The Future of All-Weather Rapid Reaction Precision Targeting

<p>The Air War Over Serbia (AWOS) featured the first concerted use of a new class of precision aerial weapons which use Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) signals for guidance. These weapons allow all-weather employment and offer the technical capability to execute rapid reaction attacks against emerging targets. This raises the question of whether or not all-weather rapid reaction attacks will be a viable option for future air commanders. Pertinent background information on GPS-guided weapons covers their technical strengths and weaknesses. The development of rapid reaction attack capabilities in Operation Desert Storm and AWOS is detailed emphasizing the lessons from flexible targeting operations conducted in AWOS. The three functional components of a rapid targeting capability using GPS-guided weapons are analyzed with critical tasks identified and discussed. Postulated operations should center on a dedicated rapid targeting cell with the ability and authority to approve attacks re-task sensor and attack assets and generate precise target coordinates. Accountability for combat effects will shift from the attacking aircrew to the cell planners. Use of GPS-guided weapons eliminates the need to disseminate target imagery to attacking aircrew and reduces workload. This capability is a viable option for future commanders if we choose to pursue it.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>