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ATTACKING MOBILE FORCES2XX
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OVERVIEW

• Basic Targeting Process
• DECIDE
• What to attack fixed and mobile targets.
• Where/when to attack mobile targets.
• Current techniques
• TTP using IPB and Joint Grid Reference Boxes

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TARGETING

• The process of selecting targets and matching the
  appropriate response to them taking account of
  operational requirements and capabilities.

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TARGETING CYCLE
Decide
Assess
Deliver
Detect
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DECIDE WHAT TO ATTACK

• Based on Commanders objectives, guidance and
  intent.
• Military Decision Making Process
• Restated mission and essential tasks
• Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace
  produces recommended High Value Targets

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WHAT TO ATTACK

• Target - An area, complex, installation, force,
  equipment, capability, function, or behavior
  identified for possible action to support the
  commanders objectives, guidance, and intent.
• High Value Target - A target the enemy commander
  requires for the successful completion of the
  mission. The loss of high-value targets would be
  expected to seriously degrade important enemy
  functions throughout the friendly commanders
  area of interest. Also called HVT.
• HVT - may be stationary (fixed) or mobile

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WHEN AND WHERE TO ATTACK

• High Payoff Target - A target whose loss to the
  enemy will significantly contribute to the
  success of the friendly course of action.
• Wargaming develops High Payoff Targets that must
  be attacked at critical times and/or places on
  the battlefield.

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STATIONARY AND MOBILE TARGETS

• Stationary and mobile targets are not doctrinally
  defined
• Working characteristics
• Stationary - not moving, not capable of being
  moved during a targeting cycle fixed
• Mobile - capable of moving or being moved from
  place to place during a targeting cycle

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PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

• Stationary target
• Easily identified by a BE number
• Detailed information can be maintained in
  Modernized Integrated Database (MIDB)
• Desired Mean Point of Impact (DMPI) can be
  developed based on known structures
• Desired effect may be achievable by striking a
  few key DMPIs

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PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS

• Mobile targets
• May not have a useable BE number location and
  function may be more critical than ID
• May consist of a single vehicle or large
  formations of HVTs and support assets
• Locations require continual tracking and
  predictive analysis
• Planning for mobile targets requires greater
  flexibility

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PLANNING FLEXIBILITY

• Ground-nominated air interdiction targets are
  not often presented in the standardized basic
  encyclopedia (BE) number designation which is
  another reason to retain flexibility in
  counterland planning.
• Air Force Doctrine Document 2-1.3

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CURRENT TECHNIQUES

• Unit as the target
• Mis-use of TST Techniques
• Kill Box Free Fire Areas

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UNIT AS THE TARGET

• Enemy unit selected from current situation
• BE number taken from MIDB
• Location may be garrison or last reported
• Target location must be continually updated as
  unit moves
• Mis-identification of target unit can lead to
  incorrect tracking

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MIS-USE OF TST TECHNIQUES

• Time-sensitive targets - ... pose a danger to
  friendly forces or are highly lucrative, fleeting
  targets of opportunity.
• TST Technique
• Interdiction assets placed on air alert waiting
  for target location information
• Increased risk to air asset may be considered
  acceptable for true TST
• Reactive rather than proactive

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KILL BOX FREE FIRE AREAS

• Areas designated as Kill Boxes are turned on and
  off as Free Fire Areas
• Loosely based on predictive analysis
• Attack aircraft troll for targets
• Pilot asked to loiter in hostile environment
• Do his own intelligence collection, target
  selection

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OVERVIEW

• Basic Targeting Process
• DECIDE
• What to attack fixed and mobile targets.
• Where/when to attack mobile targets.
• Current techniques
• TTP using IPB and Joint Grid Reference Boxes

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TARGET

• A geographic area, complex, or installation
  planned for capture or destruction by military
  force.

Joint Pub 1-02
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PLANNING FLEXIBILITY

• A large enemy ground formation of battalion or
  brigade size does not lend itself to a single set
  of target coordinates and may be more easily
  attacked if its location is identified by an area
  designator such as a grid box.
• Air Force Doctrine Document 2-1.3

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Definitions

• Target Box (TB)
• Named Areas of Interest (NAI)

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Target Box

• Areas designated on identifiable terrain in
  which enemy targets are expected to appear and
  against which air support will be employed
• FM 101-5-1

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Named Area of Interest(NAI)

• A point or area along a particular avenue of
  approach through which enemy activity is expected
  to occur. Activity or lack of activity within an
  NAI will help to confirm or deny a particular
  enemy course of action.
• FM 101-5-1

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Planning for the Attack of Mobile Forces

• IPB predicts enemy movement
• NAIs help confirm/deny enemy COA
• Plan to attack the enemy inside Target Box
• Target Box doesnt move
• Objective is effect on enemy force in the TB
• A Paradigm Shift -- target and target location on
  the ASR is the Target Box

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CHALLENGE

• IDENTIFY AN AREA TARGET USING SYSTEMS THAT DO NOT
  ALLOW YOU TO BUILD AN AREA TARGET

OPORD / TACSOP -- SPECIFY THAT A POINT WILL
REPRESENT AN AREA 15 NORTH AND 15 EAST OF THAT
POINT
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8 9
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Air Support Request

• Target Box is the Target on the ASR NOT the Unit
• The Target Box is then placed on the Armys CTL

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Air Support Request

• No Target on the ASR
• No Mobile Force Targets on the CTL
• ASSETS ARE ON GROUND / AIRBORNE ALERT

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UPDATE REQUIREMENTS

• TARGET VALIDATION
• TARGET UPDATE
• UNIT UPDATE
• MISSION VALIDATION

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UPDATE REQUIREMENTS

• TARGET VALIDATION
• Does the target still meet the commanders
  objectives and guidance?
• Is the target operational?
• Is the target significant?

REF Air Force Pam 14-210
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UPDATE REQUIREMENTS

• TARGET UPDATE
• Verify attack location is the same as on the ATO
• Verify attack time is the same as on the ATO
• Verify attack objective is the same as on the ATO

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UPDATE REQUIREMENTS

• UNIT UPDATE
• Last known location of the unit
• Status of the unit
• Anticipated COA

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UPDATE REQUIREMENTS

• MISSION VALIDATION
• Is the mission on the ATO still valid?
• Have any of the mission requirements changed?

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Conclusion

• Produces an Effect on the Enemy Force at the
  Right Time and Place
• Supports the Air Force Concept of COUNTERLAND
  Operations
• Supported by ABCS / TBMCS Today
• Produces an ATO that is meaningful to DOCC/WOCs
• No Requirement to Transfer UIC as targets between
  ABCS TBMCS

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DISCUSSION

• Consider another apportionment category
  COUNTERLAND
• Consider using more than one Target List

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Attacking Mobile Forces

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DESIRED MEAN POINTOF IMPACT (DMPI)

• A precise point, associated with a target, and
  assigned as the center of impact of multiple
  weapons or area munitions to achieve the intended
  objective and level of destruction.
• Joint Pub 2-01.1