Roles and Relevance: Army Air and Missile (AMD) in the Post 9/11 World

Abstract

This monograph examines two critical issues: one, guerilla air war; and two, whether or not the existing US Army AMD structures can meet the challenge of such attacks and defeat them at the tactical level. The US Army has recently removed all tactical level AMD units. Army maneuver commanders do not posses organic surface to air systems that would enable them to engage current air threats from a guerilla air war. The US Army's AMD force has prepared for operational threats like TBMs, but these systems are judged to have limited value to the tactical commander. The monograph concludes with the argument that the removal of AMD units from the tactical level has left the Army dangerously and unnecessarily weak in certain respects. This has operational effects on the Army and the nation. As will be made clear, the Army's current AMD force is not integrated with the tactical level Army. The primary reason for this is the removal of AMD units from Corps and division level formations. By removing the AMD force from the tactical level, training has suffered and put the Army and its soldiers at risk. The most promising tactical system is C-RAM, which is revolutionizing the battlefield due to its ability to detect and destroy enemy artillery while in flight, however, C-RAM was an unexpected requirement. As a result, there are very few systems available and no clear plan for making C-RAM available to the rest of the larger Army structure. This study argues for the relevance and usefulness of mobile C-RAM systems that would allow greater protection of the Army's tactical formations, and reunite the AMD force with the tactical Army. Such a system structure would greatly enhance the Army's ability to engage and defeat guerilla air wars.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 04, 2007
Accession Number
ADA470659

Entities

People

  • Tristan S. Higgins

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Artillery
  • Artillery Ammunition
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Guided Bombs
  • Iraqi-War
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Science
  • Rockets
  • Surface To Air Missiles
  • Theater Ballistic Missiles
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • War Colleges
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Missile Defense Systems.