Doctrine for joint urban operations, which include aviation urban
operations, combined with revised tactics, techniques, and
procedures for joint close air support, offers the combined/joint
force air component commander a set of best practices for
conducting counterland operations on urban terrain. In this study,
Lt Col Todd Kemper, USMC, argues that aviation urban operations,
particularly urban close air support, are no longer high-risk,
low-probability missions left to academic discussions, but are
proving to be high-risk, high-probability missions, as witnessed
during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Furthermore, the author contends
that urban terrain has become the preferred battlespace of US
adversaries in the early twenty-first century. This environment
poses unique challenges, especially to air and space warfare. The
difficulty of sorting friendlies from enemy combatants, the latter
intermingled with large numbers of noncombatants in very confined
spaces, creates serious dilemmas for maneuver and aviation forces.
Colonel Kemper believes that this mission, though well documented,
has received neither the priority nor the resources necessary to
ensure operational excellence and success on the modern
battlefield. Thus, he not only inquires about whether we are
training like we fight, but also seeks to determine what makes
aviation urban operations so complicated and unique that they
require stand-alone doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures.
Colonel Kemper examines aviation urban operations during Operations
Allied Force, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom, demonstrating
the use of airpower and space power as a force multiplier and
enabler in the urban environment. During those operations, tactical
jets, bombers, AC-130 gunships, and unmanned aerial vehicles
provided precision fires as well as command, control,
communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and
reconnaissance (C4ISR) support to the joint fight. Although each
conflict is different, recent combat in Iraqi cities such as
Fallujah and An Najaf indicates the enemy's willingness to drag US
and coalition forces into urban warfare. In view of the possibility
of collateral damage and with the world media watching, air and
space forces can ill afford to get it wrong in urban fights.
Colonel Kemper believes that the US Air Force, Navy, Special
Operations Command, and Marine Corps should redouble their efforts
from a doctrinal, organizational, training, material, leadership,
personnel, and facilities perspective on the important mission area
of aviation urban operations. His study concludes with
recommendations for US Joint Forces Command and the military
services.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!
Welcome to Loot.co.za!
Sign in / Register |Wishlists & Gift Vouchers |Help | Advanced search
