Considerations for NATO Ground Forces in Joint Intelligence , Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations
NATO Ground ISTAR element executing surveillance mission . Photo from NATO HQ
ly available and could potentially not exist at the onset of military operations . Until air and maritime superiority is achieved , Ground Forces must realize that limited NATO and member-nation JISR assets may not have ground priorities at the top of their collection requirements . Providing input into operational planning for acceptable risk during ground operations are key from tactical to strategic missions and activities .
Similarly , employment of Ground Intelligence , Surveillance , Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance ( ISTAR ) forces may be done without overwatch from air platforms . ISTAR formations , traditionally considered as the eyes and ears of Corps and Division Commanders , may now be highly sought-after within JISR due to their ability to operate in an Anti-Access / Aerial Denial ( A2AD ) environment . The idea these forces may be used to identify air defenses or land based anti-ship systems must be considered . Employment considerations must be synchronized not only with the Air ,
Maritime and Land communities , but also the Special Operations Forces and Space Domains .
Synchronization and Economy of Effort
Limited organic capabilities and a reliance on member-nations for JISR contributions means Joint and Ground Forces staffs must be good stewards of the limited resources allocated . G2 analysts , G3 targeting personnel , GENG planners and other staff elements must not only look for synchronization and well-planned ISR missions , they must also deconflict and limit redundancy with the numerous Corps requirements developed within the NATO Force Structure GRF ( L ) s . Ground Force Collection Managers must be creative in capitalizing on targets of opportunity available from assets assigned to the air and maritime targets . This is especially critical at the beginning of military operations as NATO Air and Maritime Forces utilize JISR to achieve superiority in their respective domains . Measures of Effectiveness , which are always difficult to quantify , must now be the norm to ensure the limited missions assigned are placed against the appropriate targets and assigned to the correct subordinate element .
Advocacy across the Alliance
Over the coming months and years as NATO refines JISR operations , doctrine and techniques , tactics and procedures , LAND- COM and the GRF ( L ) s must seize the opportunity to ensure valid requirements are accounted for as NATO moves forward . The objective for NATO Joint ISR is to champion the concept of “ need to share ” over the concept of “ need to know ”. Advocacy for Land Domain requirements may at first appear as receiving verses giving , but with proper education and understanding the contribution of Ground ISTAR within JISR ensures NATO Land Forces receive equal considerations for future planning and missions in both Peacetime and Crisis Establishment structures .
1
“ Joint Intelligence , Surveillance and Reconnaissance .” Accessed February 16 , 2017 . http :// www . nato . int / cps / en / natolive / topics _ 11830 . htm
2
Ibid .
3
O “ Alliance Ground Surveillance ( AGS ).” Accessed February 16 , 2017 . http :// www . nato . int . cps / en / natohq / topics _ 48892 . htm .
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