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

30 AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCF JOURNAL NO. 91 NOVEMBER DECEMBER 1991
tions and changes in target appearance and
location.
The probability of correct functioning of the
weapon. For example, a penetration weapon
will be ineffective against a buried command
bunker if the time-delay fuse fails and the
weapon detonates on impact with the ground
outside of the bunker.
Operational degradation of crew performance
due to wartime stresses and other factors encountered
in the war environment.
The weapon delivery accuracy unique to each
aircraft and crew.
Post-Mission Analysis
Post-mission analysis is essential in assessing the
effectiveness of each mission and its contribution to
the campaign objective. This analysis can be conducted
by various means: strike aircraft camera
footage can be analysed for weapon delivery
accuracy and functioning; a multitude of sensors in
reconnaissance aircraft and satellites can monitor
the damage and enemy activity associated with the
target; intelligence services can monitor changes in
enemy operations affected by the loss or otherwise
of the target.
The post-mission analysis needs to be all the more
critical with the advent of high technology duperyused
to deceive analysts. The need for increased
vigilance was critical in the Gulf War when Iraqi
forces deployed wooden decoys, resembling tank
hulls, with heaters to simulate the infra-red signature
of a tank engine to distract Allied ground attack
aircraft: painted craters were discovered on repaired
airfields so that allied bombers would not continue
to bomb them; decimated installations were hastily
fixed up to make them look only partly destroyed so
the allies would return to waste their ammunitions
on useless structures. 5
Post-mission analysis will determine whether or
not the required level of damage has been achie\ed,
in accordance with the mission aims, or whether
more missions and resources will have to be expended
against it. Only time will tell if the chosen
target was the best choice. If the mission is successful
then the targetting cycle is completed, otherwise it
must be repeated.
Conclusion
The strategy of winning campaigns by committing
a superior military force against the adversary, to
win through attrition, has been replaced by scientific
methods that can optimise the capabilities of even
the smallest conventional forces. Target analysis and
weapon effort planning is a tool that assists the
weaponeer and tactician to achieve military objectives
with an economy of effort. It does not give the
definitive answer to mission planning but offers a
guide for the direction to pursue in the choice of
targets and available weapon systems and provides a
statistically derived measure of the effort that will be
required to meet the mission aim.
NOTES
1. Geary. T. The Art of War Sun Tzu. Shambhala
Publications Inc., United States of America, 1988. p.82.
2. Taken from the Pentagon Press Briefing given by Mr Dick
Cheney. US Defense Secretary, 16 January 1991.
3. Church. R..I. The Battlefront A Long Siege Ahead. Time
Australia, February 4, 1991. pp. 12-21.
4. Cross, R. The Bombers The Illustrated Story of Offensive
Strategy and Tactics in the Twentieth Century. Bantam
Press. United Kingdom. 1987. p.206.
5. Church. Op Cit.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Atkins, E. 'Computerised .IMEM'. Aerospace. November 1987.
United States.
Church. R..I. 'The Battlefront A Long Siege Ahead". Time
Australia. February 4. 1991.
Geary, T. The Art of War Sun T/u. Shambhala Publications
Inc., United States of America, 1988.
Cross, R. The Bombers The Illustrated Story of Offensive
Strategy and Tactics in the Twentieth Century. Bantam Press,
United Kingdom. 1987.
Fschmann. K. Linebacker The Untold Story of the Air Raids
Over North Vietnam. Ballantine Books. United States. 1989.
Hall, 1. 'Weapon Effort Planning A New Slant'. Air Clues.
United Kingdom, January 1988.
Joint Technical Coordinating Group for Munitions Effectiveness.
Joint Munitions Effectiveness Manuals, US Department of
Defence.
Flight Lieutenant Spencer graduated from No 64 Navigator's Course and flew P-JC Orion long-range maritime patrol aircraft
with No III Squadron from 1985-89. During this tour he completed the RAAF Weapons Systems Course at the School of Air
Navigation to become the Squadron Weapons Officer. In 1989 Fl.TLT Spencer was posted to the School of Air Navigation
where he is currently employed as a Qualified Navigator Instructor and Weapons Systems Instructor specialising in Guided
Weapons and Weapon Effort Planning.