Chapter 8: Aviation

The integration of air, artillery, and missile assets into a unified fire support plan is a major task for the combined arms commander. Integration is a decisive element, fundamental to the success of any operation on the modern battlefield. The OPFOR does not consider itself to be an “artillery-centric” army. Rather, it views itself as using various forms of fire support to achieve success during offensive and defensive operations. In the offense, fire support is important to the success of any attack. It can destroy key systems; disrupt, immobilize, or destroy enemy groupings; and repel counterattacks. Fire support is also the cornerstone of any defense, blunting attacks at the crucial point in the battle. It disrupts enemy preparations for the attack, causes attrition as he approaches, and repels forces.

Fire Support Concepts

Fire support is the collective and coordinated use of target acquisition, indirect fire weapons, aircraft, and other lethal and nonlethal means in support of operational or tactical objectives. The goal is to synchronize all available fire support systems to achieve the most effective results, thereby maximizing combat power. Effective fire support enables OPFOR ground forces to attack successfully and quickly to exploit weaknesses. Commanders try to accomplish their missions using a combination of maneuver and fire. The OPFOR continues to expand and upgrade fire support systems to achieve a qualitative edge over its regional opponents. However, it realizes that it may be at a qualitative disadvantage compared to a modern extraregional force.

The OPFOR stresses that fire support should integrate air assets, surface- to-surface missiles (SSMs), and artillery to attack enemy targets throughout the area of responsibility (AOR). The combined arms commander always seeks to increase the effectiveness of air and missile attacks and artillery fire to destroy enemy formations, weapon systems, or key components of an enemy combat system. (See Systems Warfare later in this chapter and in Chapter 1.) This ensures continuous fire support for maneuver units throughout the AOR.

The OPFOR considers information warfare (IW) an essential element of fire support. It provides a nonlethal alternative or supplement to attack by fire and maneuver. It is integrated into the overall concept of the operation, to confuse, deceive, delay, and disorganize the enemy.

Fire Support Principles

The principles of fire support are the framework for a thought process that ensures the most effective use of fire support assets. These principles apply at all levels of command, regardless of the specific fire support assets available:

• Plan early and continuously.
• Exploit all  available reconnaissance,  intelligence,  surveillance, and target acquisition (RISTA) assets.
• Consider airspace management and the use of all fire support (lethal and nonlethal) means.
• Use the lowest echelon capable of furnishing effective support.
• Avoid unnecessary duplication of effort.
• Use the most effective means to accomplish the mission.
• Provide rapid and effective coordination.
• Provide for flexibility of employment.
• Provide for safeguarding and survivability of OPFOR fire support assets.
• Attempt to achieve surprise when possible.
• Deliver highly accurate and effective fire.

Systems Warfare

The foundation of OPFOR planning is the systems warfare approach to combat. Thus, the OPFOR analyzes its own combat system and how it can use the combined effects of this “system of systems” to degrade or destroy the enemy’s combat system. In systems warfare, the subsystems or components of a combat system are targeted and destroyed individually. Once a favorable combat situation has developed, the targeted enemy subsystem is quickly destroyed in high-intensity operations, thus making the enemy’s overall combat system vulnerable to destruction or at least degrading its effectiveness. (See Systems Warfare in Chapter 1 for further information.)

Within the systems warfare approach, the OPFOR employs a fire support concept centered on a phased-cycle of finding a critical component of the enemy combat system and determining its location with RISTA assets; engaging it with precision fires, maneuver, or other means; and recovering to support the fight against another part of the enemy force. The primary reason for attacking an enemy with fires is to degrade or destroy one or more key components of the enemy’s combat system and/or to create favorable conditions for degrading or destroying other parts of his combat system.

Techniques to Exploit Enemy Vulnerabilities

The OPFOR seeks to avoid enemy strengths and exploit his vulnerabilities. In conflicts with extraregional powers, the OPFOR typically would be operating from relative strategic weakness. Therefore, it seeks  to operationally outmaneuver, overwhelm, and outpace the enemy. It also seeks to deny him any sanctuary on the battlefield, as well as in the local theater or in his strategic depth. (See Strategic Context later in this chapter.)