The Future Antiarmor Capabilities of the Ground Combat Element
Abstract
The Ground Combat Element's (GCE's) Light Antitank Weapon (LAW) and Medium Antitank Weapon (MAW) capabilities are sufficient to counter the current and future armor threat. However, the GCE's Heavy Antitank Weapon (HAW) capability is inadequate because of a lack of command and control (C2) within its organizational structure. Besides the current deficiencies in organizational structure, the absence of a research and development program create a dilemma for future HAW capability in the GCE of the Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF). Potential adversaries may be armed with an inventory of modern, highly lethal and sophisticated weapon systems, including a formidable tank threat reflecting U.S. and NATO technology. Future conflict anywhere on the spectrum will still have armor as the decisive force in ground combat. Free trade and open armor market competition have created a mix-and-match technology main battle tank with drastic improvements in survivability. Many countries have acquired these tanks in large quantities. In recent years, force reductions have caused the Marine Corps to reduce C2 structure without considering the repercussions of the absence of this structure as it applies to readiness and employment. The GCE's future LAW and current HAW structures provide excellent examples of this situation. The cost of future technology forced the Marine Corps to take a "bare bones" approach to acquiring and fielding the GCE's future antiarmor capability. For future conflicts, the GCE must have the capability to defeat large quantities of advanced technology main battle tanks with drastic improvements in survivability. At present, the Marine Corps cannot counter this threat with the C2, survivability, and lethality capabilities of its current HAW component. The author recommends consolidating TOW within the GCE, and developing the extended range Javelin, the Line-of-Sight Antitank (LOSAT) weapon, and the Non Line-of-Sight Antitank (NLOS) weapon with the Army
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA515314
Entities
People
- William H. Callahan Jr.
Organizations
- Marine Corps University