Theater Missile Defense. Reflections for the Future

Abstract

As a result of Gulf War efforts countering Saddam Hussein's short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM), theater missile defense (TMD) has emerged as a leading doctrinal issue. Our inability to halt Scud attacks spurred a virtual cottage industry. Pundits and prognosticators of all shapes and sizes are offering insights into how we should best counter this "new" threat. The two distinctive TMD lessons that emerged from the Gulf War were (1) that missiles will play a significant role in future wars, and (2) that locating, targeting, and destroying mobile missile transporter-erector-launchers (TEL) is both time and resource intensive. Yet before the United States Air Force (USAF) develops a new TMD doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures, it would serve us well to first reflect on the past.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1996
Accession Number
ADA529844

Entities

People

  • Mark Kipphut

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Fixed Wing Aircraft
  • Guided Bombs
  • Iran Iraq War
  • Joint Military Activities
  • Military Organizations
  • Research Facilities
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Short Range Ballistic Missiles
  • Theater Missile Defense
  • United States Central Command
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Missile Defense Systems.