Tenacious Archer 2026 boosts joint air defense readiness in Palau

U.S. Soldiers and Marines conducted integrated air and missile defense training during the multi-day Tenacious Archer 2026 exercise in Airai, Palau, focusing on joint interoperability and validating the command relationships, communications and tactical coordination needed to counter emerging aerial threats across the Indo-Pacific.

Participants included Soldiers from the 6th Battalion, 52nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade; the 728th Military Police Battalion, 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command; the 303rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 9th Mission Support Command; and Marines from the 1st Low Altitude Air Defense Battalion, Marine Air Control Group 18, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing. The units executed live-fire events and rehearsed planning and synchronization to defend critical assets and friendly forces in a realistic operational environment.

The exercise is designed to build combat-ready formations by training under conditions that mirror real-world operations. In addition to engaging aerial targets, participating units validated planning processes, communications networks and command-and-control procedures that enable joint and combined forces to operate as an integrated team.

For Echo Battery, 5th Battalion, 5th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, the event marked a milestone and a transition. “Tenacious Archer 2026 will be the final live-fire exercise for Echo Battery using the Avenger weapon system,” said U.S. Army Capt. Eric Sandlin, the battery’s commander. “The Avenger has been a capable platform for our formation, and we’re now transitioning to new equipment that will further modernize our air defense capabilities and prepare us for future operational requirements.”

Sandlin said the training expanded the unit’s experience working beyond its typical formations. “This was a unique experience for my battery,” he said. “We don’t normally operate with partner forces or units outside of the air defense community. Training with the Marine Corps, Soldiers from other Army branches and our partners strengthened our ability to communicate, coordinate and accomplish the mission together.”

Live-fire training remained central to the event, providing crews with hands-on application of technical and tactical skills. “Live-fire exercises like Tenacious Archer give air defenders valuable hands-on experience by allowing Soldiers to fire the Stinger missile and observe its performance in flight,” said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Hogan, master gunner for Echo Battery. “It’s also an opportunity to train alongside other military branches and partner forces, helping us better understand each other’s capabilities and improve how we operate together.”

The integration of Army, Marine Corps and partner forces underscored the importance of interoperability, enabling participants to refine communications, strengthen command relationships and improve their ability to respond rapidly to potential contingencies. Organizers described the exercise as part of a broader effort to maintain a ready, capable and interoperable force while strengthening partnerships that contribute to regional security and help preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific.