High Mobility Artillery Rocket System: Its Role in the Rapid Force Projection Initiative.
Abstract
As the Cold War becomes a memory, the United States Army finds itself facing a monumental challenge. The Army must transition from a "forward deployed" organization to a "force projection" organization. There are many constraints to overcome during this transition. The Army has seen cutbacks in its manpower and money while simultaneously redefining its role and designing its structure to succeed in the next century. The Rapid Force Projection initiative (RFPI) is one of the programs being used to help with this transition. The Rapid Force Projection initiative is oriented on getting more firepower with less weight for the future light infantry units that must deploy from the continental United States. The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is one of the cornerstones of this program. This monograph examines the HIMARS to see if it is the right system for the future of long-range fires in light infantry units. This study begins with some general background information about the RFPI and the origin of the HIMARS program. The monograph then takes an in-depth look at the characteristics and capabilities of HIMARS and how they compare to other systems that already exist in the inventory. To understand the future impact of HIMARS on the battlefield a look at both present and future munitions is necessary before studying the environment that the system most likely will have to perform in. Results of past exercises on future war are analyzed to examine the effects that HIMARS or similar systems had on the simulated battlefield. This is followed with an examination of what the Field Artillery branch has stated their future artillery systems will be. The monograph concludes with an analysis based on the Tenets of Army Operations as stated in FM 100-5, Operations (Jun 93). These tenets are critical to the Army's success on the battlefield. If HIMARS does not have a positive impact on a majority of the five tenets it may not be the right system for the future.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 17, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA366175
Entities
People
- Edmund J. Degen
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College