Time Critical Targeting: Predictive Vs Reactionary Methods An Analysis For The Future
Abstract
Recent experiences in Operations Desert Storm and Allied Force have highlighted a significant weakness in the USAF's ability to engage time-critical targets. The weakness stems from air power's inability to quickly employ force and kill an emerging target before it disappears back into hiding. In essence, the USAF's engagement sequence, called the kill chain, is not fast enough to detect, locate, identify, and then engage the target. Experience has shown that the enemy has used this method of emerging, engaging, and then dispersing since the beginning of time, and because it is still effective, the enemy has little reason to change. To help solve this difficulty, this thesis introduces and investigates two different approaches (reactive and preemptive methods) and determines% how they might solve the problem in 2010, Evidence suggests that the USAF is attempting to solve the problem by using the reactive approach, which first detects a target (with an ISR platform) and then tasks a loitering strike platform to kill it, While this approach is cost effective from a weapons employment perspective, it is not efficient for weapons delivery aircraft. In addition, the reactive approach has two significant problems: 1) one must possess enough persistent ISR platforms to detect targets deep within enemy territory, and 2) one must devise a weapon that can quickly engage targets before they hide. The study found that while this approach has long-term advantages, it will not likely be ready for implementation until around 2020, ten years too late. Because of this fact, the USAF needs a "gap-filler" that will help solve the problem in the meantime. Analysis shows that the preemptive approach might be a viable option.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2002
- Accession Number
- ADA420745
Entities
People
- Gregory S. Marzolf
Organizations
- Air University