'American Iron Dome' IFPC Deployed to US Forces Korea...Also Interpreted as Targeting China

First Deployment to a US Military Base Abroad...US Army Chief of Staff Visits Site

US New Air Defense System IFPC Deployed to US Forces Korea [Provided by DIVIDS. Resale and database prohibited]

It has been confirmed that the US's new air defense system, the 'Indirect Fire Protection Capability' (IFPC), has been deployed to US Forces Korea.

According to DVIDS, the US Department of Defense's video and photo archive, on the 24th, US Army Chief of Staff Randy George (General) visited the 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade of US Forces Korea at Osan Air Base on the 22nd.

In related photos, a yellow surface-to-air missile launcher was spotted. DVIDS explained in its caption, "IFPC launcher within the Patriot tactical operations area."

The IFPC is a mobile, ground-based weapon system that protects and responds to bases from various aerial threats, including subsonic cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems like drones, rockets, artillery, and mortar attacks.

It is also known as the 'American Iron Dome' because it can intercept low-flying drones and cruise missiles.

It detects threats in all directions at low altitudes using next-generation missile defense radar and can intercept targets with missiles depending on the threat.

This deployment of IFPC to US Forces Korea is the first to any US military base abroad, and it is also interpreted as being aimed at China, which heavily utilizes drones. North Korea has also been strengthening its drone capabilities recently.

Various US military assets have been continuously deployed to US Forces Korea recently.

In addition to IFPC, the US Air Force's advanced drone, the 'MQ-9A' (Reaper), was deployed to Gwangju Air Base in July for rotational deployment missions, and at the beginning of the year, the US Army's latest reconnaissance aircraft, the 'Athena-R', was deployed to the Korean Peninsula. F-35 series stealth fighters have also been deployed to the Korean Peninsula for training purposes.

US Army Chief of Staff Randy George meets with Korean Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha (right) [Provided by DIVIDS. Resale and database prohibited]

DVIDS reported that General Randy George, who visited US Forces Korea, also visited Camp Casey in Dongducheon and Camp Humphreys in Pyeongtaek, in addition to Osan Air Base.

At Camp Humphreys, in particular, he received a report on the Athena-R and inspected the platform firsthand, and also met with Kim Gyu-ha, the Chief of Staff of the Korean Army.

DVIDS stated, "General Randy George's visit to Korea was an opportunity to reaffirm the US Army's highest leadership's continuous commitment to being with service members training worldwide and to provide necessary support for national and alliance defense."

It added, "Through this time, we confirmed the firm commitment of both the ROK-US militaries to the alliance and their continuous efforts to strengthen combined forces." Yonhap News