ISSUE 91 : Nov/Dec - 1991 - Australian Defence Force Journal

How Many Weapons? How Many Aircraft?
By Flight Lieutenant Michael Spencer, RAAF
The problem of analysing targets and assessing
the weapons and aircraft needed to achieve the
required amount of damage, necessary to meet
the objectives of the air operation, is the task that
besets the weaponeering officer. The weaponeering
problem is no longer resolved by committing
all available resources to overwhelm theenemy, it
requires a scientific method for calculating the
level of force required to achieve mission objectives
with an economy of effort and resources.
The RAAF
On a world scale, the RAAF is a relatively small
conventional air force with limited assets that
must be carefully managed during any air campaign.
The WWII tactic of converting large cities into
moonscape is no longer economical nor acceptable.
1 he RAAF will use airpower to deliver firepower to
an enemy's vital areas in order to achieve the
military objectives. The targets to be attacked must
be carefully selected to ensure a high probability of
success with a minimum effort, cost and attrition
whilst still accomplishing the overall military
objective.
The Chinese warrior-philosopher Sun T/u wrote,
'So it is said that if you know others and know
yourself, you will not be imperiled in a hundred
battles; if you do not know others but know
yourself you win one and lose one; if you do not
know others and do not know yourself you will
be imperiled in every single battle. 1
In planning air operations, one must know the
enemy's command and control structures, order of
battle, communication and supply lines, disposition
of forces and military support industries. Furthermore,
no military campaign can be planned w ithout
a complete knowledge of the military effectiveness
of one's own forces. Weapon effort planning is all
about target and weapon selection from a know ledge
of the capabilities of both the enemy and one's own
forces.
Target Analaysis and Weapon Effort
Planning
The efficient employment of weapon systems
depends on a full and intelligent assessment of all
aspects of air operations, the weapon systems
available and the target system. This process is called
the Weapon Effort Planning Cycle and follows a
logical sequence of steps for conducting an effective
air operation.
a. Definition of the overall objective of the air
campaign.
b. Target selection and analysis.
c. Definition of the immediate objective for each
mission.
d. Determination of weapon system effectiveness
and selection of the optimum munition and
fusing for the nominated target to match the best
weapon system available to the target.
e. Assessment of the requirements to deliver the
weapon systems successfully 'over-the-target'.
f. Post-flight analysis of the mission to assess its
contribution to the overall objectives of the air
operation.
This process can also be used to assess the
resources required by a potential adversary to attack
friendly assets, or to assess the damage levels that
might be achieved by a force of known composition.
In this case, the weaponeer assumes the role of the
enemy and uses a description of the enemy order of
battle to conduct a paper battle against friendly
forces. This information can then be used to assess
the survivability of national and defence assets
and or the effectiveness of systems committed to
their defence.
Defining the Ultimate Objective
The overall objective of a campaign is to win the
war but while this is acceptable as a concept, a
lighting force needs more specific objectives. This
can be illustrated by the aims of Operation Desert
Storm. The political aim was to use the coalition
military forces to enforce an unconditional withdrawal
by Iraq from Kuwait, in accordance with