Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1333129
1 0 : 3 4 : 2 9 2 2 . 1 2 . 2 0 2 0 M U LT I P L E T A R G E T S M O D E A LT I T U D E : 1 5 6 0 M T A R G E T L O C K : O N T A R G E T I N R A N G E : _ _ _ _ T A R G E T D I S T: _ _ _ _ _ _ T A R G E T 1 T A R G E T 2 T A R G E T 3 T A R G E T 4 S U S P E C T: S A U L B I N B L A D Y means listed here need to share a common C2 solu- tion. Other reconnaissance platforms would comple- ment the above - ranging from SIGINT/ELINT aerial reconnaissance assets, to recon units and special operations forces behind the enemy lines. Meanwhile, the conventional air assets could be tasked with missions that would provide better spa- tial awareness and freedom of maneuver, thanks to their sensors and effectors. The MRCA, such as the F-35, could potentially work in the recce/communica- tion relay role in the future, allowing the UAVs to act against the targets they would detect. This trend may become reality soon enough - as programs such as Loyal Wingman seem to suggest. Meanwhile, at- tack helicopters could potentially carry missiles with a range of more than 20 kilometers. Effectors as such would grant the rotary-wing platforms a stand- off engagement capability - at least to some extent. The attack helicopters could be potentially replaced by unmanned assets, or by multi-role helicopter plat- forms adapted to the new role. A platform-focused approach, when considering the reconnaissance/strike system, can be viewed as a mistake. The capabilities remain the key element here - and these can be provided by a myriad of vehicles or weapons systems. The second relevant component here comes in a form of the ability to uti- lize these means in a manner that is, realistically, de- scribed as a net-centric one. Without the paradigm shift, any analysis of the potential future conflict, or any conclusions upon the end of such conflicts could be challenging, or even impossible. M I S S I L E U N A R M E D ANALYSIS