GPS Guided Munitions and Precision Engagement: Do National and Theater Targeting Agencies Fully Support the Joint Forces Commander

摘要

The introduction of GPS guided munitions (GGMs), including JDAM and JSOW, promises to have a profound, force-multiplying impact on the Joint Force Commander's (JFC) ability to deliver 'precision' operational fires. The JFC's use of these new weapons however, will present several challenges which must be solved prior to wide scale GGM deployment. The all-weather standoff characteristics of GGMs dictate a change in weapons employment accountability. Additionally, the accurate, mensurated target coordinates on which GGMs rely will require the JFC to forge a more robust relationship with supporting theater and national agencies. This paper examines the impact that the deployment of GGMs will have on the JFC, analyses the recent 'Silent Fury' C4ISR experiment, and makes recommendations to improve organizational processes prior to wide scale GGM initial operational capability.