Military Operations Against Terrorist Groups Abroad: Implications for the United States Air Force
Abstract
The threat posed by international terrorists to Americans and their way of life has placed new demands on the national security apparatus of the United States. The purpose of this study is to help defense planners anticipate the types of demands that future operations against terrorists will place on the armed forces of the United States, particularly the United States Air Force. The discussion focuses on the main determinant of those demands -- efforts to disrupt or destroy terrorist groups by attacking them abroad. For many years, U.S. planners and operational commanders alike have worked from a shared picture of the basic concepts and strategies that would govern the operations of forces in major theater conflicts. This study provides an analogous "generic" strategy for U.S. military operations against terrorist groups overseas. In addition to spelling out the key components of that strategy, it offers ideas about the types of capabilities that air forces will likely be called upon to provide in executing it. Following an introductory chapter, Chapter 2 examines the "generic" operational strategy, one that would strengthen the capabilities and will of host-country forces, disrupt the activities of terrorists, alienate terrorists from the populace, gather intelligence about terrorist networks and activities, protect friendly forces and bases, find and capture or kill terrorists, and prevent terrorists from acquiring or using Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear (CBRN) weapons. Chapter 3 presents new concepts for locating and attacking terrorists and related targets, including wide-area surveillance, high-resolution sensors, dynamic engagement control, advanced weapons, and destruction of stocks of CBRN weapons. Chapter 4, examines the new "steady state" and its implications for force planning.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA439814
Entities
People
- David Ochmanek
Organizations
- RAND Corporation