The Joint Skirmisher Force: Restoring the Resiliency and Lethality to Modern Light Forces
Abstract
Since the end of the Cold War, western military forces have become progressively more reliant on expensive, high capability, low density weapons systems. This trend combined with budget limitations and force reductions , has reduced the capacity of forward deployed forces, increasing the military premium on strategically mobile forces. Unfortunately, such strategic mobility in land forces has historically entailed tradeoffs in protection, firepower, mobility and sustainability. Potential adversaries have significantly increased the range and capability of their artillery, air defense, and electronic warfare systems and this closing capability gap, along with technological advances over the past decade have created a requirement to reexamine the role of light forces within the land combat system of western militaries. Long range non-line-of-sight (NLOS) fires, micro-precision guided munitions, new smaller unmanned aerial systems (UAS) capable of intelligence gathering, resupply, radio rebroadcast, terminal guidance, and CASEVAC are some of the emerging technologies that could change the way land forces fight in the 10 to 15 year timeframe.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1178997
Entities
People
- Mark A. Sheppard
Organizations
- Marine Corps University