U.S. Central Command and regional partners have established a new air and missile defence coordination cell at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the command stated.
The new Middle Eastern Air Defense Combined Defense Operations Cell has been set up within the Combined Air Operations Center at the base. According to U.S. Central Command, the cell is intended to improve coordination and integration of air and missile defence activities among participating regional partners.
Al Udeid Air Base has hosted the Combined Air Operations Center for more than two decades. The centre currently includes representatives from 17 nations who coordinate the employment of military air assets across the Middle East. The newly established cell will operate alongside this structure, focusing specifically on air and missile defence coordination, according to the command.
Announcing the initiative, U.S. Central Command Commander Navy Admiral Brad Cooper said: “This is a significant step forward in strengthening regional defense cooperation. This cell will improve how regional forces coordinate and share air and missile defense responsibilities across the Middle East.”
U.S. Air Force Central personnel will work with regional counterparts within the cell. Their activities are expected to include planning multinational exercises, conducting drills, responding to contingencies, and sharing threat information and warnings, according to the organisation.
Air Force Lieutenant General Derek France, Commander of U.S. Air Force Central, said: “The [cell] creates a consistent venue to share expertise and collectively create new solutions together with our regional partners. This strengthens our integrated air and missile defense throughout the region.”
U.S. Central Command said the establishment of the new cell follows the opening of two bilateral combined command posts for air and missile defence in the previous year. Those facilities, opened by U.S. Army Central in partnership with Qatar and Bahrain, are intended to support integrated air defence planning, coordination, and operations across the region, according to the command.
