Attacking the Theater Mobile Ballistic-Missile Threat
by David E. Snodgrass
Publisher: Air University Press (1993 Maxwell Air Force Base, AL)
Binding/Media: Paperback
SKU: 9AC2-047-8-0110
Condition: Near Fine
Comments: Clean copy, no markings by previous owners; Covers show very minor shelfwear - else FINE. Pages clean, bright, and tight. ABSTRACT: The United States (US) and its coalition partners achieved a decisive victory over Iraq in the 1991 Persian Gulf War. Despite the spectacular overall success, the coalition had more trouble than expectedd in neutralizing Saddam Hussein's Scud missiles. Many third world nations, besides Iraq, possess menacing theater ballistic missiles. The trend over the past few years points to continued proliferation of these weapons.This paper reviews the performance of US systems against Iraq's Scudes during Operation Desert Storm and examines current US efforts to defeat these potentially destabilizing weapons. Which technologies and systems will be most effective against mobile ballistic missiles? How should the United States implement selected technologies to deal with this challenge? This study covers the pros and cons of competing concepts to accomplish missile defense and evaluates the most promising technical solutions to the mobile ballistic missile threat. On the basis of the extensive amount of time and research effort devoted to the problem, it is safe to say there is no quick, easy, or cheap way to locate, identify, and destroy mobile missiles and their launchers. To defeat the mobile missle threat with a high degree of confidence, the United States must field an integrated system of both offensive and defensive weapons. The tasks seem clear: find the target, assign resources, and then attack and destroy the target. Our operational concepts should flow from these tasks. Obviously the mobile launchers complicate the search problem. Destroying missile factories or known storage facilities is not difficult. The central problem is how to find the missiles once they have deployed to the field. This paper addresses how best to accomplish attack operation against the mobile ballistic missiles before they are launched. Offensive weapons, including manned and unmanned platforms, may perform this task. However, it is unreasonable to expect that attack operations can knock out all mobile missiles before launch. Active defense provides a second layer of defense. It locates, tracks, and shoots down theater ballistic missiles during their boost, midcourse, and terminal phases. Passive defense consists of hardening and dispersal actions to minimize damage from any missiles that manage to penetrate the first two layers of defense. Finally, an efective command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) layer connects the other three layers in a unified whole. The US Air Force, the Department of Defense, and government contractors are vigorously pursuing programs to enhance existing capabilities in all these areas. This paper evaluates various proposed solutions for existing deficiencies in attack operations and active defense. *International Buyers Welcome!* (except for prohibitively heavy items, as noted) - Satisf
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