The Canadian Army Journal

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One final element which will characterise specific close fire systems is their platform.
Platforms range from one or two soldiers carrying weapons up to AFVs and helicopters.
These platforms are critical as they enable manoeuvre in close with the enemy.
Interestingly, if one looks at the two close fire arms, infantry and armour, there are four
characteristics in common and three of these must be balanced in development of the
platform. Mobility, firepower and survivability34 must be balanced in each close fire
platform. This concept, already established in AFV design, 35 can be shown to be
applicable to soldiers as well. Increasing a soldier’s body armour will reduce mobility or
limit the amount of firepower which can be carried. Therefore, it is unlikely that all the
capabilities required of a close fire system can be carried by a single omni-purpose
platform without unacceptably sacrificing survivability or mobility. Instead, capabilities
will have to be dispersed across a family of platforms consequently requiring that
platforms be considered in the design of a close fire system
Within the Army, there exist two close fire systems grouped around broad platform
types: dismounted close fire and mounted close fire. A brief examination of these forms
will draw out the significance of a system level view to designing a close fire system.
M777 provides a far fire capability in Afghanistan
Dismounted Close Fire
In the concept and design phases, it is important that close fire be considered as a
system as opposed to a collection of assorted weapons. Students of the Land Forces
Technical Staff Course are regularly presented with anecdotal evidence that the
Advanced Lightweight Anti-Armour Weapon System (ALAAWS) project suffered as a
result of the Army’s inability to express a coherent dismountable anti-armour concept
which showed a need for ALAAWS alongside TOW and the relatively new Eryx. While
this judgement may be over-harsh, it is clear that ALAAWS approvals did demand an
Army direct fire concept. A better illustration of the need for a system view can be found
in the dismounted close fire capability.
The dismounted close fire capability is all individual and crewed weapons which can
be found in a dismounted infantry company. It is also every dismountable weapon in an
Canadian Army Journal Vol. 11.1 Spring 2008
Photo Source: Combat Camera