Swords & Plowshares: Modifications to the MLRS Family of Munitions.

摘要

The nature of the challenges to the United States and its interests demand that the Armed Forces operate as a fully integrated joint team across the range of military operations. Complicating the operating environment are emerging trends in the growth of anti-access and area-denial capabilities around the globe and the changing U.S. overseas defense posture. Through their actions during both peacetime engagement and armed conflict, the military services must create and ensure flexibility and freedom of action for our elected government officials and military leaders. A potential solution for the joint force to create that flexibility and freedom of action is to modify the stocks and employability of the Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Family of Munitions (MFOM) to offer leaders more and complementary options across the range of operations and support. The modifications proposed are complementary and do not replace existing systems in any service. Rather, they seek to provide flexible, scalable, 24/7, long range, all weather assets to the list of options available to decision-makers. These modifications could not only coerce, deter or compel others but also provide assistance- acting as both swords and plowshares.