Integrating Offensive And Defensive Fires To Defeat Indirect Fire Attacks

Integrating Offensive And Defensive Fires To Defeat Indirect Fire Attacks

- Capt. Mary Jocelyn

With warfare evolving into a multi-dimensional battlefield, there is an increased demand for innovation to counter enemies’ creative uses of tactics and weaponry. Technology has played a major role in developing offensive weapons cheaply and providing ease-of-access to anyone seeking to use violence as a means to achieve their objectives. Cheap, readily available offensive weapons (i.e., tactical ballistic missiles and rockets, artillery and mortars) are an increasing threat to the force due to adversaries’ superior numbers within their stockpiles. To combat this evolving threat of guided and ballistic munitions, the U.S. military and its allies rely heavily on the active air and missile defense weapons systems. However, the over-reliance on active defense limits our ability to provide the most comprehensive defense to friendly forces. Improvements in tactics and Fires integration must be implemented to combat the evolving threat. The only way to effectively defeat an adversary with superior numbers of offensive weapons is through a comprehensive defense of integrated offensive and defensive Fires.