2001 War in Afghanistan

C-RAM in the 2001 War in Afghanistan

U.S. Army air-defense units operated the Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System as C-RAM protection at Bagram Airfield, using it to counter enemy rocket, artillery, and mortar fire against coalition and allied forces.

Weapon profileCounter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar system / C-RAM
SideUnited States, NATO, and Afghan government forcesRoleAir DefenseForce Protection
Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar system / C-RAM, Land-based close-in weapon system, Air Defense - 2001 War in Afghanistan
Image source: Commons PACFIRE image

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
U.S. Army 2-44 ADA operated LPWS as part of the C-RAM mission in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Sources: Army 2-44 ADA Bagram Mission

5-5 ADA assumed the Bagram C-RAM mission in October 2014 and used LPWS to protect U.S. and coalition forces from indirect-fire threats.

Sources: Army 5-5 ADA Bagram Mission

A conflict-specific public-domain image placed a C-RAM/LPWS weapon system at Bagram Airfield on March 1, 2014.

Sources: DVIDS Bagram C-RAM Image, Commons Bagram C-RAM Image

Timeline

Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar system / C-RAM In 2001 War in Afghanistan

  1. C-RAM photographed at Bagram Airfield

    A U.S. Army/DVIDS image documented a C-RAM weapon system at Bagram Airfield, describing the system as targeting and networking equipment coupled with a modified Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System.

    Sources: DVIDS Bagram C-RAM Image

  2. 2-44 ADA mission reported at Bagram

    U.S. Army reporting said 2-44 ADA was deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and used LPWS to counter enemy indirect-fire attacks against forward operating bases.

    Sources: Army 2-44 ADA Bagram Mission

  3. 5-5 ADA assumed the Bagram C-RAM mission

    5-5 ADA completed transfer of authority with 2-44 ADA at Bagram and took over the mission of protecting U.S. and coalition forces from enemy indirect-fire threats.

    Sources: Army 5-5 ADA Bagram Mission

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System appeared in the Afghanistan war as the intercept element of the U.S. Army's counter-rocket, artillery, and mortar mission at Bagram Airfield. In August 2014, the Army reported that Alpha Battery, 2nd Battalion, 44th Air Defense Artillery Regiment was deployed to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom and used LPWS 20 mm multibarrel cannon systems to counter enemy indirect-fire attacks against forward operating bases.

The same Army account tied the mission to force protection at Bagram, reporting that 2-44 ADA protected coalition forces and equipment from enemy indirect fire. A later Army article documented 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery taking over the Bagram mission on October 24, 2014, with LPWS described as the unit's trademark equipment for destroying indirect-fire threats aimed at friendly assets.

Sources: Army 2-44 ADA Bagram Mission, Army 5-5 ADA Bagram Mission

Timeline

A March 1, 2014 U.S. Army photo from Bagram Airfield showed a C-RAM weapon system and described the capability as targeting and networking systems paired with a modified U.S. Navy Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System. By June and July 2014, 2-44 ADA soldiers at Bagram were receiving combat action badges for service while performing the C-RAM mission.

On October 24, 2014, 5-5 ADA completed transfer of authority with 2-44 ADA at Bagram. The incoming battalion was tasked with protecting U.S. and coalition forces on the airfield as Operation Enduring Freedom moved toward its final phase and the Resolute Support mission.

Sources: DVIDS Bagram C-RAM Image, Army 2-44 ADA Bagram Mission, Army 5-5 ADA Bagram Mission

Narrative

C-RAM use in Afghanistan was defensive rather than offensive. The available official reporting places the system at Bagram Airfield and describes its role as countering rockets and mortars fired toward U.S., coalition, and allied positions. The Army's 2014 reporting identifies the operators as U.S. air-defense artillery units and connects the mission to forward-base protection during Operation Enduring Freedom.

The Afghanistan evidence also shows a rotation of specialized units around the mission. Alpha Battery, 2-44 ADA had converted from an Avenger battery to an LPWS intercept battery before deploying, while 5-5 ADA was described as the Army's first Indirect Fire Protection Capability battalion and assumed the Bagram C-RAM mission late in 2014. Public sources reviewed for this page document deployment, operation, and force-protection use at Bagram; they do not provide a complete count of attempted or successful Afghanistan intercepts.

Sources: Army 2-44 ADA Bagram Mission, Army 5-5 ADA Bagram Mission

Images

Conflict Context

C-RAM Land-Based Phalanx Weapon System at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan
A U.S. Army C-RAM weapon system at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan, on March 1, 2014.

Sources: Commons Bagram C-RAM Image, DVIDS Bagram C-RAM Image

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Sources