Ground-Aided Precision Strike. Heavy Bomber Activity in Operation Enduring Freedom

摘要

The advent of near-precision weapons, particularly the joint direct attack munition (JDAM), offers the combined/ joint force air component commander (C/JFACC) a new tool to utilize for close air support (CAS) operations. In the above epigraph, Maj Gen Daniel Leaf describes how the USAF never envisioned bombers supporting ground troops with this form of CAS. However, this mission goes beyond the support of forces on the ground. This is a new mission in itself, with heavy precise firepower being the maneuver element In the sky, supported by small groups of forces on the ground. The following question is central to this paper: Does the coordination between heavy bombers and terminal attack controllers along with employment of near-precision weapons constitute a new mission for the USAF. A proposed term for this new mission is ground-aided precision strike (GAPS).