Protecting Mechanized Forces From Smart Weapon Attack,
Abstract
In "Maneuver in the Information Age," BG Wass de Czege challenged his readers to think about future war in the age of information systems and smart weapons. In this article, BG Wass de Czege argued that ihe fundamentals of war would remain unchanged while the organization of U.S. Army forces and the manner in which they would maneuver and deliver fires would change dramatically. He postulates a vision of a future organization called the "Potential Force 2010." The Potential Force 2010 is best adapted to stand-off 45km to 200(+) km and annihilate the enemy with indirect, smart weapon fires. If our mechanized forces fight upon tomorrow's battlefield, how will we protect them from the slaughter of the enemy's smart weapons? To answer this question, this paper considers the technology of smart weapons, countermeasures, specific smart weapons already in development and the worldwide state of smart weapon proliferation. This paper concludes that smart weapons will be the dominate weapons on future battlefields, and that there are at least six methods available to protect our mechanized forces, including: denying enemy reconnaissance and HUMINT operations; obtaining air superiority; currently available and field expedient countermeasures; denying or disrupting the enemy's ability to mount many-on-many smart weapon fires; a host of technical countermeasures not yet fielded, and; operational and tactical deception. Most importantly, the paper calls for an aggressive program to develop technical countermeasure systems to protect moving vehicles and suggests renewed emphasis upon deception as a tactical and operational countermeasure from smart weapon attack.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 22, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA331282
Entities
People
- Robert A. Burns
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College