LAND FORCES ACADEMY NICOLAE BALCESCU

THE DEFENCE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

REVOLUTION IN MILITARY AFFAIRS- TRENDS AND PERSPECTIVES

Theacher assistent:
Cpt. Dorel BADEA

Working group:
Stud. Sg. Alexandru CALUIAN Stud. Sg. Radu Cojocariu Stud. Sg. Florentina DOROS

SIBIU 2011

CONTENT

1. Introduction 2. The concept of revolution in military affairs 3. The Gulf War 4. Technology trends and new areas of warfare 5. New operational concepts 5.1. Joint Vision 2020 5.2. The Implementation of Joint Vision 2020 6.Conclusion

ABSTRACT 2

In the introduction we speak about the elements wich lead to the necessity of a transformation in the military area.Some of the facilities implied are:the weapons can be delivered with unprecedented precision,surveillance and reconnaissance systems can provide remarkably detailed information about hostile force structures and a combination of data analysis and distribution systems can allow this information to be rapidly exploited. Most military analysts now agree that advances in military technology require a fundamental reappraisal and revision of operational concepts to ensure that full advantage is taken of them. This combination of technological advances and revisions in operational concepts represents a revolution in military affairs. In the second part we used a definition which describes the best the concept of Revolution in military affairs given by Andrew Marshall, the director of the Office of Net Assessments in the Office of the Secretary of Defense:"A Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is a major change in the nature of warfare brought about by the innovative application of new technologies which, combined with dramatic changes in military doctrine and operational and organisational concepts, fundamentally alters the character and conduct of military operations." We gave an example of a conflict which proved to have some key component characteristic of the revolution in military affairs, The Gulf War in 1991. The most obvious capability was that of precision strike. New guidance technologies have led to the development of munitions that can be delivered with remarkable precision. These include munitions delivered by aircraft, cruise missiles, and artillery. Equally important but less obvious was the role played by sophisticated surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering systems In the fourth part we have listed several new concepts that have emerged with the introduction of the concept of revolution in military affairs, such as: Greater lethality Increased volume and precision of fire Better integrative technology leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness Increasing ability of smaller units to create decisive results Greater invisibility and increased detectability.

The appearance of this concept also managed to the development of the warfare areas, and in that way four potential new warfare areas: long-range precision strike, information warfare, dominating manoeuvre, and spacewarfare were identified. The last part of our project refers to Joint Vision 2020 and its implementation. JV 2020 describes the ongoing transformation to those new capabilities. As first explained in JV 2010, todays capabilities for maneuver, strike, logistics, and protection will become dominant maneuver, precision engagement, focused logistics, and full dimensional protection. The application in an independent way of each capability will lead to the achievement of the overarching focus of the vision wich is full spectrum domination. Attaining that goal requires the steady infusion of new technology and modernization and replacement of equipment. However, material superiority alone is not sufficient. A greater importance is the development of doctrine, organizations, training and education, leaders, and people that effectively take advantage of the technology. In conclusion we remember the new concepts introduced by the concept Revolution in military affairs, how their implementation is tried to be made and the objectives wanted to be accomplished.

REZUMAT

n introducere vorbim despre elementele care conduc la necesitatea unei transformri n domeniul militar, mai exact la o revoluie n afacerile militare, iar acestea sunt considerate a fi urmtoarele: armele pot fi livrate cu precizie fr precedent, supravegherea i sisteme de recunoatere pot oferi informaii extrem de detaliate despre structura forelor ostile i o combinaie a sistemelor de analiz i a celor de distribuie a datelor care poate permite ca aceste informaii s fie exploatate rapid. Cei mai muli analiti militari susin faptul c progresele n domeniul tehnologiei militare implic noi aprecieri i revizuiri ale conceptelor operaionale care ofer sigurana obinerii unor avantaje majore. Aceast combinaie de progresele tehnologice i revizuiri n conceptele operaionale reprezint de fapt revoluia n afacerile militare. n elaborarea unei explicaii ct mai complexe a conceptului am folosit definiia dat de directorul Oficiului de Evaluare din Departamentul de Stat American, dr. Andrew Marshall, care spune c ... Revoluia n afaceri militare este o schimbare de fond n natura rzboiului, determinat de aplicarea inovatoare a unor tehnologii care, combinate cu schimbrile profunde ale doctrinei militare i conceptelor operaionale, modific radical caracterul i conducerea operaiilor militare n a treia parte am realizat o analiz a Rzboiul din Golf din 1991, i am reliefat elementele de noutate aprute la nivelul tehnicii folosite. n urma analizei, s-au identificat urmtoarele capabiliti: precizia loviturilor (prin muniiile livrate de aeronave, rachete de croazier), sisteme sofisticate de supraveghere, recunoatere, i a sistemelor de colectare a informaiilor. n partea a patra am enumerat o serie de concepte noi care au aprut simultan cu introducerea conceptului de revoluie n afacerile militare, cum ar fi: gradul mai mare de letalitate; creterea volumului i preciziei focului; buna integrare a tehnologiei care s conduc la creterea eficienei i eficacitii; sporirea capacitilor unitilor mici n ceea ce privete obinerea unor rezultate decisive; o mai mare invizibilitate i detectabilitate crescut.

Apariia acestui concept, de asemenea, a condus la dezvoltarea domeniilor rzboiului, i identificarea a patru noi potene: precizia loviturilor pe distane lungi, rzboiul informaional, manevra dominant, i rzboiul n spaiu. Ultima parte a proiectului nostru se refer la Joint Vision 2020 i punerea sa n aplicare. JV 2020 descrie transformarea n curs de desfurare a acestor capaciti noi. Aa cum au fost iniial explicate n Joint Vision 2010, capabilitile actuale de manevr, lovitura, logistic, i protecia prin implementarea Joint Vision 2020 vor deveni: manevra dominant, angajamentul de precizie, logistic concentrat, i protecie dimensional deplin. Abilitatea n ceea ce privete aplicarea ntr-un mod independent a oricrei capabiliti menionate anterior, va duce la realizarea obiectivului general al viziunii, care este dominaia ntregul spectru. Atingerea acestui obiectiv necesit implementarea ntr-un mod constant de noi tehnologii i modernizarea i nlocuirea echipamentelor. Cu toate acestea, superioritatea material nu este suficient. O importan mai mare o reprezint dezvoltarea doctrinei, organizaiei, instruirea i educaia, formarea de lideri, i sporirea competentelor militarilor care s utilizeze tehnologia n mod eficient. n concluzie, amintim de noi concepte introduse simultan cu sintagma "revoluie n afacerile militare", modul de implementare a acestora i obiectivele care urmeaz s se ndeplineasc.

REVOLUTION IN MILITARY AFFAIRS TRENDS AND PERSPECTIVES

1.Introduction In recent years, weapons technology has leapt forward. Weapons can be delivered with unprecedented precision; surveillance and reconnaissance systems can provide remarkably detailed information about hostile force structures and locations; and a combination of data analysis and distribution systems can allow this information to be rapidly exploited. Most military analysts now agree that advances in military technology require a fundamental reappraisal and revision of operational concepts to ensure that full advantage is taken of them. This combination of technological advances and revisions in operational concepts represents a revolution in military affairs. 2.The concept of a revolution in military affairs According to Andrew Marshall, director of the Office of Net Assessments in the Office of the Secretary of Defense: "A Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) is a major change in the nature of warfare brought about by the innovative application of new technologies which, combined with dramatic changes in military doctrine and operational and organisational concepts, fundamentally alters the character and conduct of military operations." Such revolutions have occurred many times in history for a variety of reasons. The most obvious cause is technological "push". The invention of gunpowder, the steam engine, the submarine, the internal combustion engine, the aeroplane, the aircraft carrier, and the atom bomb are some of the most obvious innovations which led to fundamental changes in the conduct of warfare. Some of these technological changes had origins in the civilian world while other revolutions in military affairs were brought about by "social-military revolutions" such as the development of railways, which enabled military forces to be moved and supplied over great distances. There is a debate about what exactly constitutes a "revolution in military affairs". Some analysts maintain that there have been only three and that these have been linked to the

nature of the societies: agrarian, industrial, and information. Others have identified as many as fourteen. There is agreement, however, that technology alone is insufficient to bring about a true revolution in military affairs. For example, almost five centuries elapsed between the invention of gunpowder and its large-scale employment on the battlefield; and in the early stages of the Second World War, Germany's innovative operational concept that using communications technologies to integrate land and air forces enabled it to defeat French and British forces equipped with very similar technology. In other words, an appropriate operational concept is just as important as technological invention in bringing about a revolution in military affairs. 3.The Gulf War The Gulf War in early 1991 gave an indication of some of the key components of the current revolution in military affairs. The Gulf War saw the military use of information technology at its zenith. New technologies enhanced Coalition forces ability to exchange and use information, and highlighted the imperative of denying the adversary the ability to communicate with his forces. But the most obvious capability was that of precision strike. New guidance technologies have led to the development of munitions that can be delivered with remarkable precision. These include munitions delivered by aircraft, cruise missiles, and artillery. What is often forgotten is the impact that such munitions have on logistics and operations. The ability to destroy certain targets using one or two precision-guided munitions instead of by large-scale bombing cuts the logistic "tail" dramatically. For instance, during the Gulf War, 6,250 tons of precision-guided munitions were used compared with 81,980 tons of "dumb" bombs. Between 80 and 90 per cent of the precisionguided munitions (PGMs) hit their targets compared with about 25 per cent of dumb bombs. As well as yielding logistic benefits, precision-guided munitions enabled the Coalition forces to minimise collateral damage. It should also be noted that the use of systems such as stealth aircraft and cruise missiles enabled certain attacks to take place against highly defended targets virtually without warning. Equally important but less obvious was the role played by sophisticated surveillance, reconnaissance, and intelligence gathering systems. These included proven land, air and space systems as well as some prototypes that were pressed into service. Systems included the E-3 Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft that provides all-weather surveillance, command, control and communications; the RC-135 Rivet Joint electronic 8

intelligence-gathering aircraft; the prototype Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), as well as a wide variety of photo-reconnaissance aircraft. Extensive use was also made of space assets, both military and commercial, belonging to the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Russia. These provided the Coalition forces with communication, navigation, surveillance, intelligence, and early warning. Using some 60 satellites, Coalition forces had secure strategic and tactical communications enabling time-sensitive information to be exchanged between ground, naval, and air units spread throughout the theatre. Furthermore Coalition forces were able to locate and designate targets with remarkable precision, navigate through the Iraqi desert better than the Iraqis themselves, and find troops in distress faster than ever before thanks to the Global Positioning System (GPS). Another feature of the Gulf War was, of course, the use of Patriot missiles to intercept Iraqi Scud missiles. Much has been written about whether actual performance of precision-guided systems and the Patriot missile interceptor was as impressive as it seemed at the time. Rather less has been made of other shortcomings that were identified such as the presence of many incompatible communications and information systems. Whatever the shortcomings, however, the Gulf War illustrated trends in military technology and provided many lessons for future conflicts. 4.Technology trends and new areas of warfare Current trends in military technology can be categorised in a variety of ways but all present a broadly similar assessment. Greater lethality Increased volume and precision of fire Better integrative technology leading to increased efficiency and effectiveness Increasing ability of smaller units to create decisive results Greater invisibility and increased detectability.

As with previous revolutions in military affairs, the current revolution is leading to the emergence of new warfare areas. A warfare area is a form of warfare with unique military objectives and is characterised by association with particular forces or systems. Past examples include air warfare, armoured warfare, and strategic bombing, to mention but a few. As with

trends in technology, different categorisations have been developed and all suffer from some degree of overlap. One particularly useful formulation was produced by a team from Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC).The team identified four potential new warfare areas - long-range precision strike, information warfare, dominating manoeuvre, and spacewarfare. 1. Precision strike systems have been developed since the 1970s and rapid progress continues to be made. Current systems include long-range cruise missiles, and precisionguided munitions delivered by aircraft and artillery. Provided that adequate targeting information is available and can be distributed efficiently, such systems can be used to mount a co-ordinated attack on hostile targets while minimising collateral damage, friendly-fire casualties, and enemy counterstrikes. According to the SAIC team, "Precision strike, in the context of the ongoing RMA, is the ability to locate high-value, time-sensitive fixed and mobile targets; to destroy them with a high degree of confidence; and to accomplish this within operationally and strategically significant time lines while minimising collateral damage, friendly fire casualties, and enemy counterstrikes." 2. Information warfare is identified as another new warfare area. Although the critical value of information in warfare has been acknowledged since ancient times, warfare nowadays relies on information systems to an unprecedented degree. Information-gathering systems such as reconnaissance and early-warning satellites, a wide variety of manned and unmanned air-based systems, etc. provide huge amounts of data which can be sorted and channelled through advanced information distribution and communications. Highly capable information systems are a critical force multiplier and at the same time a potential vulnerability. The goal therefore in this area of warfare is to retain effective use of one's own information assets while destroying or disabling the opponent's. In open warfare, however, information warfare is taken to include the use of physically destructive means such as missile attacks and bombing - to knock out key information assets. 3. Dominating manoeuvre is also seen as a new warfare area. Manoeuvre has always been a key element in military operations, but the revolution in military affairs envisages manoeuvre on a global scale, on a much-compressed time scale, and with greatly reduced forces. Dominating manoeuvre is defined as the positioning of forces - integrated with precision strike, space warfare, and information war operations - to attack decisive points, defeat the enemy's "centres of gravity", and accomplish campaign or war objectives. These 10

centres of gravity are key points in command, organisation, resources, transport, etc., whose loss would severely erode an opponent's ability to wage war. Dominating manoeuvre is distinct from traditional concepts of manoeuvre in several ways. Manoeuvre refers to the "employment of forces on the battlefield through movement in combination with fires, to achieve a position of advantage in order to accomplish the mission.". Dominating manoeuvre refers to the positioning of all the forces that could be brought to bear on a theatre of operations, and the integration of precision strike, space warfare, and information warfare. The goal would be to employ these various assets against the enemy's critical points simultaneously rather than sequentially, and to re-engage those targets whenever necessary. 4. Space warfare is viewed as another new area of warfare. The military importance of space has been clear for over 40 years but only recently has it become possible to envisage an almost seamless integration of space systems into military operations. The utility of space systems for communications is well established but their use for global, real-time surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting is a more recent phenomenon. Space systems also provide precise navigation and meteorological data. Further into the future, space transportation systems, anti-satellite weapons, missile defences, and even space-based ground attack systems might play important roles in the conduct of military operations although some of these capabilities would raise complex arms control issues that would have to be addressed. Certainly, the achievement of superiority in space assets would be a critical advantage and its denial to an opponent would be an important war goal. 5.New operational concepts Although most analysts are persuaded that some sort of revolution in military affairs is indeed taking place, others maintain that the changes now occurring are significant but essentially incremental, that there is a need to deal with the growing complexity of modern warfare but that wholesale changes in operational concepts are unwarranted.The main focus of debate, however, is on what the revolution in military affairs will mean, and how best to develop operational concepts to take full advantage of it. 5.1. Joint vision 2020

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The US military today is a force of superbly trained men and women who are ready to deliver victory for our Nation. In support of the objectives of our National Security Strategy, it is routinely employed to shape the international security environment and stands ready to respond across the full range of potential military operations. But the focus of this document is the third element of our strategic approach the need to prepare now for an uncertain future. Joint Vision 2020 builds upon and extends the conceptual template established by Joint Vision 2010 to guide the continuing transformation of Americas Armed Forces. The primary purpose of those forces has been and will be to fight and win the Nations wars. The overall goal of the transformation described in this document is the creation of a force that is dominant across the full spectrum of military operations persuasive in peace, decisive in war, preeminent in any form of conflict. In 2020, the nation will face a wide range of interests, opportunities, and challenges and will require a military that can both win wars and contribute to peace. The global interests and responsibilities of the United States will endure, and there is no indication that threats to those interests and responsibilities or to our allies, will disappear. The strategic concepts of decisive force, power projection, overseas presence, and strategic agility will continue to govern our efforts to fulfill those responsibilities and meet the challenges of the future. This document describes the operational concepts necessary to do so. If our Armed Forces are to be faster, more lethal, and more precise in 2020 than they are today, we must continue to invest in and develop new military capabilities. This vision describes the ongoing transformation to those new capabilities. As first explained in JV 2010, and dependent upon realizing the potential of the information revolution, todays capabilities for maneuver, strike, logistics, and protection will become dominant maneuver, precision engagement, focused logistics, and full dimensional protection. The joint force, because of its flexibility and responsiveness, will remain the key to operational success in the future. The integration of core competencies provided by the individual Services is essential to the joint team, and the employment of the capabilities of the Total Force (active, reserve, guard, and civilian members) increases the options for the commander and complicates the choices of our opponents. To build the most effective force for 2020, we must be fully joint: intellectually, operationally, organizationally, doctrinally, and technically. This vision is centered on the joint force in 2020. The date defines a general analytical focus rather than serving as a definitive estimate or deadline. The document does not describe counters to specific threats, nor does it enumerate weapon, communication, or other systems we will develop or purchase. Rather, its purpose is to describe in broad terms 12

the human talent the professional, well-trained, and ready force and operational capabilities that will be required for the joint force to succeed across the full range of military operations and accomplish its mission in 2020 and beyond. In describing those capabilities, the vision provides a vector for the wide-ranging program of exercises and experimentation being conducted by the Services and combatant commands and the continuing evolution of the joint force. Based on the joint vision implementation program, many capabilities will be operational well before 2020, while others will continue to be explored and developed through exercises and experimentation. The overarching focus of this vision is full spectrum dominance achieved through the interdependent application of dominant maneuver, precision engagement, focused logistics, and full dimensional protection. Attaining that goal requires the steady infusion of new technology and modernization and replacement of equipment. However, material superiority alone is not sufficient. Of greater importance is the development of doctrine, organizations, training and education, leaders, and people that effectively take advantage of the technology. The evolution of these elements over the next two decades will be strongly influenced by two factors. First, the continued development and proliferation of information technologies will substantially change the conduct of military operations. These changes in the information environment make information superiority a key enabler of the transformation of the operational capabilities of the joint force and the evolution of joint command and control. Second, the US Armed Forces will continue to rely on a capacity for intellectual and technical innovation. The pace of technological change, especially as it fuels changes in the strategic environment, will place a premium on our ability to foster innovation in our people and organizations across the entire range of joint operations. The overall vision of the capabilities we will require in 2020, as introduced above, rests on our assessment of the strategic context in which our forces will operate. 5.2. The Implementation of Joint Vision 2020 Joint Vision 2010 has had a profound impact on the development of US military capabilities. By describing those capabilities necessary to achieve success in 2010, we set in motion three important efforts. First, JV 2010 established a common framework and language for the Services to develop and explain their unique contributions to the joint force. Second, we created a process for the conduct of joint experimentation and training to test ideas against practice. Finally, we began a process to manage the transformation of doctrine, organization, 13

training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities necessary to make the vision a reality. Joint Vision 2020 builds on this foundation of success and will sustain the momentum of these processes. The foundation of jointness is the strength of individual Service competencies pulled together. Our objective in implementing the joint vision is the optimal integration of all joint forces and effects. To achieve that goal, the interdependence of the Services requires mutual trust and reliance among all warfighters and a significantly improved level of interoperability especially in the areas of command and control and sustainment. This interdependence will ultimately result in a whole greater than the sum of its parts, and will contribute to achieving full spectrum dominance through all forces acting in concert. The synergy gained through the interdependence of the Services makes clear that jointness is more than interoperability. The joint force requires capabilities that are beyond the simple combination of Service capabilities, and joint experimentation is the process by which those capabilities will be achieved. To ensure unity of effort and continuity for joint concept development and experimentation, the Secretary of Defense designated the Commander in Chief, Joint Forces Command as the Executive Agent for experimentation design, preparation, execution, and assessment. Annual campaign plans provide focus to this effort and continuity in experimentation. The results of this iterative experimentation cycle are forwarded as comprehensive recommendations for changes in doctrine, organization, training, materiel, leadership and education, personnel, and facilities and lead to the co-evolution of all those elements. The experimentation and implementation process supporting the transformation of the joint force is also dependent upon Service and combatant command exercises and experimentation activities. The Service and combatant command visions support the joint vision by providing guidance for these individual efforts that are congruent with the Chairmans vision. Thus, in their own experimentation venues, the Services may develop recommendations with joint implications and will forward them to the appropriate joint experimentation activity. To effect transforming and enduring changes to our joint military capabilities, the experimentation and implementation process must include construction of a wide range of scenarios and imaginative conflict simulations to explore the shape of future operations. Such intensive exploration of alternative concepts of operations can help the US military choose innovations that take the greatest advantage of combinations of new ideas and new technologies. The rapid pace of such changes will then drive further development of the experimentation and implementation process to field improved capabilities for the joint force. The linchpin of progress from vision to experimentation to reality is joint training and 14

education because they are the keys to intellectual change. Without intellectual change, there is no real change in doctrine, organizations, or leaders. Thus, the implementation process is dependent upon incorporating concepts validated by experimentation into joint professional military education programs and joint exercises. In this way, individual Service members and units become a joint team capable of success across the full range of military operations. 6. Conclusion This vision is firmly grounded in the view that the US military must be a joint force capable of full spectrum dominance. Its basis is four-fold: the global interests of the United States and the continuing existence of a wide range of potential threats to those interests; the centrality of information technology to the evolution of not only our own military, but also the capabilities of other actors around the globe; the premium a continuing broad range of military operations will place on the successful integration of multinational and interagency partners and the interoperability of processes, organizations, and systems; and our reliance on the joint force as the foundation of future US military operations. Joint Vision 2020 builds on the foundation and maintains the momentum established with Joint Vision 2010. It confirms the direction of the ongoing transformation of operational capabilities, and emphasizes the importance of further experimentation, exercises, analysis, and conceptual thought, especially in the arenas of information operations, joint command and control, and multinational and interagency operations. This vision recognizes the importance of technology and technical innovation to the US military and its operations. At the same time, it emphasizes that technological innovation must be accompanied by intellectual innovation leading to changes in organization and doctrine. Only then can we reach the full potential of the joint force decisive capabilities across the full range of military operations. Such a vision depends upon the skill, experience, and training of the people comprising the Total Force and their leaders. The major innovations necessary to operate in the environment depicted herein can only be achieved through the recruitment, development, and retention of men and women with the courage, determination, and strength to ensure we are persuasive in peace, decisive in war, and preeminent in any form of conflict.

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Bibliography: 1. Programme Budgeting-Cross Country Experiences, Dr. Pankaj Jha, Associate Fellow, Institute For Defence Studies and Analyses(IDSA) 2. www.nato.int 3. Natos membership action plan (MAP) and prospects for the next round of enlargement, Jeffrey Simon, Number 58, November, 2000 4. A comparison of the Defence Acquisition Systems of France, Great Britain, Germany and United States, Tony Kausal, Defence System Management College Press, September 2004 5. Planning under Uncertainty, John Vink, Chief Defence Planning, NATO C3 Agency

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