Meeting the Challenge of Elusive Ground Targets
Abstract
In research conducted for the United States Air Force and reported in Aerospace Operations Against Elusive Ground Targets, authors Alan Vick, Richard M. Moore, Bruce R. Pirnie, and John Stillion explore the nature of elusive ground targets to identify concepts and technologies that could improve the Air Force's capability to detect, classify, recognize, and defeat elusive targets, whether dispersed ground forces or mobile ballistic missiles. After briefly reviewing the factors that are likely to inhibit the recognition of ground targets in general, the authors use the experience of Kosovo to illustrate the challenges associated with detecting small, dispersed maneuver forces from among a host of similar objects. Using Kosovo as its template, the report outlines new concepts that might be harnessed to defeat such forces in future operations. The authors then turn to the problem of countering mobile ballistic missiles in the context of a larger-scale conflict involving a more capable adversary such as China. They emphasize an integrated system of technologies, focused analysis, and streamlined control procedures that will enable the detect-classify-recognize-defeat cycle to occur in minutes rather than hours or days.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA409506
Entities
Organizations
- RAND Corporation