Targeting Air Interdiction in Support of Airland Battle.

Under Airland Battle, the new fighting doctrine of the US Army, deep attacks against enemy follow-on echelons will be a key feature of any operational plan against Soviet forces. However, since the range of its organic assets is limited, the Army will have to rely on tactical air support to conduct many of these deep attacks. This essay describes how the Air Force will provide responsive air interdiction in support of deep attack requirements of Airland Battle despite the fact that AirLand Battle has not been adopted as Air Force doctrine. Functions and responsibilities of the Air Force Tactical Air Control Center (TACC) and the Army Battlefield Coordination Element (BCE) are defined. Coordinating procedures used by the TACC-BCE to plan and execute air attacks against Army nominated targets are described in detail. The impact of emerging technology in the form of advanced sensors, automated intelligence processing equipment and new control facilities is outlined, as is the plan for capitalizing on these new capabilities to allow synchronization of air and land weapon systems against important, high payoff targets in real time.