Thor's Hammer: An Aviation Strike Force in Deep Operational Maneuver

摘要

The United States Army's vision of the conventional battlefield of the early 21stcentury is one characterized by increased lethality, greatly expanded dimensions, and significantly increased dispersion of units. It puts a premium on forces being able to attack simultaneously throughout the depth of this new battlespace. Forces must also be able to dominate the tempo of the battle, delivering lethal pulses of combat power that keep the enemy off balance and destroy the cohesion of his operations. Information technology promises to greatly enhance forces potential tempo of operations by improving the speed, accuracy, and reliability of battle command systems. Maneuver on the future battlefield, especially operational maneuver, will present new challenges. Maneuver forces as currently structured may not be capable of meeting the requirements of simultaneity and depth of action in the 21st century. This monograph explores one path to structuring units for effective maneuver on the future battlefield. Specifically, it examines the viability of an aviation strike force (ASF) in deep operational