directed-energy-weapons

Directed-Energy Weapons and The American Way of WarI. MILITARY TRANSFORMATION AND DIRECTED ENERGYChapter FourIn order to grasp the potential significance of directed-energy weapons, their introduction on the battlefield must beunderstood in the context of the broad set of changes the U.S. military is undergoing. Over the past several years,defense experts have begun to make references to something called the new “American way of war.” This phrase generallymeans the exploitation of advances in technology to support a unique style of military operations, one based onnew functional capabilities, organizations and military doctrines. The capabilities include information superiority,stealthiness, strategic and tactical mobility and precision employment of weapons. The resulting style of military operationsinvolves rapid seizure of control of the air and the conduct of high-tempo joint operations throughout a theateragainst the entire range of enemy targets from the onset of hostilities. A book written by a group of noteddefense experts described the overall effect of this new way of waging war as “shock and awe.” 1Achieving the capacity to conduct a new way of war is the overriding goal of the Department of Defense’s plan totransform the U.S. military into a 21st Century fighting force. The United States in the new century is confronted by anovel set of security challenges, many of which are not addressable by traditional military means or at least in the samemanner as were the threats of the last century. New adversaries threaten U.S. interests, allies, friends and forces, oftenin different ways. In addition, the U.S. homeland is now vulnerable to many of these same threats. Potential adversariesare seeking new methods and means of warfare intended to counter or neutralize the massive U.S. advantage in conventionalmilitary power. Some states are developing new types of weapons systems, most notably ballistic missiles andweapons of mass destruction (WMD), against which the United States currently has no defense.The Defense Department’s transformation plan is intended not only to extend and enhance the current capabilities ofU.S. forces, but to counter the threat posed by asymmetric means and methods of attack that adversaries in the futuremay employ. It is intended also to create conditions that both deter attack and dissuade prospective adversaries frompursuing strategies that could pose a future threat to U.S. forces or the homeland. Secretary of Defense Rumsfelddescribed the key elements of the transformation strategy in 2002:Our experiences on September 11th, and indeed in the Afghan campaign, have served to reinforcethe importance of moving the U.S. defense posture in these directions. Our challenge inthe 21st Century is to defend our cities and our infrastructure from new forms of attack whileprojecting force over long distances to fight new and perhaps distant adversaries.To do this, we need rapidly deployable, fully integrated joint forces capable of reaching distanttheaters quickly and working with our air and sea forces to strike adversaries swiftly, successfully,and with devastating effect. We need improved intelligence, long-range precision strikes,[and] sea-based platforms to help counter the access denial capabilities of adversaries. 2Although successful transformation requires the development of new organizations and doctrinal concepts to facilitatethe application of force in different and improved ways, Secretary Rumsfeld’s statement suggests that without advancesin military technology, there could be no new way of war. For nearly thirty years, DoD has been investing in a wide46