The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) and regional partners have opened a new coordination cell at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar to enhance integrated air and missile defence.
The new Middle Eastern Air Defense – Combined Defense Operations Cell (MEAD-CDOC) is located in the Combined Air Operations Center. US Air Force Central service members will work alongside regional counterparts at the MEAD-CDOC in planning multinational exercises, conducting drills and responding to contingencies. The cell will also be responsible for sharing information and threat warnings.
The opening of MEAD-CDOC follows the opening of two bilateral Combined Command Posts for air and missile defense by US Army Central with Qatar and Bahrain last year.
In December, CENTCOM and partners from Bahrain and the United Kingdom participated in an “advanced” counter-drone exercise in Kuwait. Led by Kuwait, exercise Sky Shield focused on enhancing interoperability to detect, track and engage drones through a layered air defence architecture.
The exercise included a live-fire event involving Patriot missile launches and brought together subject-matter experts from participating countries to expand technical exchanges and improve regional understanding of counter-drone tactics and systems.
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Image: (US Army photo by Sgt. David Gordon)
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