At the 2025 Land Forces Pacific (LANPAC) Symposium in Honolulu on May 13, Admiral Samuel J. Paparo, Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), delivered a strikingly candid strategic briefing. His message was clear: in an era defined by evolving threats and contested domains, success in the Indo-Pacific no longer hinges on traditional notions of air or naval supremacy. Instead, he said, deterrence and operational advantage will rely on integrated, precision-enabled joint force operations—especially those led from the ground.
With growing missile threats from China and North Korea reshaping the region’s security dynamics, Admiral Paparo emphasized that the U.S. Army, historically seen as a support player in Pacific deterrence, is now taking a frontline role. The Army’s transformation, he explained, centers on two key capabilities: long-range precision fires and the deployment of Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTFs). Together, they enable the U.S. to deny adversaries access, disrupt their freedom of maneuver, and raise the cost of aggression without requiring full-scale forward deployment of vulnerable platforms.
At the heart of Admiral Paparo’s remarks was the Precision Strike Missile (PrSM), a next-generation, surface-to-surface missile designed to replace the aging Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS). The PrSM can strike targets well over 500 kilometers away and is being continuously upgraded to extend its range and add capabilities such as multi-mode seekers and maritime strike.
“This is not just a weapon; it’s a strategic shift,” Paparo said. “PrSM alters the calculus for any adversary thinking about moving early or quickly.”
Unlike previous U.S. doctrine which often emphasized overwhelming force projection via carrier strike groups or air superiority campaigns, PrSM enables the U.S. Army to shape the battlefield from land, hitting high-value targets such as command centers, missile batteries, air defense sites, and logistics hubs before a conflict even begins. Its speed, precision, and standoff range reduce the need for risky forward basing, enhancing survivability and flexibility.
“The deterrent value of PrSM is simple: It denies the enemy the belief that they can move first without immediate consequence,” Paparo stated. “And in places like the Taiwan Strait, that denial is more strategically important than control.”
The Taiwan Strait remains a flashpoint of global tension, with China conducting increasingly provocative military drills near the island. While conventional thinking focuses on securing air and sea lanes, Admiral Paparo argued that the priority must shift toward denying Chinese forces the ability to operate freely in the first place.
“Control is temporary and contested. Denial is persistent,” he said.
Instead of placing ships or aircraft directly in harm’s way, the U.S. can use land-based precision fires to neutralize or degrade Chinese assets—such as amphibious assault forces or missile launchers—before they can enter the fight. This shift to what Paparo called “horizontal escalation” leverages geography, long-range fires, and multi-domain coordination to raise the cost of aggression.
Backing this missile strategy is a new organizational innovation: the Multi-Domain Task Force. MDTFs are purpose-built Army units designed to fight across land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace. These units integrate long-range precision fires, electronic warfare, cyber capabilities, space operations, and intelligence all within a single brigade-level command structure.
Each MDTF:
- Multi-Domain Effects Battalion: Conducts cyber, electromagnetic, and information warfare operations.
- Fires Battalion: Fields systems like the PrSM to provide deep precision strike capabilities.
- Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Assets: Enable real-time targeting and situational awareness.
- Command and Control Nodes: Ensure seamless integration with joint and allied forces.
- Sustainment Units: Maintain the mobility and endurance of the task force.
“These task forces aren’t just another unit—they’re a force multiplier,” said Paparo. “They can hold critical targets at risk, disrupt adversary systems, and enable joint force freedom of action from land.”
Crucially, MDTFs can operate in austere and contested environments. Rather than rely on fixed infrastructure, they are mobile, modular, and built for rapid deployment, including across island chains and coastal terrain. They’ve already been deployed in the Indo-Pacific and are fully integrated into USINDOPACOM’s posture.
“This isn’t a plan—we’re doing it now,” Paparo said. “MDTFs are out there, and they’re part of our deterrence every day.”
While China commands the bulk of U.S. strategic focus, Admiral Paparo was quick to highlight the advancing threat from North Korea. Pyongyang has steadily increased the sophistication of its missile arsenal, improving range, accuracy, and survivability through solid-fuel technology, maneuverable reentry vehicles, and mobile launchers.
“These are not the missiles of a decade ago,” he warned. “They are fast, they are mobile, and they are designed to evade traditional defenses.”
The threat extends beyond South Korea and Japan. Guam, Hawaii, and other U.S. installations across the Pacific now fall within range of various North Korean systems. In response, USINDOPACOM has reinforced its missile defense posture with a layered network:
- Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3): Intercepts short- and medium-range missiles in the terminal phase.
- Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD): Provides hit-to-kill intercepts in the upper atmosphere.
- Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS): Connects sensors and shooters across services and systems to improve response time and effectiveness.
- “The integration is the key,” said Paparo. “No one system is perfect. But when they’re layered and connected, they create a defense architecture that’s both resilient and adaptable.”
Admiral Paparo’s address underscored a major shift in how the U.S. military views the role of the Army in a maritime theater. Historically considered a supporting force in the Pacific, the Army is now being positioned as a central pillar of deterrence strategy.
“This is not about the Army replacing the Navy or the Air Force. It’s about leveraging each service’s strengths in an integrated, mutually reinforcing way,” Paparo said.
With the PrSM and MDTFs, the Army can impose strategic costs without deploying carriers or air wings into contested areas. It can shape the environment early, provide redundancy in deterrence, and offer a land-based deterrent that is politically and operationally sustainable.
The Army’s capabilities also offer reassurance to regional allies. Nations like the Philippines, Japan, and Australia are increasingly concerned about China’s coercive behavior and welcome greater U.S. presence and cooperation. Land-based assets like PrSM and MDTFs offer a form of deterrence that doesn’t escalate tensions through permanent basing but can be surged when needed.
Admiral Paparo framed the emerging strategy as a form of “integrated deterrence”—a whole-of-force approach that brings together capabilities across domains and services, backed by strong alliances and flexible posture.
“This isn’t about who has the biggest ship or the most fighters,” he said. “It’s about who can impose cost, who can deny advantage, and who can maintain freedom of action. And we’re building that every day.”
The LANPAC Symposium, attended by military leaders, defense industry executives, and regional partners, underscored the momentum behind this new approach. Panels and exhibits focused on contested logistics, precision targeting, space resilience, and cyber survivability—all critical pieces in a conflict where the front line may be digital, orbital, or 1,000 miles from shore.
Admiral Paparo’s vision represents a major evolution in U.S. defense posture in the Indo-Pacific. Rather than preparing for decisive, large-scale engagements, the strategy now favors denying adversaries the ability to maneuver, escalate, or dominate in the first place. Precision, integration, and adaptability are the new watchwords.
The deployment of MDTFs and systems like PrSM marks a turning point. The U.S. Army, once seen as a strategic reserve in the Pacific, is now central to day-one deterrence.
