1. “US Army Precision Fires”
BG(P) Jeff Sorenson

2. AGENDA Precision Fires – Why and Why Not? Misconceptions
Target Acquisition
Equipment Programs
Key Planning Studies Underway
Challenges
Road Ahead

3. PRECISION MUNITIONS -- WHY?
All-weather, terrain, and operational environment engagement capability that reduces operational risk by providing immediate responsive fires and scalable effects
Minimize collateral damage, especially in urban settings; allows for discriminating use of force
Reduce number of rounds needed to defeat targets at all ranges (same CEP at any range)
Reduce logistics footprint and force burden
Essential to fulfill objectives of Transformation and Joint opns
Compliment -- not replace – unguided or ‘dumb’ munitions

4. PRECISION MUNITIONS – WHY NOT?
Not every target needs to be destroyed – suppression, masking, or harassing fire is often needed to shape the battle
Unaffordable – if chasing too many programs with limited resources
Insufficient numbers – if they become the weapon of choice
Dependent on sensor system data, rapidly passed networked information, especially when addressing fleeting targets
PGM technology is developing ahead of doctrine and infrastructure – modernizing weapons without modernizing doctrine may lead to ineffective use of PGMs

5. MISCONCEPTIONS
A replacement for unguided munitions – but “dumb” is still good
A leap-ahead advantage – but temporary since eventually precision will proliferate and put our own forces at risk
Leads to quick victory – but the enemy does not always behave the way we think we would
Technology Will Save Us…
-- PGMs are not a replacement for sound tactics or strategy (do not confuse the ways and means of war with its end)
-- PGMs as the ‘silver bullet’ – but weapons break; human error; enemy countermeasures; not a replacement for doctrine, tactics, or the human element (leadership; will to win; luck)

6. CIRCULAR ERROR PROBABLE (CEP)
10 km
15 km
20 km
25 km
30 km
95m
112m
139m
273m
10m
132m
69m
Excalibur CEP
M549A1 CEP (1/2 hr MET)
M107 CEP (1/2 hr MET)
Aim Point
Circular Error Probable (CEP) - the radius of a circle
within which 50% of the projectiles fired will impact.
35 km
40 km
97m

7. JOINT FIRES CAPABILITIES Long Range Precision Strike
Variety of:
- Targets
- Dwell Times
- Effects
Long Range Precision Strike
Range
Shaping Fires
>300km
Destructive Fires
at Depth
300km
Air
Interdiction km
Fires to Isolate
100km (LAM)
Attack
AVN
TLAM
ATACMS
Fires to Protect
70km
40-50km (PAM)
30-40km
Close
Support
Fires
Naval
Gunfire
UCAV
FCS
Cannon
W/Excalibur
GMLRS
Close
Air
Support
7-12km
PAM/LAM
FCS
Mortar
Responsiveness for Close Fight

8. PRECISION MUNITIONS (Fielded & Developmental)
FIELDED PRODUCTION SYSTEMS:
TOW 2B
JAVELIN
HELLFIRE variants -- SAL (K, M, or N) and LONGBOW (L)
ATACMS Block IV – Quick Reaction Unitary (QRU)
SYSTEMS IN DEVELOPMENT OR S&T:
PEO AMMO: PEO MISSILES and SPACE:
Excalibur LOSAT Viper Strike
PGMM CKEM NLOS LS -- PAM
MRM APKWS NLOS LS -- LAM
CCF JCM MTHEL
GMLRS