Battlefield Air Interdiction: Airpower for the Future

In this study battlefield interdiction in modern warfare is evaluated and recommendations for the effective use of airpower for this purpose are made. A future war will probably be against the Soviet Union or one of its client states. Soviet tactics emphasize the echelonment of forces and massed artillery. Destruction of these elements is critical for victory. Target acquisition capabilities are sufficient to generally target second echelon forces and artillery but direct observation of the target is necessary to destroy mobile targets. Of all current weapon systems evaluated for range, accuracy, flexibility, availability and survivability, tactical aircraft are best suited for the battlefield interdiction mission. However, current battlefield air interdiction employment principles are a confusing mixture of close air support and interdiction procedures. Recommendations include: adopt battlefield air interdiction as a separate Air Force mission with world-wide application; control battlefield air interdiction using request procedures similar to close air support but from the Tactical Air Control Center rather than the Air Support Operations Center; increase the Army manning at the Tactical Air Control Center and assign them from echelons above corps so they will be more responsive to theater-wide targeting requirements; and clearly define the battlefield air interdiction area by changing current fire control measures. (author)