READY FOR TODAY – EVOLVING FOR TOMORROW
Figure 8. Sample MN FAB
main effort and provide massed tube
and rocket fires as well as the ability
to strike point targets (utilising the
Excalibur GPS-guided projectile).
4. The
suite of radars, COBRA,
MAMBA, GIRAFFE and Q53, with a
detection range out to 60 kilometres,
facilitates reactive CFs and provides a
combination of wheeled, tracked and
airmobile platforms that can be used
throughout the possible complexity
of terrain found in an AO. This
capability is reinforced and enhanced
by passive sound-ranging assets to
assist or conduct CFs (Advanced
Sound-ranging Programme (ASP),
Mobile
Sound
Ranging
Array
(MSRA)).
These
sound-ranging
assets can be used in isolation or
to queue the activation of CF radars
thereby increasing survivability by
reducing radiating times of individual
systems and decreasing the number
of survivability moves.
All of these fires assets, with the
exception of LAROM, can provide a
point and limited area precision strike
capability through the use of precision
guided munitions (PGM), which are
expensive in monetary terms as well as
scarce in terms of precision munitions.
The French Caesar and German
Pz2000 52-calibre barrel length provides
longer-range fires as compared to their
39-calibre counterparts (AS90, Paladin,
M777) and, when coupled with improved
long-range
ammunition,
provide
an anti-armour and high explosive
capability out to 35 and 54 kilometres,
respectively. 56 The development of the
US 58-calibre weapon systems and
associated ammunition will extend these
ranges even further in the near future. 7
This combination of assets gives the
commander a flexible and responsive
fires solution at both corps and LCC
levels.
Benefits
In addition to the enhancements outlined
above, the MN FFAHQ and MN FAB
concepts present the opportunity for
NATO Allies and partners to familiarise
themselves with delivering fires at
a corps and LCC level in support of
joint operations. By taking part in
this endeavour, participants gain the
experience of integrating into a structure
that has been developed and tested
through experimentation at higher-level
formation exercises (including in the near
future AF19, DEFENDER 20 (DEF20)
and STEADFAST LEDA 21 (STLE21)).
This developed model, if successfully
validated, can then be replicated by
other corps to reduce the challenges
of incorporating MN fires elements into
future training events and operations.
The employment of MN organisations
(personnel and S2S fires assets) allows
NATO to take advantage of a variety
of complimentary S2S systems and
alleviates NATO’s reliance on a single
country’s fire support capabilities, i.e.
the US. For countries that force generate
augmentees or subordinate elements
into such a structure, this model will
promote the efficient integration of those
forces.
Summary
The ARRC has exercised framework
nation and US FAB options with
associated corps troops assigned. The
US FAB option provided more flexibility
and capability across a range of actions,
but neither party are guaranteed force
providers or fully meet the ARRC’s
requirements. A third MN option is
required, which includes MN S2S fires
units and associated capabilities to
allow the development of an advanced
warfighting MN FFAHQ and MN FAB
based on optimal MN resources. This
option provides a guaranteed number of
UK framework personnel, which meets
ARRC’s JTF requirements and, when
augmented by suitably qualified MN
personnel, can provide the MN FFAHQ
functionality required by the ARRC as
a corps or LCC. These options must,
however, be supported, resourced,
exercised, tested and refined with a
suitably sized and configured MN FAB
under command. Exercises AF19 and
DEF20 will provide the major refinement
opportunities before this concept is
comprehensively tested on STLE21.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Iddon is a
35-year veteran of the British Army’s
Royal Artillery and currently serves
as the Chief of the ARRC’s Joint
Fires Current Operations cell. In his
previous assignment he served as the
Quartermaster for the 3rd Regiment
Royal Horse Artillery at Albemarle
Barracks in Northumberland, England.
Lt. Col. Iddon has been engaged in
various combat and peacekeeping
operations in Northern Ireland, Bosnia,
Cyprus, Iraq and Afghanistan. A native
of Newcastle, England, Lt. Col. Iddon is
a Late Entry Officer with a high level of
practical experience in the realm of Field
Artillery.
5 The Bofors 155mm BONUS round is an artillery-launched, fire-and-forget munition capable of successfully combating any armoured vehicle.
6 The Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM) Velocity Enhanced Artillery Projectile (VLAP) has a maximum range at sea level of 54 kilometres.
7 The US Army M777 58-calibre is a new variant of the M777A2 39-calibre towed 155mm howitzer. This variant is expected to fire the new XM113 projectile to achieve a maximum range in
excess of 40 kilometres. The 58-caliber artillery gun is currently under development with an estimated initial operational capability planned for 2023.
ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS
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