Fires for Effect: Implications for Large-Scale Combat Operations
Missible launching into sky
by Colonel Daniel S. Roper, USA, Ret., Charles McEnany and Major Young Joo, USA
Spotlight 24-3 / December 2024
ISSUE: While the U.S. Army has made significant progress transforming its fires portfolio, it is not yet capable of overmatching potential adversaries in protracted large-scale combat operations (LSCO) at an acceptable degree of risk.
SCOPE: Describes the progress of the transformation in fires capability to date, as well as challenges and implications for offensive and defensive fires and the acquisition system that enables it.
Introduction
Current conflicts, particularly the Russo-Ukrainian War, provide an opportunity for the U.S. Army to assess its progress toward becoming capable of overmatching[1] any potential adversary in protracted large-scale combat operations (LSCO). These campaigns and battles offer valuable insights that the U.S. Army is leveraging to refine the trajectory of its most significant transformation in 40 years. While lessons span many areas, this paper focuses on land-based fires in LSCO and on the acquisition enterprise that enables it.
In addition to active “hot” conflicts, the U.S. Army is learning from Project Convergence—which is both a campaign of persistent experimentation in support of Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) and a robust exercise program with allies and partners. This is happening while the Army also campaigns in the Indo-Pacific with Operation PATHWAYS against China, the “pacing threat” in strategic competition, and in Europe with DEFENDER-Europe.
https://www.ausa.org/publications/spotlight/fires-for-effect
