Artillery Precision-Guided Munitions at NTC

Precision-guided munitions provide the commander of a brigade combat team valuable means to employ fires throughout full-spectrum operations. Also, the National Training Center provides BCTs the only opportunity in the United States to conduct PGM live-fire training within a fully integrated training scenario. In both live-fire and force-on-force training, rotational units at the NTC will be able to hone their skills in the planning and execution of PGM missions in support of commander’s intent. This article is for maneuver commanders who may participate in a NTC training rotation. It covers previous PGM live-fires at the NTC, including lessons-learned; force-on-force PGM replication; techniques for the employment of PGMs; and a brief overview of Excalibur and Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System capabilities (unclassified). The intent is to educate the Army’s leadership on training opportunities at the NTC and on artillery PGM best practices. PGMs and NTC The Global Positioning System-aided Excalibur 155mm round and GMLRS are combat-proven and will remain valuable attack options to the maneuver commander for years to come. Both have proven their value in the counterinsurgency environments of Iraq and Afghanistan and will prove equally valuable in major combat operations. PGMs enable the present-day warrior to better leverage the effects of artillery fires. The NTC provides BCTs the opportunity to employ PGMs in live-fire exercises and with simulated effects within the force-on-force training scenario. The NTC is the only location within the United States for Army units to execute live Excalibur and GMLRS fires with ground observers and within the context of a brigade-level tactical training scenario. Why PGMs? Artillery has supported victory since the 13th Century, and indirect fire has been commonplace on the battlefield since World War I. Though extremely effective when properly employed, conventional munitions have limitations that can preclude them from achieving the desired effects in urban and complex terrains. Increased volume of fires masks the inherent, unaccountable errors of conventional artillery and rocket munitions. Accuracy and limited volumes of fire are of vital concern when collateral damage is of tactical and strategic concern. First, PGMs reduce the need for high volumes of fire. Due to the unique ballistics of surface-to-surface PGMs, they also achieve superior ranges to those of traditional artillery and rockets. Second, the reduced volumes of fire result in less strain on logistic systems. Because of the unique capabilities provided by PGMs, the operations group at the NTC works diligently to ensure PGMs fully integrate into the training opportunities provided to BCTs. Looking beyond the COIN fights in Iraq and Afghanistan and toward full-spectrum and major combat operations, the operations group and 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment develop training scenarios based on the hybrid threat covered in Training Circular 7-100. Hybrid-threat tactics, techniques and procedures during future rotations will ensure the need to employ PGMs. The hybrid threat will shield itself in urban areas and exploit the Blue Forces’ restrictive rules of engagement to gain positions of advantage and counter BLUFOR technological advantages. It is a likely probability that contemporary operational environment forces will use this technique to protect indirect-fire systems and high-value targets such as command-and-control nodes and radars. PGMs will give the BLUFOR the opportunity to engage targets while minimizing collateral damage. Details, capabilities, advantages Excalibur. Excalibur is a GPS-guided, inertial-measurement, unit-aided, fin-stabilized, 155mm-caliber artillery projectile delivered by the M777A2 and M109A6/ A7 howitzers. It has a circle of equal probability of less than 10 meters at all ranges. This is a huge advantage over conventional artillery, which experiences increased CEP at greater ranges. The Excalibur payload is equal to that of a standard high-explosives round. However, the increased probability of target hit greatly increases the lethality of the like-payload. The round can be set to function in the proximity, point detonating and delay modes for flexibility against an array of target types. Excalibur ranges vary with projectile generations. First-generation rounds (XM982) can range to 25 kilometers, and later generations (M982) out to 37 km. All Excalibur rounds are fired high-angle and, due to the path assumed after acquiring GPS tracking, Excalibur has steep attack angles. This characteristic makes Excalibur an exceptional option for attacking targets in defilade, especially at greater ranges. The enhanced effects due to the accuracy of Excalibur increases howitzer survivability due to lower counter-fire detection probability and limited threat capability to match extended ranges. GMLRS. GMLRS is a GPS-augmented, inertial guided rocket. GMLRS has two payloads, Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions and GMLRS-Unitary. The DPICM version carries 404 M85 submunitions. GMLRS-U is a 200-pound warhead that successfully deployed in support of both operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. The M270A1 (Multiple-Launch Rocket System) and M142 (High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System) platforms deliver both. GMLRS provides persistent, responsive, all-weather, rapidly-deployable, long-range, surface-to-surface and precision-strike capability. GMLRS has a range of more than 70 km and a CEP of less than 10 meters at all ranges. Like Excalibur, GMLRS provides steep attack angles, nearly nullifying the adversary’s use of defilade positioning for protection. Obviously, GMLRS provides a higher-level firepower over the Excalibur round. The increased firepower allows attacks against larger and/or more protected targets with higher collateral-damage Artillery Precision-Guided Munitions and NTC by MAJ Michael S. Coombes National Training Center ‘briefing book’: 50 January-March 2012 concerns. Nevertheless, the high reliability of the GMLRS, coupled with the ability to choose between various fuse-settings (point detonating, proximity and delay) makes GMLRS an ideal means of attack when collateral damage is a concern. Fight and win with PGMs Fighting and winning with PGMs starts with the commander’s intent for fires. PGMs are a means to support the overall scheme of maneuver, as do all fires support. The development of fire-support tasks and associated fire-support products such as the high-payoff target list and attack-guidance matrix with target-selection standards remain the foundation for effective fire support. When the need or desire for PGMs is identified, units must understand how to resource and deliver PGMs in a timely manner. Units should consider the use of Excalibur and GMLRS when:

• Minimizing collateral damage is critical;

• The terrain hinders effective employment of conventional munitions due to their trajectory limitations;

• Conventional munitions cannot range the target;

• Minimizing the number of rounds fired is critical; and

• In situations requiring the use of a PGM, yet weather conditions or lack of responsiveness preclude the use of other PGMs, or a designator is not available (Special Text No. 3.09.74). PGMs require GPS keys. Unit communication sections must understand the importance of the specific keys required and have distribution plans to support in a timely manner. For Excalibur, howitzer-section chiefs need to understand the distribution plan supporting them. Also, they should also understand how to load the keys and use the Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter to transfer the GPS keys to the Excalibur round. The value of prosecuting targets with PGMs is the ability to ensure target hit and achieve the desired effects. The importance of accurate target location – including the requirement of target mensuration for hardened targets or in areas of high collateral damage concerns – is paramount. Inaccurate location of targets will result in units “missing precisely,” possibly resulting in unacceptable collateral damage or failure to achieve desired affects. Therefore, unit training must use the Pocket-sized Forward-Entry Device and the Digital Precision Strike Suite-Special Operation Forces to ensure accurate target location. NTC PGM live-fires Live-fire training exercises provide the best opportunity for Soldiers and units to gain full confidence in their equipment and systems. Although seemingly counterintuitive, the training safety danger zones for PGMs are significantly larger than the SDZs for munitions that follow a simple ballistic flight. Because of this, live-fire training with PGMs at home stations is difficult. At the NTC, the commanding general approved deviations to the PGM SDZs that allow realistic incorporation and use of PGMs. Currently, the NTC stands as the only Army installation with a deviation that allows ground observation of both Excalibur and GMLRS. Battery C, 3rd Battalion, 13th Field Artillery, fired the first PGMs at the NTC fully integrated within a training scenario Aug. 14, 2010. The unit fired two GMLRS rockets against a division target. Both rockets impacted within seven meters of the target’s center grid, completely destroying the target (an 8-foot-by-8- foot plywood structure surrounded by a 16-foot-by-16-foot plywood fence). While target destruction was impressive, the lack of collateral damage was even more so. Most shrapnel landed within 30 meters of the impact grids, with a small amount found out to 80 meters. Notably, foam targets placed 70 meters from the target suffered no visible signs of damage. Second Battalion, 8th FA (part of 1st Brigade, 25th Infantry) fired the first Excalibur rounds Feb. 22, 2011, during the force-on-force phase of a mission-rehearsal exercise. Due to a target-location error of 10 meters, the amount of destruction against the target building was less than desired. Nevertheless, collateral damage would have been very limited. Most shrapnel settled within 20 meters of the impact grid, with some shrapnel located out to 40 meters from the impact. Since this event, live Excalibur missions have become common during MREs. On April 28, 2011, 2-29 FA (4th Brigade, 1st Armored Division) scored a direct hit, leveling the 16-foot-by-16-foot plywood structure. During past scenarios, BCTs received orders to execute Excalibur missions against division high-payoff targets or to secure division assets and conduct target-site exploitation for GMLRS missions. One scenario included a simultaneous close-air-support strike against another division target, requiring a detailed air coordination and control plan. In each case, conditions Figure 3. Excalibur-target impact grid during 2nd Bn., 8th FA’s live-firing Feb. 22, 2011. (Photo by CPT Joshua P. Aranda) Figure 4. Excalibur-target impact grid during 2-29 FA’s live-firing April 28, 2011. (Photo by CPT Joshua P. Aranda) Figure 1. Btry. C, 3-13 FA, fires PGMs at NTC Aug. 14, 2010. (Photo by MAJ Michael Coombes) Figure 2. GMLRS-U rocket craters at NTC Aug. 14, 2010. (Photo by MAJ Michael S. Coombes) 7m Craters Target grid marker January-March 2012 51 were set for the unit to obtain intelligence linked to the scenario to validate unit TSE plans and execution. Current scenario designs incorporate intelligence threads leading to the need to execute GMLRS or Excalibur missions. The PGM live-fires were invaluable exercises that provided each BCT important lessons-learned and the confidence to leverage PGMs in combat. Trends from those missions include unit struggles acquiring accurate target location with sensor systems, target mensuration, proper TSE, management of required GPS keys and development of assessment and reat-tack criteria. The struggles with accurate target location and managing GPS keys are the greatest concerns. Units can improve target locations with increased training for all observers with organic equipment and software such as Lightweight Laser Designator Rangefinders, PFED and DPSS-SOF (see Special Text 3.09.74 for employment TTPs and sensor-system TLE capabilities). Concerning GPS keys, the trend during MREs is for the FA battalion to task-organize platoons to task forces with varying command relationships (direct support, tactical control, operational control). However, gaining task forces have little to no understanding of the requirement for GPS keys. Prior coordination by task-force communication sections would ensure timely availability of GPS keys to platoons. Consequently, task forces must demand that their artillery maintain PGM capability at all times. NTC force-on-force replication As anyone who has been to a combat training center knows, Multiple Integrated Laser-Engagement System rules the battlefield. The NTC uses the Area Weapon-Engagement System to replicate fires in a force-on-force environment. AWES use algorithms to determine damage through MILES. The algorithms account for munitions type, volume of fires and target type. Under this system, PGMs are extremely lethal. Unit requirements to employ PGMs during force-on-force are the same to conduct live-fires. To fire Excalibur, units must have PGM-capable howitzers, possess the M1185A1 EPIAFS and possess the correct GPS keys. There are two means available to fire GMLRS. The first is a request through division for notional MLRS support. The second is for BCTs supported by actual MLRS or HIMARS units; these units must be GMLRS-capable and possess the proper GPS keys. To date, there has been little consideration for the use of PGMs by rotational units at the NTC during force-on-force. The current trend is for howitzers not to remain PGM-capable during steady-state operations. Sections either fail to receive and maintain GPS keys or fail to maintain an operational EPIAFS. Furthermore, BCTs often disregard the range advantages provided by Excalibur, resulting in units ordering an abundance of rocket-assisted projectiles instead of Excalibur to provide fires at extend ranges. However, the RAP round experiences significant CEPs with increased range, where the Excalibur round maintains a CEP of less than 10 meters at all ranges. Programming PGMs at

NTC

BCTs wanting to train PGM employment at NTC must first identify PGM employ-AWES – Area Weapon-Engagement System BCT – brigade combat team BLUFOR – Blue Force CEP – circle of equal probability COIN – counterinsurgency DPICM – Dual-Purpose Improved Conventional Munitions DPSS-SOF – Digital Precision Strike Suite-Special Operation Forces EPIAFS – Enhanced Portable Inductive Artillery Fuze Setter FA – field artillery ment as a training objective in the unit’s mission letter to the NTC. For live-fire, firing-unit crews must be qualified within six months and, if necessary, receive new-equipment training. Requests for PGMs require the establishment of an approval-authority chain in the Total Ammunition Management Information System; currently, each heavy BCT and Stryker BCT is authorized one Excalibur round and one GMLRS-U rocket. Lastly, units must coordinate for, draw and maintain GPS keys. MAJ Mike Coombes is the deputy fires trainer at NTC, Fort Irwin, CA. He has also served as an FA battalion battle-staff trainer and targeting combat trainer at NTC, and instructor-in-gunnery/exchange officer, Royal Canadian Artillery School, Gagetown, New Brunswick, Canada. He commanded A/5-82 FA, 4/1 Cavalry Division, Fort Bliss, TX, and his combat experience includes two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with 3-2 Stryker BCT (2003-2004) and 4/1 Cav Division (2006-2007). His military schooling includes the Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course, Pathfinder Course and Field Artillery Officer Basic Course. He holds a bachelor’s of arts degree from the University of Texas-Austin in history and an associate’s of arts degree in engineering emphasis from New Mexico Military Institute. Acronym Quick-Scan GMLRS – Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System GMLRS-U – Guided Multiple-Launch Rocket System-Unitary GPS – Global Positioning System HIMARS – High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System Km – kilometer MILES – Multiple Integrated Laser-Engagement System MLRS – Multiple-Launch Rocket System MRE – mission-rehearsal exercise NTC – National Training Center PFED - Pocket-sized Forward-Entry Device PGM – precision-guided munitions RAP – rocket-assisted projectile SDZ – safety danger zone TLE – target-location error TSE – target-site exploitation TTP - tactics, techniques and procedures 52 January-March 2012