Pro Quiz #6

Front 1

Mission Definition

Back 1

Strike warfare is the use of tactical aircraft and/or cruise missile strikes against land targets in an offensive power projection role.

Front 2

STWC

Back 2

The strike warfare commander is responsible for planning and executing all tactical and cruise missile strikes for a task force.

Front 3

What are the 4 mission capabilities?

Back 3

Coordinated Strike, Interdiction, Armed Reconaissance, Close Air Support

Front 4

Coordinated Strike?

Back 4

A coordinated strike aims to reduce an enemy's war making capacity or logistics capability by destroying specified targets at known locations. The targets of coordinated strikes are often well inland and heavily defended. Examples of coordinated strike targets include refineries, power plants, petroleum storage facilities, factories, airfields, troops concentrations and headquarters, terrorist training camps, and command control centers.

Front 5

Interdiction

Back 5

The objective of interdiction is to destroy specifically desgnated targets denying the enemy access to an area. Targets include bridges, railroads, and major roadways. Its secondary mission is attacking targets of opportunity, if so authorized.

Front 6

Armed Reconassiance

Back 6

Armed Reconaissance involves destroying targets of opportunity. Attack aircraft are tasked with patrolling a specified route or area, with orders to engage and destroy enemy targets they may encounter. Cruise missiles are currently not capable of performing this mission. Generally, a plane tasked w/armed reconaissance will have a secondary mission of attacking specified fixed targets when no target of opportunity presents itself.

Front 7

Close Air Support

Back 7

The close air support (CAS) mission is to harass, neutralize, or destroy enemy ground forces in close proximity to friendly ground forces and requires detailed coordination and communications. Forward air controllers on the ground request CAS. The mission requires special precautions since the aircraft are operating in the vicinity of friendly forces, and there is the possibility of friendly fire engagements. Good communications between aircraft amd ground forces are essential for CAS to be effective. US military air power is moving heavily in this direction. A small group of spotters on the ground can call in a large number of precision strikes and have a force multiplication many times their size as shown by teams of special forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.

Front 8

TACAIR?

Back 8

Tactical Aircraft are those aircraft that can be fitted to serve in an attack role. The F/A-18, F-14, and AV-8B are all capable of conducting any type of strike mission, and can carry most munitions listed below. (?) The EA-6B is only capable of carrying the AGM-88 HARM and, therefore, has a limited role in directly attacking strike, interdiction, or CAS-close air support-targets, but provides a tremendous enabling capability in the area of supression of enemy air defenses (SEAD) in support of strike missions.

Front 9

Cruise Missiles

Back 9

A cruise missile is an unmanned, self-propelled, guided weapon delivery vehicle that sustains through aerodynamic lift over most of its flight path. The primary cruise missile currently used by the Navy against on-shore targets is the BGM-109 Tomahawk Land Attack Missile (TLAM). The Tomahawk cam be launched rfom torpedo tubes or VLS tubes on a sub or Mk 41 VLS on ships.

Front 10

Advantages of TACAIR

Back 10

Greater Payload
Target Selection Capability
Flexibility
Battle Damage Assessment
Can be used for Close Air Support and Armed Reconaissance missions
Reusable

Front 11

Disadvantages of TACAIR

Back 11

Human Component
Shorter Range (w/o refueling)
Limited Deep Strike capability

Front 12

Advantages of Cruise Missiles

Back 12

Deep Strike Capability
No chance of losing pilots
High Accuracy
Multiple launching platforms

Front 13

Disadvantages of Cruise Missiles

Back 13

No Battle Damage Assessment
No target selection capability
Small Payload
High coster per shot ($1.5 million)

Front 14

NSFS

Back 14

Naval Surface Fire Support

Front 15

Naval Surface Fire Support?

Back 15

Shore bombardment to conduct strikes against shore targets and prepare landing zones for amphibious assault
But, relatively short range, ships must be closer to shore and are more vulnerable to surprise attacks from enemy aircraft and shore-based anti-ship missiles

Front 16

Weapons used in NSFS

Back 16

Currently:
Mk45 5" 54 cal DP gun (primary weapon)
Mk75 76mm 62 cal OTO Melara Gun
Future:
Mk45 62 cal gun mount refit program
-new barrel
-new interface/control systems
-capable of firing GPS guided Extended Range Guided Munitions w/ranges up to 60+ nm
-Rocket motor attached to rear of shell for improved range

Future may be armed w/...:
155mm Advanced Gun System (AGS) w/ range up to 100 nm and cross functionality w/ US Army artillery projectiles