Theater Ballistic Missile Defense: Strengthening the Glue That Holds the PuzzleTogether

摘要

The proliferation of theater Ballistic missiles (TBMs) and their use as weaponsof terror as demonstrated during the Gulf War clearly demonstrate the need to be able to defend against this type of weapon. The United States military must address this need and demonstrate it's resolve to adequately defend not only it's own forces but friendly forces, cities and populace as well. The potential use of warheads which are nuclear, chemical, or biological further complicate this issue. Joint Pub 3-01.5, Doctrine for Theater Missile Defense defines four elements comprising theater ballistic missile defense (TBMD). Of these, active defense, passive defense, and attack operations are currently being addressed in detail and have met or are moving toward successfully meeting required expectations. The fourth element; command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) needs to be addressed in further detail. This element is the key to bringing the remaining elements together to form a strong, synergistic defense against TBMs. The theater commander must specifically address what preparations must be undertaken prior to the threat of TBM use becoming a reality. The area of command and control provides the answer through proper intelligence preparation of the battlefield, defining the methods of control during the execution of TBMD and providing for a TBMD cell which can adequately monitor the entire spectrum of TBMD.