The SAS-027 Historical SSC Database with Application to an Analysis of Past Canadian Operations

Abstract

NATO's Studies Analysis and Simulation (SAS) Panel has sponsored a series of studies on long term defense planning (LTDP) issues in recent years. Study SAS-027 was given the mandate to investigate methods and techniques suitable for supporting LTDP with the focus on Smaller Scale Contingency (SSC) operations. The term 'SSC' is widely defined to include any operation short of war this includes the full range of peace support operations and humanitarian and disaster relief efforts. Many NATO and 'Partners for Peace' nations participated in the study as well as other invited nations such as Australia. Nations have been conducting SSC operations for decades. Indeed Canada has established its international reputation as peacekeepers. However the end of the Cold War has permitted NATO nations to view participation in SSC type operations as more of a primary rather than secondary role resulting in increased frequency of participation in such operations. Canada like most NATO nations during the Cold War designed its force structures on the notion that if one prepares for mid-intensity conflict in Europe against the Warsaw Pact threat then one should be able to handle the less demanding spectrum of SSCs. Although there is some logic to this reasoning in terms of operational effectiveness we are discovering that defense forces designed for a Cold War role are not necessarily fully effective nor in the right balance to handle the number and diversity of SSC operations faced today. The SAS-027 study covers the full range of issues surrounding LTDP for SSCs focusing mainly on analytical methods supporting data sources and a code of best practice for applying these methods and data. One of the fundamental data inputs to any LTDP exercise will be historical information on SSC operations that have conducted in the recent past. This paper outlines the historical data collection exercise that was led by Canada.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA438926

Entities

People

  • David W. Mason

Organizations

  • Department of National Defence

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Aircrafts
  • Armored Personnel Carriers
  • Armored Vehicles
  • Cold War
  • Commercial Aircraft
  • Databases
  • Defense Planning
  • Engineers
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • International Law
  • Light Armored Vehicles
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Operations Research
  • Transport Aircraft

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering.
  • Strategic Security Studies