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Precision Effects: Future Artillery 2005 (excerpt) |
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(Source: Frost & Sullivan; issued April 7, 2005)
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Following several years of neglect in favour of command & control (C2) and Land Systems modernisation, field artillery is now poised to become the core of any effective target acquisition and effects delivery capability.
As the NATO allies modernise their fire control and artillery C2 systems, they are establishing the groundwork for a thorough picture of moving ground-based targets and weapons location. More over, with the heightened need for time-sensitive targeting, effective fire direction, and an economical ordinance load point to a steady rise in the procurement of counter-battery/weapons-locating and increased prominence for Surveillance and Target Acquisition Batteries (STAB).
Artillery systems have always relied on wider-area, multi-node data transmission to manage calls for fire across the battalion area. In a sense, field artillery systems have always relied on extensive data transmission networks and are thus strong contenders to become the centrepiece of the network-centric battlespace. Systems like Thales’ showcase ATLAS 2G blend commercially available off-the-shelf information and networking technology with high-grade geographic data and in-house C2 network design. By expanding the existing field artillery C2 infrastructure to fuse with other battlespace sensor inputs inputs, commanders can enjoy an operational picture that allows them to use manned and unmanned surveillance assets for target confirmation.
By creating this baseline target acquisition and surveillance capability through the fusion of ground-sensing radar, weapons-locating radar and unmanned inputs, network-enhanced artillery C2 systems are the core of any effects-based aspirations, maintains Vincent de Raucourt (Thales Land & Joint).
But even as US and European forces approach network enhanced capability, targeting remains the bete noire of gunners. According to Alan Gray of DSTL, while future effects delivery are evolving to joined and combined management, gunners needs to be able to collate and analyse enormous amounts of information from numerous sources.
While unmanned air vehicles can offer mid-term solutions to target acquisition and confirmation, their capability is limited by the need for dozens of IMINT analysts to review miles of ‘tape.’ The UK’s Joints Effects Tactical Targetting System (JETTS) seeks to overcome these hurdles by creating a C2 application devoted to managing direct and indirect fire assets. This reserves targetting to a staff capability whereby operations officers can best vector in strike assets.
While preserving an economy of force, common targeting applications facilitate positive identification of potential belligerents. JETTS will potentially allow operational planners to use ‘appropriate means’ of counter-fire, whether high explosive, illumination, air-burst or precision guided shells. Although currently only in experimental stages in the US, this may include the use of non-lethal indirect fire munitions such. Once non-lethal munitions are added to the gunner’s capabilities, a development heralded by US Army Colonel Nathaniel Sledge, the position of field artillery systems as the framework element of effects-based operations will be more feasible.
The clear need for time-sensitive targeting, effective fire control and direction, and a discerning use of appropriate force point to a continued role for big guns and an enhanced status for surveillance and target acquisition batteries. Moreover, the STAB is now positioned to become the premier vehicle for ground-based persistent surveillance tasks. In short, since the end of the Cold War and the emergence of the non-linear battlefield, the field artillery’s inherent ability to deliver precise effects signals a continued and fundamental role in the order of battle.
Perhaps more importantly for gunners, the role of the STAB has evolved to suit the non-linear battlefield. It is now largely a question of industry providing them with the right tools to facilitate effects-based targeting.
Frost & Sullivan is a leading defence consultancy company currently concluding work on Land-based ISTAR in European and North American markets.
(EDITOR’S NOTE: This analysis was compiled from a March 14 conference on Future Artillery 2005, where speakers from industry, the scientific community and end-users shared their perspectives on what some have dubbed, ‘the God of War’.
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