The Department of Defense has faced criticism for its sluggishness in acquisitions—and rightly so. Currently, the DOD operates a litany of projects that are behind schedule and over budget. Despite normally being one of the top offenders, the Army deserves praise for having quickly researched, developed, tested, and ultimately fielded novel capabilities within brand-new unit structures known as Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTFs) since 2017. 

MDTFs focus on specific targets within their designated theater by orchestrating capabilities across air, land, water, space, and cyber fields. This specialization enables each unit to precisely tailor its capabilities to the unique demands of each combatant command. 

Yet all MDTFs share the same priority: to defend against our adversaries’ anti-access and area denial (A2/AD) initiatives. That is, their mission is to counter enemies’ attempts to deny or limit U.S. access and freedom of action in operational areas—a mission MDTF task forces have pursued thus far by developing capabilities in effects, fires, protection, and sustainment.

Currently, the U.S. Army has three MDTFs located across the globe. These three units already aid efforts to deter Chinese aggression in the Indo-Pacific—but more can and should be done.

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Of the three units, the first and third are both Indo-Pacific oriented.

The first MDTF (1MDTF) is located at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. In February 2023, this unit launched the Army’s first long-range hypersonic weapon, a next-generation long-range precision strike missile, and Strategic Long-Range Cannonsdesigned to reach adversarial assets within INDOPACOM. 

The third MDTF (3MDTF) is located at Fort Shafter, Hawaii, where it has demonstrated its multi-domain capabilities through deep sensing operations, non-kinetic effects delivery, and live-fire exercises. This unit’s multi-domain effects battalion enhances joint force operations by integrating signals intelligencefrom space, cyberspace, information space, and the electromagnetic spectrum.

Overall, 3MDTF has prioritized the use of new technology, launching high-altitude balloons (HABs) and the Vanilla Ultra-Long Endurance Unmanned Aircraft System to boost intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

Meanwhile, 2MDTF is located in Germany outside of Frankfurt in Mainz-Kastel, and it will be equipped with long-range weapons like the SM-6 and Tomahawk. By 2026, it should also possess hypersonic weapons.

These separate MDTFs will function under Joint All-Domain Command and Control, a centralization that allows for real-time communication between individual MDTFs and connects all sensors within one network, critical to ensuring communication resilience during conflict.

Since their inception, the MDTFs have demonstrated impressive operational agility, rapidly progressing in a way that promises much for U.S. deterrence strategy.

And the Army has planned for the addition of two more MDTFs to the force by FY2028, with the fourth set to be stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado, and the fifth at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. 

Developing more MDTFs is a good step. However, given the massive challenge presented in the Indo-Pacific, the Army should consider permanently stationing the fourth and fifth MDTFs in the Western Pacific.

China’s aggressive militarization of the South China Sea and its advancements in A2/AD make forward-deployed, rapidly mobilized units an absolute necessity. 

The U.S. Army has already recognized this, a fact evidenced by 3MDTF’s deep sensing operations in Palau and its involvement in the Talisman Sabre joint exercise with Australia, as well as by 1MDTF’s cooperation with the Philippines on HAB launches. These successes highlight the growing effectiveness and interoperability of MDTFs within the Indo-Pacific theater.

However, the Army needs to deploy additional forces closer to strategic locations like Taiwan and the Senkaku Islands. 

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By placing an MDTF in Japan, South Korea, or the Philippines (all countries with established U.S. military relationships), the Army could bolster deterrence in the Western Pacific and protect key U.S. and ally military assets. It would also alleviate some of the operational tempo issues that come from deploying them constantly on a rotational basis, in which soldiers from high-demand units have been asked to deploy at an exceptionally high rate.

So far, 3MDTF has established a battalion command in Japan, a connection that leaves doors open for further multi-domain partnership.

Critics may argue that concentrating too many MDTFs in one theater leaves other regions vulnerable. But China is currently our biggest threat, and European nations are already working to bolster their own air defense and deep strike capabilities. 

Further, MDTFs are inherently mobile. Their long-range capability and real-time intelligence integration maintain flexibility while also ensuring that forces in the Indo-Pacific remain prepared.

The case for expanding MDTFs in the Indo-Pacific is clear. Their rapid development, operational successes, and unique ability to counter China’s A2/AD strategy make them indispensable in securing the region. 

As the administration continues to form Indo-Pacific alliances, the United States should prioritize stationing the next two MDTFs directly in-theater, ensuring that America’s deterrence posture remains strong in the face of an increasingly assertive China.