The engagement produced a direct hit and demonstrated the Battery’s ability to follow crew-fire procedures against simulated aerial threats. “This successful Stinger live-fire engagement marks a significant milestone in our effort to maintain dominance in multi-domain operations,” said Capt. Joel Witcher, who added that “by integrating proven legacy systems with emerging technology, we have developed an immediate and effective response to drone-contested environments.”
The exercise aimed to show that Vanguard can protect U.S. ground forces with vehicle-mounted Stinger launchers and allow them to manoeuvre without aerial interference. Before the live-fire, the Battery supported 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team during the force-on-force phase, engaging rotary wing and class 1 and 2 drone platforms with high accuracy.
Capt. Witcher said he was proud of his Soldiers’ “consistent lethality and discipline in contested training environments [that] continue[s] to set the standard for our formation” and noted that “as the threat evolves, so too does Vanguard—adaptable, innovative, and ready to fight and win.” Sgt. Tyler Sommersmith, the vehicle commander for the crew, said the strike brought “pride in [his] crew, pride in [his] unit and pride in [his] profession.”
The U.S. Army reactivated Vanguard on 21 November 2022 as part of its plan to build ten Divisional Air Defense battalions to counter evolving multi-domain threats. Although based at Fort Sill and assigned to 1st Armored Division, the battalion’s motto “We Rule the Heavens!” reflects its mission to secure the aerial battlespace and protect the division from current and emerging air threats.
