The Russian Federation strongly objects to recent US measures that have established anti-missile defense
systems on NATO’s eastern flank in Europe and in close proximity to the ongoing conflict in Syria. The country’s
response was both swift and predictable, assuming the guise of a joint air defense system. This issue of Red
Diamond opens with an article on the SA-21a Growler road-mobile surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, which
would play an important role in this proposed joint air defense system. In April 2015, the Afghan Taliban began its summer
military operations in the north with a particular focus on Kunduz Province and its capital city, Kunduz. Over a
period of months, the Taliban encircled Kunduz City and easily captured it in September 2015. An article provides
details about the subsequent Taliban defense of, and eventual withdrawal under pressure from, Kunduz City.
An article explains Blueprint Four of the Threat 2025+ project, an ACE-TI initiative to produce a blueprint series
capturing future threat tactics from a threat perspective for training. The blueprints are rooted in Training Circular
(TC) 7-100.2, Opposing Force Tactics, and represent projected threat capabilities. The intent of the blueprints
is to validate the current hybrid threat (HT) requirements for training and the current HT force structure at training
centers Army wide. This article discusses one blueprint in detail, Mixed Force Defends in Complex Urban Terrain,
and explains the conditions for its use in training. Over the past few years, North Korea has test-fired a
number of missiles in defiance of the United Nations’ resolutions forbidding such actions despite evertightening
economic sanctions placed on the country. The question that many observers ask is, “How much of
a threat are North Korean missiles?” The next article attempts to answer this question, with discussion of the
country’s strategy and goals, its missile history and inventory, and a review of ten of its missile systems.
US Army Training Circular (TC) 7-100.2, Opposing Force Tactics, describes an opposing force (OPFOR) that exists
for the purpose of training, professional education, and leader development for Army readiness. This training
circular, as part of the TC 7-100 series, will be updated and electronically distributed by the end of calendar year
2017. The final Red Diamond article this month reviews basic OPFOR tactical concepts and expected changes to
the document