time, the Army will
alignment plans, which included an Arctic-focused
MDTF and a CENTCOM-focused MDTF. Does the
likely forward station elements of the MDTFs
Army’s February 27, 2024, announcement and April
permanently, such as the multi domain effects and
2024 update now constitute the Army’s official MDTF
long-range
fires
battalions,
to
strengthen
alignment plan? If so, how does the Army intend to
deterrence.
address Arctic and CENTCOM-based MDTF
April 2024 Update on MDTF Alignment
capabilities requirements?
and Stationing
• The Arctic region is the responsibility of three
According to an April 2024 Defense News article, the Army
Combatant Commands: U.S. Northern Command, U.S.
has updated MDTF pre-decisional plans. The Army
European Command, and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
reportedly plans to consolidate Mid-Range Capability and
How does this shared responsibility affect the
Long-Range Hypersonic batteries under a Long-Range
alignment, command and control, and responsibilities of
Fires Battalion (LRFB) and complete programming of the
the Army’s MDTFs?
remaining Indirect Fire Protection Capability (IFPC)
battalions over the next five years. The Army also plans to
• What are the strategic implications of stationing the 2nd
convert all brigade support companies to battalions. In
MDTF’s Strategic Fires Battalion in Germany? Will the
terms of specific MDTFs:
battalion’s long-range fire units be restricted to
• The 1st MDTF is to be fully established in FY2024 with
Germany only or can they be deployed to other NATO
a Multidomain Effects battalion (MDEB), an IFPC
nations as well? How does this impact the planned
battalion, a BSB, and a LRFB.
stationing of long-range fire units at Ft. Drum, NY?
• The 2nd MDTF is to be headquartered in Germany with
an MDEB and other elements stationed at Fort Drum,
Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces
NY, with an IFPC battalion, a BSB and an LRFB. The
IF11797
2nd MDTF is to be fully operational in FY2025 with the
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The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)

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