Doing More with Less

LTC Franz Krasznitzer The change in the geostrategic environ ment within the past two decades and the present and future challenges of the modern battlefield with various state and non-state actors poses great challenges to many armies, especially those in the Western world. Despite radical cuts in defense budgets in the past years, the build-up and expansion of effective military capacities in the Austrian armed forces must be the pre condition for fulfilling future security-political tasks, forming the basis for an effective and credible foreign and secu rity policy. One of the ways Austria has approached its defense challenges has been to inte grate the artillery and reconnaissance branches into one unit. The Austrian armed forces have done this since

2009. In combining command and con trol (C2), reconnaissance and effect into one system, the “reconnaissance and artillery battalion” is a substantial pil lar of military-intelligence collection and of ranged fire support in com bined-arms warfare. Some innovative approaches show possibilities to fur ther develop the reconnaissance and artillery battalion with a view to the fu ture and to the unit’s increased useful ness, despite decreasing resource lev els. First, some preliminary notes and basic information on terrestrial tactical re connaissance and indirect ranged fire support are necessary. Information-gath ering, tactical re connaissance The principles and fundamentals of mil itary information-gathering and terres trial tactical reconnaissance are:

• In all military operations, informa tion superiority is an essential cri terion for conducting operations successfully.

• Gaps in information-gathering have direct adverse effects on the quality of every measure of leader ship and, therefore, also on the ef fectiveness and security of the em ployed soldiers.

• Thus, the battle for information is decisive in planning and conducting military operations. In the current peacetime structure of reconnaissance and artillery battalions, military information-gathering is limit ed at the tactical level (brigade and be low) to ground-based field human-in telligence (HUMINT) personnel. We know from international operations that effective intelligence requires the integration and use of diverse means and sensors with evaluation devices for information-processing and distribu tion. At the tactical level, in particular, it is important to rely on diverse assets to gather information. Every reconnaissance means is de signed for a specific operational spec trum and has, therefore, its respective strengths and weaknesses. Only by way

27 October-December 2014 of a balanced mix of these means can a satisfying coverage be ensured. The inter action of technical reconnaissance means with personnel who contribute recon naissance results based on interrogation or observation on-site is decisive. This as pect acquires a particular significance, es pecially in asymmetric conflict scenarios. Information-gathering at the level of ter restrial tactical reconnaissance with the help of a sensor mix has established itself as the international standard, including at least the following means:

• Ground-based field HUMINT;

• Radar-based reconnaissance of the battlefield;

• Ground-based aerial imagery recon naissance (unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs));

• Information-gathering by way of field HUMINT personnel in combination with

• An evaluation cell for task control, the establishment of the picture of the situation and distribution. Further development The possibilities to further develop ter restrial tactical reconnaissance in the re connaissance and artillery battalion are:

• Build up and expand evaluation ca pacities/cells (training courses avail able already at the Land Forces School);

• Establish field HUMINT platoons (cur rently only existing at the Austrian In ternational Operations Command;

• Expand the operational spectrum of ground-based field HUMINT by way of training in specific operational techniques/field HUMINT teams and rapidly implement protected multipurpose vehicles, type Iveco (protect ed against weapons effects);

• Build up capabilities for ground-based aerial reconnaissance (unmanned aerial systems for the reconnaissance branch are being procured); and

• Maintain capabilities for radar-based reconnaissance of the battlefield (one sensor is currently still available). Indirect-fire support The principles and fundamentals of ranged indirect-fire support are:

• The artillery, as a combat-support branch and in combination with reconnaissance, C2 and effect, is a substantial carrier of ranged fire sup port.

• Irrespective of weather conditions and the time of the day, one’s own ar tillery may combat enemy high-value targets anytime at an early stage and, in this way, influence the enemy’s planned intention and operations from the outset in an indirect man ner.

• Thanks to the capability of precise ranged effect, the artillery signifi cantly contributes to the protection of one’s own forces by preventing duel situations and collateral damag es, which are likely to cause heavy losses.

• In operations in which combat action is not to be expected – i.e., peace-sup port operations –organizational ele ments of the artillery support in their second-role function as required. Although the reconnaissance and artillery battalions – by way of the self-propelled howitzer M109A5OE – have a state-ofthe-art and internationally recognized cannon, and although the Combat Next Generation C2 and weapons system will soon replace the Electronic Artillery Fire-Control System – resulting in another clear enhancement of quality – the field of ammunition equipment is still marked by an urgent backlog. To be able to con tinue optimally supporting combat troops in future, modern and complex scenarios, the employment of semi-intelligent and intelligent ammunition types is absolute ly necessary and, in the end, more cost-effective as well. Employing semi-intelligent and intelligent ammunition as compared to convention al ammunition types means that for the same effect:

• The amount of grenades is lowered by 30 percent to 90 percent;

• The amount of artillery pieces is low ered by 75 percent to 85 percent;

• The effective costs are reduced by 40 percent to 60 percent; and

• The risk regarding collateral damage is significantly lower. Fire support The possibilities to further develop indi rect ranged fire support in the reconnais sance and artillery battalion are as fol lows. A change in the ammunition equip ment toward precision artillery ammuni tion results in these advantages:

• A firing platoon equipped with preci sion ammunition is in the position to replace 1½ self-propelled howitzer batteries. Therefore, the number of pieces per reconnaissance and artil lery battalion can be lowered from 16 to eight self-propelled howitzers M109A5OE, which entails a signifi cant savings potential in the field of logistics.

• The capabilities build-up for the re connaissance and obser ver Figure 1. The Austrian armed forces plan to introduce UAVs. Continued on Page 24

28 October-December 2014 Figure 2. Options of artillery am munition to pre cisely combat the target. P r e c i s i o n G u i d a n c e Kit (PGK) • PGK fuze-sized m o d u l e f o r conventional ammuni ti o n types

• Circular Error Probable (CEP): less than 30 meters

• U n i t c o s t : about 2,000 e u r o s ($2,533.60 in U.S. dollars) SMArt

• Artillery sensor fuze ammuni tion

• Armor-piercing

• CEP: less than 10 meters

• U n i t c o s t : about 18,000 e u r o s ($22,802.40 in U.S. dollars) M982 Ex calibur

• Guided artillery ammunition

• Target locating system: Global Positioning Sys tem (GPS)

• Multi-role war head

• Armor-piercing

• CEP: less than 10 meters

• U n i t c o s t : about 60,000 euros ($76,008 in U.S. dollars)

29 October-December 2014 organization in support of combat troops is to be safeguarded by way of joint fires, the first fundamentals of which are already in place at the Land Forces School and the Aviation and Air Defense School.

• Objective-oriented training of organi zational elements of the artillery (es pecially in the firing-position area) in a support function within the frame work of non-kinetic operations in de fined secondary roles, such as a tac tical psychological-operations team (TPT), a tactical camera team (TCT), civil-military cooperation (CIMIC), a li aison and observation team and a li aison and monitoring team. Nature of recon and artillery unit The multi-facetedness of the reconnais sance and artillery battalion is derived from its tasks:

• The reconnaissance and artillery bat talion is a small-unit type and an or ganic element of a brigade employed and commanded by the brigade.

• The reconnaissance and artillery battalion’s mission is to support combat troops and the higher commands to which they report in national and international operations, within the framework of combined-arms warfare, as well as in operations in which combat action is rather not to be expected.

• The reconnaissance and artillery bat talion, as a composite reconnaissance and effect unit, is in the position to carry out terrestrial tactical recon naissance and to provide artillery-fire support for combat units.

• A reconnaissance and artillery battal ion’s C2 organization, in implement ing the tactical decision-making pro cess, is capable of using synergies in linking relevant sub-steps of the intel ligence cycle with sub-steps of the targeting cycle. In this way, not only the planning and C2 of reconnais sance assets are improved, but also sensors and effectors in particular, are linked in such a manner that their combined combat power and effectiveness are a multiple of the mere sum of their individual capabili ties. Deductions for re connaissance and artillery battalion In terms of the strategic basic orientation of the future armed-forces profile F2 “en hanced cooperation,” we can make a number of deductions regarding the re connaissance and artillery battalion. In general, the reconnaissance and artil lery battalion is in a position to support nine of 18 military-strategic task settings of profile variant F2, including contribu tions to the picture of the situation and kinetic and non-kinetic combat support. This is shown by examining the support provided on behalf of a battalion-sized task force within the framework of a sta bilization operation and a robust separa tion-of-parties operation within the framework of a European Union battle group (EUBG). In the February 2012 issue of the Austri an Land Forces School’s journal Exempla Docent, a deputy battalion commander Figure 3. Employment of intelligent ammunition as compared to conventional ammunition. Continued from Page 22

30 October-December 2014 of a combat unit published an article dealing with experiences gained in a peace-support operation in northern Af ghanistan, confirming the findings estab lished in this article. Stabilization operations and separation of parties to a conflict are among the most demanding international military operations to be conducted by an Austri an battalion-sized combat unit. What tasks a combat unit must fulfill and what requirements a reconnaissance and artil lery unit has to meet in such a scenario is briefly described, following. Stabilization operations. The tasks of a battalion-sized combat unit (infantry bat talion) in a stabilization operation (area of responsibility: 40 x 50 kilometers, me dium-threat spectrum) include:

• Protect the local population, interna tional organizations and non-govern mental organizations;

• Protect areas, buildings and lines of communication;

• Show military strength to deter irreg ular activities;

• Disarm irregular forces;

• Defend refugee camps; and

• Attack inferior irregular-infantry forc es. Separation of parties to a conflict. The tasks of a battalion-sized combat unit (mechanized infantry battalion) in sepa rating parties to a conflict (attack more than 20 kilometers, capture of an objec tive: 2x2 kilometers) include:

• Attack a conventional opponent to separate the parties to the conflict and take control of a demilitarized zone;

• Interdict parts of the area to prevent Figure 4. Deductions for Austrian armed forces’ reconnaissance and artillery bat talion. General tasks of headquarters element, reconnaissance and artillery battalion

• Contribute to C2 procedure of higher echelon, in particular in implementing intelligence and targeting cycles.

• Plan and C2 all assigned units, subunit “military intelligence collection and reconnaissance” and indirect-fire-support delivery means.

• Steer internal and external reporting and information flows; and

• Safeguard interaction with other assets and means (infantry/armored, aerial, engineer, nuclear-biological-chemical, air de fense, supply, signals, etc.). Figure 5. Tasks of headquarters element, reconnaissance and artillery battalion (intelligence)

• Register information requirements of superior com mand echelon;

• Update information requirements with already existing in formation or findings (database);

• Analyze identified information shortfalls and draft accom plishable partial capabilities of reconnaissance requests;

• Draft requests for information, in particular if requested information requirement cannot be met with own troops;

• Plan and C2 own forces/means for information-gathering (situation target-effect reconnaissance);

• Follow-up assessment, command and task control – re ceive, verify and synthesize gathered information into pic ture of situation that is as accurate as possible for combat troops to be supported; and

• Establish and distribute products (push/pull). Tasks of headquarters element, reconnaissance and artillery battalion (targeting)

• Take over fire-support requirements of superior command ech elon;

• Draft fire-support plan for all assigned units and subunits re ceiving indirect-fire support;

• Draft target nomination list, in particular if requested fire-sup port requirement cannot be met with own troops;

• Plan and C2 own reconnaissance forces/means for situation-target-effect reconnaissance;

• Control use of one’s own means of force to safeguard indirect fire support;

• Follow-up assessment, command, fire control and task control – receive and synthesize information gained from post-strike reconnaissance into picture of situation that is as accurate as possible for combat troops to be supported; and

• Establish and distribute products (push/pull).

31 October-December 2014 re-entry into the demilitarized zone;

• Delay an opponent who is superior in conventional combat;

• Attack irregular-infantry forces;

• Defend military facilities; and

• Protect areas and buildings. Reconnaissance and artillery unit. The requirements placed on a reconnaissance and artillery unit in support of a battal ion-sized combat unit in a stabilization operation or to separate parties to a con flict are:

• Contribute to the C2 process of the higher command, in particular as far as the implementation of the intelli gence and targeting cycles are con cerned;

• Perform wide-ranging reconnais sance of the area of operations with all available partial capabilities of ter restrial tactical reconnaissance to provide a picture of the situation that is as accurate and up-to-date as pos sible;

• Provide “actual intelligence” to sup port all movements and safeguard all protective and monitoring tasks;

• Make a credible show of force by de liberately demonstrating the avail able kinetic means of force, including exercises and live-firing;

• Provide general support of the com bat unit by providing situation, target and post-strike reconnaissance as well as ranged fire support, both in the preparation and conduct of com bat operations (i.e., attack, defense, delaying action and protection). At one glance The modern battlefield is extremely var ied, demanding a comprehensive ap proach and multiple employments of ci vilian and military capacities. Especially in view of dwindling financial resources, the reconnaissance and artillery battalion is well suited to support the broad spec trum of future military operations in terms of reconnaissance, C2 and effect. Most of the development needed to en hance the unit’s performance can be implemented already now and at low costs. There have been enhancements in evalu ation and analysis capabilities, the imple mentation of field HUMINT platoons at the reconnaissance and artillery pla toons, and the build-up of non-kinetic secondary-role capabilities (TPT, TCT, CIMIC) for organizational elements so far exclusively defined as kinetic. Also, the change in ammunition equip ment toward precision ammunition not only increases accuracy and effective ness, but also the assertiveness vis-à-vis the parties to the conflict and the self-as surance of one’s own soldiers. LTC Franz Krasznitzer commands Reconnaissance and Artillery Battalion 7, Feldbach, Austria. Previous assignments include head of Reconnaissance Land Forces School, Zwölfaxing, Austria; commander in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, Syria; and designated commanding officer, fire-support officer and battery commander, all for Artillery Battalion 9. LTC Krasznitzer’s military schooling includes Figure 6. Command process in a reconnaissance and artillery unit.

32 October-December 2014 8th Command Course 2, Artillery, National Defense Academy; 1st Command Course 2, Reconnaissance (including Evaluation Course, Army Reconnaissance School, Munster, Germany); 2nd Field HUMINT Team Course, Austrian International Operations Command, Götzendorf, Austria; Joint Tactical Targeting Course, Royal Artillery School, Larkhill, Great Britain; and 9th Command Course 3, National Defense Academy. (Editor’s note: A version of this article was originally published in the Austrian military publication TRUPPENDIENST, March 2013 edition, published by the Min istry of Defense, Vienna, Austria. Repub lished with permission from TRUPPENDI

ENST.)

Acronym Quick-Scan C2 – command and control CEP – circular error probable CIMIC – civil-military cooperation EUBG – European Union battle group GPS – Global Positioning System HE – high explosive HUMINT – human intelligence IC – intelligence collection PGK – Precision Guidance Kit TCT – tactical camera team TGT – target TPT – tactical psychological-opera tions team UAV – unmanned aerial vehicle