Patriot shift to CENTCOM raises questions about strategic lift, INDOPACOM priority, more

By Jason Sherman / April 11, 2025 at 1:50 PM
The Pentagon's decision to shift a Patriot missile battalion from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East has drawn fresh scrutiny over U.S. strategic priorities and highlighted the extraordinary burden such redeployments place on both the strategic airlift fleet and Army missile defense forces. Adm. Sam Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, told the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 10 that the recent relocation of Patriot capability to the U.S. Central Command theater required an eyepopping 73 C-17 cargo aircraft...

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