"Rapid Targeting Triad" Against the Mobile Threat: An Evolutionary Concept
Abstract
The method to counter the mobile threat is through dynamic/rapid targeting process and all weather precision strike capability. The objective of rapid targeting is to get inside the adversary's decision timeline to attack his mobile equipment before it moves. The cycle of reconnaissance, collection, target and kill is especially challenging in adverse weather. As evidenced in recent U.S. military operations and what the Joint Force Commander (JFC) may be faced with in the 21st century, the biggest challenge is rapidly targeting and engaging mobile threats effectively. The complicated, flexible, and intense nature of striking highly mobile targets within lethal mobile threat envelopes in a joint and combined environment represents the challenge. The demands and expectations by operational commanders to effectively target mobile threats in order to employ a weapon of choice will continue to increase, specifically regarding timeliness, reducing time from target identification to target destruction from hours to minutes. The workable concepts and technical means to effectively engage moving targets has been an evolutionary process with the emergence of the precision weapon. During Operation Allied Force, a successful innovation came in rapid targeting. Lessons learned specific to effective rapid targeting and attack of mobile threats need to be applied to the potential theater ballistic missile threat. A multifaceted approach to overcoming the asymmetric peril posed by mobile threats is enabled by the synergistic effect achieved by the "rapid targeting triad": ISR, C2, and weapons. The key to effectiveness is a synchronized "rapid targeting triad" cell the Joint Flexible Targeting Cell, improving a JFC's "speed of command" to employ operational art - to employ military forces to attain strategic and/or operational objectives.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 08, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA378511
Entities
People
- Julienne E. Almonte
Organizations
- Naval War College