THE BALANCED TECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP92B00181R000300290003-4
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 9
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 22, 2013
• Sequence Number: 3
• Content Type: MISC

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THE
BALANCED
TECHNOLOGY
INITIATIVE:
Even though it is a technology development program, its
focus is squarely on operational needs in the context
of existing U.S. warfighting guides.
$V WUftas E. fnowaen, Special Asdstant to the Deputy under Secretory of Defense (Reseuch and Advanced Technology)
4 HE PRE-EMINENT military position of the United States
today can be attributed in large part to its longstanding and _
significant technological capabilities. Our ability to end
World War II, for example, was greatly influenced by rapid
technological achievements by highly competent scientists
and engineers that led to the development of nuclear
weapons. Furthermore, the relative stability that followed in
the period known as the "Cold War" was made possible by
the existence of our strategic nuclear force, which served as
a check against possible Soviet and Warsaw Pact aggression
in Europe.
As the Soviets developed somewhat comparable capabilities,
the United States responded with further advances in nuclear
weapons technology and began to deploy a variety of tactical
nuclear weapons in Europe to offset a recognized imbalance in
conventional forces. This process began in the late 1950s during
12
Ufffd-Sf/40
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the Eisenhower administration, ex-
tended through the 1950s and
1970s and continues even today.
Over the last decade, however,
rough parity between U.S./NATO
and Soviet/Warsaw Pact nations
has been established in this area,
but amidst growing awareness and
acceptance of the overall futility of
nuclear conflict at any level. This
global concern most recently
culminated in an aggreement to
eliminate intermediate-range
missiles (ranges from 500 to 5,500
kilometers) armed with nuclear
warheads -- giving rise to a cor-
responding need to fill the eventual
attendant gap in our European
defense posture. This can only be
accomplished by rapid development
of improved capabilities for conven-
tional forces. But Europe is not our
only area of concern. Improvements
in U.S. conventional force capabil-
ities can be expected to have a pos-
itive impact on our effectiveness in
possible future conflicts in other
parts of-the world as well.
The United States has a long-
standing commitment to the needs
of conventional forces - reflected
by the fact that more than 70 per-
cent of the current DoD science
and technology program is concern-
ed with the development of techno-
logies important to conventional
defense. Ongoing science and
technology program activities in-
volve extensive work in the area of
military systems technology -
including significant efforts in the
fields of aeronautics, propulsion,
structures, materials and weapons
design; electronics and electronic
devices - including sensors and
seekers, fire control, surveillance
and target-acquisition systems.
Directed-energy battle-management
communications, command and
control systems; in the areas of
chemical warfare and chemical/
biological defense, environmental
sciences, medical and life sciences
and training and personnel techno-
logy; and in the area of computer
science. Supporting these efforts is
a DoD basic research program that
MABC/I/APHII
involves work in diverse technical
fields - including physics,
chemistry and materials science,
electronics, biology, energy conver-
sion, oceanography, mathematics
and computer science, terrestrial
and atmospheric sciences and
behavioral sciences.
Significant technological develop-
ments important to conventional
defense are also derived from other
defense programs. For example,
many of the realized results and ex-
pected accomplishments of the
Strategic Defense Initiative and
the Air Defense Initiative pro-
grams have significant applications
in the conventional arena.
A number of recent and signifi-
cant actions by the Congress have
emphasized the growing concern
over current U.S. and allied tac-
tical, non-nuclear warfighting
capabilities. In 1986, the NATO
Cooperative Research and Develop-
ment Program (frequently called
the Nunn Amendment Program)
was established to support
cooperative "research and develop-
ment on defense equipment and
munitions" and to promote related
joint efforts involving material pro-
duction. This latter activity was to
include "coproduction of conven-
tional defense equipment" by the
United States and other members
of NATO and the "production by
United States contractors of con-
ventional defense equipment
designed and developed by other
member nations of NATO." Con-
gress noted that "for more than a
decade the member nations of
NATO have provided in the ag-
gregate significantly larger
resources for defense purposes than
have the member nations of the
Warsaw Treaty Organization."
Congress also noted, however,
that "despite this fact, the Warsaw
Treaty Organization member na-
tions have produced and deployed
many more major combat items
such as tanks, armored personnel
carriers, artillery pieces and rocket
launchers, armed helicopters and
tactical combat aircraft than have
the member nations of NATO."
The major reason cited for this pro-
blem was "inadequate cooperation
among NATO nations in research,
development and production of
military end-items of equipment
and munitions." The NATO
Cooperative Research and Develop-
ment Program was established to
help address this deficiency.
Two new initiatives to focus in-
creased attention on the enhance-
ment of U.S. and allied conven-
tional defense capabilities were
established by the Congress in
1987. The Conventional Defense In-
itiative was created "to provide an
emphasis on improving the conven-
tional weapons of the armed forces
(and the testing of such weapons)
and to enhance cooperation with
the other member nations of the
North Atlantic Treaty Organiza-
tion." This latter objective is also
being promoted by the NATO
Cooperative Research and Develop-
ment Program just described.
The Balanced Technology In-
itiative was created to provide ad-
ditional support for the develop-
ment of "promising new techno-
logies that could substantially ad-
vance our conventional defense
capabilities." The two initiatives
are intended to be complementary
efforts that provide both near-term
and long-term contributions to the
effectiveness of conventional
forces - But I will focus on the
Balanced Technology Initiative,
the larger of the two.
Responsibility for the develop-
ment of program details for the
Balanced Technology Initiative
was assigned to the defense
research and engineering organiza-
tion. Appropriated funds - $200
million for fiscal 1987 - were
directed to be used to "expand
research on innovative concepts
and methods of enhancing conven-
tional defense capabilities" and for
related research to facilitate
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"restoration of the conventional
defense technology base." A detail-
ed and substantive Balanced
Technology Initiative Program
Plan was developed under the
direction of the deputy under
secretary of defense for research
and advanced technology, consis-
tent with those directives. I will
briefly address the Balanced
Technology Initiative program
planning process, describe the pro-
gram in some detail and attempt to
relate the comprehensive techno-
logy development efforts included
in the program to existing war-
fighting doctrines, in particular the
air-land battle doctrine of the
Army and the Air Force and the
Navy maritime strategy.
Program Planning Process
Candidate projects for the Bal-
anced Technology Initiative Pro-
gram suggested by technical ex-
perts from a number of Office of
the Secretary of Defense organiza-
tions and the military services
The Hellfire missile, shown here being
strapped to an AH-64 Apache
helicopter, is being developed as a
ground-launched system, part of the ef-
fort to make U.S. conventional forces
more effective. This effort complements
that of the_ longer-term efforts of the
Balanced Technology Initiative, which
is designed to create support for more
promising technologies for those same
forces.
covered a broad range of advanced
weapons concepts and important
technology-base work. Candidate
project areas suggested by the
Strategic Defense Initiative
Organization were presented as
technology spinoff opportunities
with clear relevance for conven-
tional defense problems. These sug-
gestions involved work in the areas
of hypervelocity guns and projec-
tiles, high-power microwaves, and
advanced seekers and sensors, for
example.
Overall, approximately 250 can-
didate projects were considered in
a review process that followed a
"bottoms-up" approach that em-
phasized operational need and
potential payoff. Guidelines were
developed to aid in the evaluation
and selection process. Projects
were required to be consistent with
the stated intent of Congress in
establishing the initiative.
Emphasis was given to technolo-
gy areas that addressed recognized
critical conventional-force needs:
Chemical, biological defense and
nuclear programs were generally
excluded. Projects offering both
near-term and longer-term potential
for enhancing conventional-force
capabilities were also emphasized.
Preferred candidates were projects
complementary to ongoing work
that offered the possibility of high
payoff in military effectiveness
through additional funding. Joint
programs (e.g., Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency/Services,
multiservice or involving interna-
tional cooperation) were encourag-
ed. Finally, emphasis was given to
projects supporting a limited
number of thrust areas for the
overall. program. The intent of this
guideline was to assure that the
Balanced Technology Initiative
Program could "make a difference"
in a few technology areas critical to
conventional-defense missions.
The comprehensive program plan
developed following this approach
embraces five thrust areas, which
include smart-weapons technology;
reconnaissance, surveillance and
target acquisition/battle-manage-
ment communications, command
and control technology; armor/anti-
armor technology; high-power
microwaves; and a fifth program
category called special technology
opportunities.
Smart-Weapons Technology
The overall objective of work in-
cluded in this area is to accelerate
the growth of technologies critical
to the development of next- and
future-generation fire-and-forget,
autonomous weapons required for a
broad range of ground, sea and air
engagements by conventional
forces. The development of improv-
ed target-acquisition, identification
and hit capabilities, together with
enhanced target-prioritization
schemes, represents a giant step
toward overcoming the trouble-
some quantitative superiority of
Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces in
Europe.
These enhancements in con-
ventional-defense capabilities also
provide significant and credible
force-multiplier potential for both
short-and longer-range en-
gagements. The projects included
in this category address problems
related to the development of ad-
vanced sensors and seekers,
autonomous guidance and auto-
matic target recognition and the
producibility of smart-weapons
components.
OfffNSE//
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Advanced sensor and seeker
work includes projects involving
millimeter-wave, infrared and laser
technologies. Millimeter-wave
seeker technology is important in
developing affordable standoff
weapons having autonomous
guidance and precision accuracy
useful (under all weather condi-
tions) in attacking mobile and fixed
air-defense units, as well as bat-
tlefield and second-echelon massed
armor. Development of high-
performance infrared seekers will
provide an improved capability to
intercept attacking missiles and
aircraft at extended ranges by
hypersonic missiles.
Balanced Technology Initiative
work to develop a dual-mode in-
frared/laser seeker will improve
targeting capabilities for a variety
of advanced munitions and existing
weapon systems that could be im-
proved using such a seeker include
Maverick, Hellfire and Copperhead.
BTI projects related to autono-
mous guidance and automatic
target recognition are also directed
toward precision targeting. Work
by the Air Force will focus on
standoff delivery of advanced
munitions to high-value fixed
targets and will include further
development and testing of a sim-
ple preprogrammed target system
for initial target acquisition and
terminal guidance. Development of
a number of critical aspects of air
technology will be vigorously pur-
sued by the Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency to
establish the full potential and
possible limitations of air systems
required for virtually all second-
generation smart weapons.
This work is also part of a pro-
ject to develop an advanced sensor-
fuzed weapon thought to offer
significant potential in attacking
high-value, deep-battle targets that
are mobile or relocatable. Such
targets, which include tactical
surface-to-surface missile launchers
and air-defense batteries, are dif-
ficult to engage with conventional
weapons because of the difficulty
MAHCH/APBLL
in establishing their precise loca-
tion. The effective use of recon-
naissance and surveillance data,
together with increased target
search area capabilities compared
to present-day sensor-fuzed
weapons, can overcome this prob-
lem. Significant cost advantages
may also be realized because
sensor-fuzed munitions are in-
herently simpler than the precision-
guided, lock-on-after-launch sub-
munitions currently in develop-
ment. Other work to develop guid-
ed tactical hypervelocity projectiles
and fire-control technology will also
enhance our ability to strike and
destroy military targets at extend-
ed ranges, a significant advantage
in conventional warfare. Targets of
principal interest include tanks, air-
craft and other air targets - tac-
tical ballistic missiles and cruise
missiles.
Other projects in the smart-
weapons-technology category
address issues related to the pro-
ducibility of critical systems com-
ponents. One Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency project
will investigate new methods for
producing infrared detectors and
detector arrays and seek to
alleviate the current signal-
processing-component complexity
of infrared focal plane arrays.
These advanced sensors can pro-
vide for greatly enhanced target
acquisition and recognition capa-
bilities in a variety of smart
weapons, reconnaissance and sur-
veillance systems. Another project
of the agency will investigate the
application of expert systems
technology to the cost-effective
manufacture of reliable smart-
weapons components. To enhance
U.S. conventional defense capa-
bilities, smart weapons must be
deployed in sufficient quantities to
assure preparedness, promote
deterrence and provide for an effec-
tive and sustained response as
required to meet critical mission
objectives. This can happen only if
the costs of smart weapons are
reduced to levels significantly
below those incurred in manufac-
turing today's coimplex weapons.
RSTA/BMC' Technology
The overall objective of the
reconnaissance surveillance and
target acquisition/battle-manage-
ment communications, command
and control technology thrust area
is to advance the state-of-the-art in
information and communications
technologies important to the suc-
cessful implementation of current
and future concepts for effective
conventional-force engagements, in-
cluding the Army and Air Force
air-land battle doctrine, the Army
21 concept -a future version of
air-land battle doctrine and the
Navy maritime strategy. Detailed
information on enemy force deploy-
ment and movement, timely and
reliable communication of that in-
formation to field commanders,
thorough coordination of respon-
sive sive operations for maximum
economy of force and precise
targeting. of enemy assets are re-
quired. Associated technological
demands cover a broad spectrum of
sensor performance, signal process-
ing and communications systems
requirements. The projects includ-
ed in this category address a wide
range of technical issues related to
surveillance, targeting and informa-
tion management.
The principal surveillance activi-
ty is an undersea surveillance pro-
ject that involves expansion of
important Navy work in this area.
The work will supplement and ac-
celerate ongoing submarine-sur-
veillance investigations included in
a recently initiated advanced anti-
submarine warfare development
program. Significant improvements
in U.S. submarine-detection capa-
bilities are needed to maintain an
anti-submarine warfare advantage
based on large-area surveillance
rather than on the use of expen-
sive, short-range tactical sensors.
Two other surveillance projects
are important to ground forces.
One involves surveillance of enemy
tactical ballistic-missile units to
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provide information pertaining to
readiness and possible intent. This
work is of critical importance
because of the serious threat tac-
tical missiles pose to U.S. and
allied forces in Europe. The second
such project accelerates Army de-
velopment of the Digital Topo-
graphic Support System. This
system is intended to expedite the
availability of accurate, up-to-date,
meaningful terrain data to field
commanders, who must rely on
such information to conduct effec-
tive battlefield operations. This
information provides for the iden-
tification of possible air and
ground avenues of approach for
both friendly and enemy forces,
mobility corridors for different
types of ground combat vehicles,
river-crossing sites, air-drop zones
and likely locations for command
and control centers - high-value
targets.
Several projects in this category
16
An A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft is
checked out by technicians following a
flight from Villabranca Air Base near
Verona, Italy. Some 70 percent of the
current DoD science and technology
program is concerned with
technologies important to conventional
defense, including the fields of
aeronautics, propulsion, structures, -
materials and weapons design.
address targeting problems. Work
by the Navy will involve assess-
ment of an advanced sensor system
to detect postulated future threat
anti-ship missiles. An aided target-
recognition project will be con-
ducted by the Army to develop an
improved understanding of target-
recognition phenomenology and
technical issues critical to the
development of militarily useful
aided target recognition systems.
This effort is related to the
development of man-in-the-loop
target recognition systems for
weapons-delivery platforms. Navy
work to develop a fiber-optic data
link for air-launched weapons will
seek to improve air-to-surface
delivery of advanced munitions by
eliminating a number of problems
characteristic of current radio-
frequency weapon data links: high
cost, susceptibility to jamming,
platform location broadcasting and
pod drag.
In the area of information
management, one project in this
category involves Army work to
develop an integrated, synchroniz-
ed, data-linked information system
to automate many important com-
mand and control functions for
ground combat vehicles. This work
is intended to improve force coor-
dination and overall warfighting ef-
fectiveness at battalion, company
and platoon levels. Yet another
project supports Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency/Navy
development of optical signal pro-
cessing technology, which may help
us develop greatly improved capa-
bilities for handling the extremely
high data rates required for opera-
tion of complex battle-management
communications, command and
control and weapon systems of the
future. Throughput rates for op-
tical processors may be 1,000 to
10,000 times faster than those of
their electronic counterparts.
Armor/Anti-Armor
Technology
The overall objectives in the
armor/anti-armor technology thrust
area are to increase the survivabil-
ity of U.S. ground combat forces
through the continuing develop-
ment of advanced armor systems
and to develop improved weapons
to engage and defeat enemy land
combat vehicles and other impor-
tant targets. Soviet and Warsaw
Pact forces possess a potentially
overwhelming numerical superior-
ity that to date has been offset to
some extent by a U.S./NATO
technological advantage. Maintain-
ing this advantage is becoming in-
creasingly difficult in the face of
continuing improvements in Soviet
OEEENSE/
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capabilities. Extensive ongoing
armor/anti-armor work seeks to
counter these Soviet advances, but
much additional work is needed to
address this serious threat.
Balanced Technology Initiative
activities include both system-
specific projects and important
technology-base activities. There
are four principal project areas: ad-
vanced guns and projectiles, ad-
vanced weapons, mine/countermine
technology and materials/
phenomenology/modeling.
Advanced guns and projectiles
work includes enhanced kinetic-
energy weapons, liquid-propellant
gun, advanced-composite gun and
coilgun technology development
projects. All of these projects offer
significant potential to improve
U.S. and allied anti-armor
firepower. The objective of the
kinetic-energy weapons work is to
develop new, high-performance,
kinetic-energy projectiles compati-
ble with present tank guns that
can defeat advanced threat armors
at extended ranges. Development
of liquid propellant and coilgun
technologies may also accelerate
the achievement of this capability.
BTI support for liquid-propellant
gun work leverages ongoing Army
efforts to develop a 155mm liquid-
propellant artillery demonstrator,
as well as related work on a 30mm
(subscale) anti-armor gun.
In addition to higher projectile
velocity, liquid-propellant tank
guns may provide other important
advantages: Automated firing may
be facilitated, vehicle vulnerability
might be reduced by remote pro-
pellent storage, and battlefield
logistics problems may be reduced.
The coilgun technology project
involves Army-directed work to
evaluate an alternative approach to
railguns for more efficient use of
electromagnetic energy to achieve
very high projectile velocities. The
development of coilgun technology
to date has been limited.
Possible important future ap-
plications for electromagnetic guns
include both anti-armor and air- -
MANCN/APHIL
defense missions. The purpose of
the advanced-composite gun pro-
ject is to develop high-performance
guns that use advanced ceramic
and composite materials in the bar-
rel and breech assembly. Possible
benefits, particularly for small- and
medium-caliber weapons, include
reduced barrel erosion, higher muz-
zle velocity (achieved through the
use of more efficient propellants),
greater accuracy, increased rate-of-
fire, longer sustained fire and im-
proved longer-range lethality.
In the area of advanced weapons,
several projects address the defeat
of various hard targets by different
means and under different condi-
tions. One effort involves the
development of a lightweight,
short-range, self-defense, anti-tank
weapon that could provide dis-
mounted infantry the capability to
fire upon and defeat heavy armor
when required for survival in close
combat.
Another project supports the de-
velopment of a ground-launched
Hellfire capability that could pro-
vide a major boost to the capa-
bilities of Army and Marine Corps
light divisions to engage and
defeat threat armor and other hard
targets.
Work in this area also considers
the defeat of certain hard targets
at sea. Further development of an
advanced torpedo warhead by the
Navy is intended to provide signifi-
cant improvements in lethality
against newer classes of Soviet
double-hulled submarines.
The timely and effective use of
mine and barrier warfare is of
critical importance in attriting,
delaying and disrupting enemy of-
fensive maneuvers. Since mine war-
fare is expected to be of increasing
importance in future conventional
conflicts, two BTI projects address
mine and countermine technology
development.
The objective of Defense Ad-
vanced Research Projects Agency/
Army work is to significantly im-
prove the effectiveness and ease of
use of future mines and to develop
mine-detection technology to allow
safe avoidance or neutralization of
individual mines or large area
minefields. One focus of this effort
is on the development of command-
and-control links for wide-area,
anti-armor, smart mines. Counter-
mine work by the Marine Corps ac-
celerates the ongoing development
of the catapault-launched fuel-air
explosives amphibious-assault
countermine system, which uses
fuel-air explosives to detonate
mines in the surf zone. Such a
system is urgently needed for the
conduct of successful, fast-paced,
amphibious assaults from Navy
surface ships. The catapault-
launched fuel-air explosives system
is expected to have land mine-
clearing utility as well.
Armor/anti-armor work in the
materials/phenomenology/model-
ing area involves three projects.
The principal objective of one of
these projects (armor materials) is
to develop low-cost materials-
processing technologies applicable
to the manufacture of high-
performance ceramics for use in ad-
vanced armor systems. A second
major objective is to develop an
improved understanding of ceramic
armor material properties and
dynamic fracture associated with
ballistic impact.
This latter objective should be
enhanced by work in the third area,
which involves developing en-
hanced computation capabilities
pertinent to the design and evalua-
tion of advanced weapons.
High-Power Microwaves
The fourth thrust area in the
Balanced Technology Initiative
Program involves work in the area
of high-power microwaves, recogni-
tion that complex advanced
weapons and other important
military assets with sophisticated
sensors and electronic components
may be extremely sensitive to this
type of radiation. High-power
microwaves can be produced from
a variety of sources adaptable to
ground-based or airborne weapon
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 systems, and weapons based on
this technology may become in-
creasingly important in future con-
ventional engagements. However,
while limited laboratory studies of
high-power-microwave effects on
certain weapons systems and com-
ponents have been conducted, the
range and nature of these effects
are not well understood. Detailed
knowledge of these effects is
critical to the development of ap-
propriate hardening techniques, for
maintaining proper functionality of
advanced weapons and other
military equipment and in
evaluating potential high-power-
microwave weapon concepts.
High-power-microwave work sup-
ported by the BTI involves five
general areas. In the area of high-
power-microwave effects, a
systematic and comprehensive in-
vestigation will be conducted to
develop a detailed effects data base
with respect to frequency, intensity
and pulse. characteristics. High-
power-microwave hardening work
will explore the development of
techniques that are both cost-
effective and compatible with
system operational characteristics
and requirements.
The principal objective of high-
power-microwave components deve-
lopment work will be to support
simulation and effects-testing ac-
tivities. These propagation/
phenomenology studies are
intended to develop an improved
State-of-the-art information and com-
munications technologies are critical
for systems that will help successfully
implement current and future concepts
for conventional-force engagements
(battle-management technology). Ultra-
thin sandwich structures known as
superlattices - formed here by a pro-
cess known as molecular beam epi-
taxy -will be found in those systems.
quantitative understanding of high-
power-microwave propagation,
energy transport and failure
mechanisms. Finally, a standard-
ized assessment methodology will
be established to guide all ongoing
U.S. high-power-microwave testing
and evaluation activities.
Special Technology
Opportunities
A number of additional projects
not identifiable with the four major
thrust areas described above are
also included in the Balanced
Technology Initiative Program in a
fifth category called special
technology opportunities. All have
significant potential to enhance
conventional-defense capabilities.
Representative projects include
advanced short take-off/vertical
landing technology to provide addi-
tional required support for an ongo-
ing NATO cooperative program
concerned with the advancement of
key technologies pertinent to the
development of highly
maneuverable and survivable air-
craft; enhanced blast munitions to
re-evaluate the weapons potential
of improved fuel-air explosives for
use in certain special-purpose mis-
sions such as close air support,
mine clearing and destruction of
impulse-sensitive targets (e.g., fuel
depots, buildings and bunkers);
high-temperature superconducting
materials to fabricate such
materials into thin films and com-
posite forms needed for a broad
range of advanced weapons system
applications; and tactical missile
interceptor technology to develop a
surface-to-air, command-guided,
highly maneuverable, hit-to-kill in-
terceptor.
One additional example of work
in this category is a project called
Cruise Missile Advanced Guidance.
The objective of this project is to
develop precision delivery capabil-
ities for long-range, conventionally
armed cruise missiles that might
be used to attack a variety of high-
value fixed or relocatable targets.
Achieving this capability takes on
added importance in view of the
forthcoming intermediate-range
nuclear force reductions in Europe.
Military Utility
The Balanced Technology
-Initiative is a technology develop-
ment program; however, the pro-
gram plan maintains a sharp focus
on operational need and potential
utility to the armed forces.
Technology development alone
does not improve the peacekeeping
or warfighting capabilities of our
military forces. It is the timely, ef-
fective implementation of promis-
ing new technologies that produces
real battlefield benefits. It is thus
useful to view the activities of the
program in the context of existing
U.S. warfighting guides, in par-
ticular the air-land battle doctrine
of the Army and the Air Force and
Navy maritime strategy.
Air-land battle doctrine embodies
battle tactics developed primarily
for conventional conflict in Europe.
It recognizes that in any major
future European conflict, U.S. and
allied forces must be prepared -
OfffNSf/
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and able - to fight outnumbered
and win. Basic elements of air-land
battle include initiative, agility,
depth and synchronization. These
elements are, of necessity, inter-
related. In a clearer sense, what is
required is the development of a
fluid defense at the forward line of
troops; highly mobile forces over
the range of the larger battlefield;
an emphasis on counterattack
capabilities, including the ability to
maneuver in depth; the use of ac-
curately delivered, concentrated
firepower (e.g., from artillery, air-
craft-and deep-battle weapons) to
split the tactical and operational
levels of war; and correlated/coor-
dinated air and ground actions.
The BTI Program can impact all
of these areas. Efforts involving
Digital Topographic Support
System development, aided and
automatic target recognition, an
advanced data link, combat vehicle
command and control and ad-
vanced close-air-support technology
may all contribute to improved
force agility and more effective
control of the flow of battle. Force
mobility over greater distances will
be enhanced by improvements in
communications and surveillance
systems and by the accelerated
development of new methods for
mine-clearing.
BTI efforts related to improving
counterattack capabilities for
United States conventional forces
include much of the work in the
smart-weapons program category:
advanced sensors and seeker proj-
ects, projects involving
autonomous guidance and aided
target recognition technology, the
long-range sensor-fuzed weapon
project and work to develop guided
tactical hypervelocity projectiles.
Counterattack capabilities will be
enhanced through developments in
the areas of advanced guns and
kinetic-energy weapons, as well as
through work on advanced on- and
off-route mines that can greatly
restrict enemy freedom of action.
Many of the just-mentioned smart-
weapons-technology development
MARCH/APRIL
activities apply equally well in
facilitating effective delivery of
both short- and long-range ord-
nance. Effective firepower is
critical to seizing the initiative by
frustrating enemy commitment to
a planned course of action.
Principles of naval warfare
represented in the Navy maritime
strategy cover three phases. Phase
I addresses deterrence and the
transition to war and is
characterized by forward deploy-
ment of naval forces worldwide,
with aggressive positioning of anti-
submarine warfare elements. Phase
II involves seizing the initiative.
Dominance is sought through
forceful engagement of enemy sub-
marine, surface and air assets,
together with amphibious action,
mining and mine-clearing as need-
ed. Phase III continues the
destruction of enemy vessels and
other military targets, employs am-
phibious assault forces to regain
territory and provides available
carrier air strength to support the
land war.
The principal contribution of the
BTI Program to Phase I of the
maritime strategy is through sup-
port for expanded work in the area
of undersea surveillance.
Knowledge of the locations and
movements of enemy submarines
improves our overall defense
posture, thereby reducing the risk
of war, but also promotes an effec-
tive, rapid response to open
hostilities. Successful implementa-
tion of Phases II and III requires
effective anti-submarine warfare ac-
tions, surface-ship and submarine
self-protection capabilities, lethal
and accurate weapons to strike at
enemy targets and materiel to sup-
port amphibious operations. Rele-
vant BTI Program work includes
efforts to develop improved
torpedo warheads, a submarine
anti-torpedo weapon, high-energy
lasers for ship defense against
cruise missiles and tactical ballistic
missiles, advanced target-
acquisition capabilities for ship
defense, the catapault-launched
fuel-air explosives surf zone mine-
clearing system and many smart-
weapons projects.
The Balanced Technology In-
itiative is an important new ele-
ment of the DoD science and
technology program, which already
includes much work pertinent to
the future needs of conventional
forces. However, the program af-
fords an unparalleled opportunity
to expand technology development
work in areas critical to the suc-
cessful conduct of conventional
defense missions.
It only remains for us to expand
and exploit those opportunities we
have already seized. 0
William E. Snowden
Prior to assuming his present position in
June 1986, Dr. Snowden served for seven
years (1979-1986) at the Lawrence
Livermore National Laboratory, Calif. His
service there was interrupted by a stint
as program manager, armor anti-armor,
at the Defense Advanced Research Pro-
jects Agency (April 1984 to June 1985).
His recent service at Livermore was as
program manager, advanced strategic
systems; earlier he had been a staff
scientist at the laboratory. He holds a BS
degree in ceramic engineering from Alfred
University (1969) and MS and PhD
degrees in engineering science from the
University of California at Berkley.
19
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CAW
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