The Problem of Theater Ballistic Missiles: Unresolved Dilemma for the Operational Commander

Abstract

This essay analyzes ballistic missiles as warfighting tools that exponentially compound the planning efforts of operational military commanders. Despite an all out effort by the United States military during the war against Iraq, unsophisticated Iraqi mobile SCUDs managed to evade targeting, preemptive strikes, and airborne intercepts. Although no U.S. troops were exposed to nuclear, biological or chemical attack from ballistic missiles during the 1991 war, the growing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles combined with the ghastly potential for massive casualties argues for renewed efforts to defend U.S. forces against this potent threat. Ballistic missiles as warfighting tools that compound the planning efforts of operational commanders.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 19, 1992
Accession Number
ADA253219

Entities

People

  • John E. Carey

Organizations

  • Naval War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Ballistic Missiles
  • Arms Control
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Chemical Weapons
  • Civil Defense
  • Defense Industry
  • Defense Systems
  • Inertial Navigation
  • Intermediate Range Ballistic Missiles
  • Nuclear Proliferation
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Rockets
  • Space Systems
  • Surveillance
  • Theater Ballistic Missiles
  • United States
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Strategic Security Studies