Improving NATO's Interoperability Through U.S. Precision Weapons

Abstract

The U.S. has combined advances in stealth, information integration, and precision-guided munitions (PGMs) to produce significant lethality in its air forces. These advanced weapon systems are contributing to a widening technology gap between the United States and its allies. This widening gap has raised concern in NATO as it considers expanding its membership. After making some reasonable assumptions on what NATO countries are capable of affording and procuring, it appears that NATO can most readily increase its precision weapons capability to narrow the technology gap. This paper compares and contrasts two U.S. advanced precision weapons capabilities, the Paveway LGBs using buddy-lasing tactics and the JDAM, against the criteria of training, cost, interoperability, and force multiplication. With the present NATO force structure, it appears that in the short-term the Paveway LGB buddy-lasing tactic offers the best solution; the JDAM is a better investment in the long-term. By procuring these options, America's allies should be able to play a larger role in NATO operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA391336

Entities

People

  • Todd C. Westhauser

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Geography
  • Information Systems
  • Laser Guidance
  • Military Organizations
  • Munitions
  • Navigation
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Satellite Constellations
  • Satellite Guided Weapons
  • Unguided Bombs
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Munitions and Ordnance Engineering
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design