Crossing the Lethal Distance
Abstract
The sensors and shooters of tomorrow's battlefields could bring about a new no man's land. Given trends in all-domain capability development, how should US Army forces cross the 25-kilometer lethal distance of tomorrow's battlefields? Development of sensor and shooter capabilities now and within the next ten years may imply denied spaces which transcend local tactical battlespaces. Understanding the nature of what such lethal areas look like is vital in shaping the US Army's future development. Simultaneously, it is just as important to clarify the intent of operational concepts and capabilities through the application of relevant military theory. The combination of this analysis helps identify areas of asymmetry and whether or not force modernization is on the right track. In his book, The Art of Maneuver: Maneuver Warfare Theory and Airland Battle, Colonel Robert Leonhard describes the defeat mechanism of dislocation as "Instead of having to fight or confront the hostile force on its terms, the friendly force avoids any combat in which the enemy can bring his might to bear." Further, the application of dislocation is applied through technology, tactics, or some combination of the two. This work posits the hypothesis that the best way for Army forces to cross future lethal distances is to design and orchestrate all-domain capabilities to functionally render any adversaries' system strengths irrelevant. As the location and nature of future armed conflicts is unknown, this monograph describes the warfighting concepts and capability developments of US near-peer adversaries. The all-domain concepts of US service branches and relevant materiel capabilities provides a point of comparison. Using the military theory observations of John Boyd and Robert Leonhard, this work draws implications on the nature of combat in the 25-kilometer lethal distance by 2030.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 23, 2021
- Accession Number
- AD1161916
Entities
People
- Joshua P. Weidner
Organizations
- School of Advanced Military Studies