https://crsreports.congress.gov
Updated July 10, 2024
The Army’s Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF)
The Significance of the Multi-Domain
Task Force (MDTF)
Congress has expressed concern about the threat to U.S.
national security posed by Russia and China. The Army
believes to address this threat, it must be able to operate in a
multi-domain (air, land, water, space, cyber, information)
environment, requiring new operational concepts,
technologies, weapons, and units. The Multi-Domain Task
Force (MDTF) is the Army’s self-described “organizational
centerpiece” of this effort.
What Is a Multi-Domain Task Force?
In the Army’s Chief of Staff Paper #1: Army Multi-Domain
Transformation Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict
dated March 16, 2021, the Army described the Multi-
Domain Task Force (MDTF) as “theater-level maneuver
elements designed to synchronize precision effects and
precision fires in all domains against adversary anti-access/
area denial (A2/AD) networks in all domains, enabling joint
forces to execute their operational plan (OPLAN)-directed
roles.”
MDTFs are designed to support freedom of action of U.S.
forces. MDTFs are to be scalable from operational to
strategic level and can be modified to support the needs of
individual commanders. MDTFs also provide supported
commanders the ability to plan, integrate, control, track,
and assess the effectiveness of joint counter-A2/AD
activities.
MDTF Organization
The diagram at Figure 1 depicts a notional generic MDTF.
Figure 1. Notional Generic MDTF
Source: Chief of Staff Paper #1 Army Multi-Domain Transformation
Ready to Win in Competition and Conflict, March 16, 2021, p. 12.
Notes: (1) HIMARS: High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. (2)
While not explicitly stated, the first Military Intelligence (MI)
Company depicted is assumed to be terrestrially focused, while the
second Military Intelligence Company, based on its military symbol, is
assumed to be space-focused. (3) Mid-Range Capabilities (MRC)
Battery is now known as the Strategic Mid-Range Fires (SMRF)
Battery.
The Army notes each MDTF is to be tailored to Combatant
Commander requirements, so it is possible the notional
MDTF in Figure 1 may contain more, fewer, or other types
of units depending on the requirements of its assigned
theater of operations.
Army Plans for MDTFs
The Army originally planned to build five MDTFs: two
aligned to the Indo-Pacific region; one aligned to Europe;
one stationed in the Arctic region and oriented on multiple
threats; and a fifth MDTF aligned for global response
1
st
MDTF
The 1st MDTF is headquartered at Joint Base Lewis-
McChord, WA and aligned to the U.S. Army Pacific. Since
its 2017 activation, it has participated in a variety of
exercises. In February 2023, the 1
st
MDTF’s long-range
fires battalion, 5
th
Battalion, 3
rd
Field Artillery Regiment,
deployed a LRHW system over 3,100 miles from Joint Base
Lewis-McChord to Cape Canaveral, FL, during
Thunderbolt Strike, a full rehearsal of expeditionary
hypersonic launch capabilities.
2
nd
MDTF
On April 13, 2021, the Army announced it would station its
2
nd
MDTF in Germany. The Germany-based MDTF is to
What Is Anti-Access/ Area Denial (A2/AD)?
Anti-Access is defined as any action, activity, or
capability, usually long-range, designed to prevent an
advancing military force from entering an operational
area. Area Denial is defined as action, activity, or
capability, usually short-range, designed to limit an
adversarial force’s freedom of action within an
operational area. In terms of weapon systems, threat
A2/AD defenses are envisioned of being composed of
layered and integrated long-range precision-strike
systems, littoral anti-ship capabilities, air defenses, and
long-range artillery and rocket systems.
