Fire support GICAT • DEFENCE THE FRENCH LAND DEFENCE AND SECURITY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION • WWW.GICAT.COM Today’s artillery: fire support and protection down to the lowest level Since 2008, operations have been characterized by an increasingly severe context and higher demand for artillery, down to the lowest levels. As the only branch capable of providing fire support at all conditions, its use has become indispensable. No air-land operation is planned without permanent mortar or gun fire support. The principle of “not move without combat support” is once again a reality. Today, technical and tactical artillery capabilities have evolved considerably: high strategic mobility, precision guided ammunition, a reduced logistics footprint, ground-air protection and dynamic management of air-land space. Artillery performs two key functions: Indirect Fire Support to guarantee commander freedom of action Operating at a distance, it uses intelligence to identify, strike high-value targets and weakens the opponent before contact, and subsequently contributes to enemy destruction in support of troops in combat. Permanent, due to its continuous capabilities, and responsive, it provides a full range of effects and guarantees for decision makers precise and controlled strikes. Air defense to protect the air-land forces, sensitive sites and populations Able to maneuver in insecure environments on the ground and following the pace of land units, integrated into the joint chain of command and operating in coordination with French Air Force resources, artillery participates in foreign and national theaters protection in the frame of reinforcement of the permanent safety posture Artillery is currently organized in regiments within combined arms brigades. Its strength lies in its ability to be integrated down to the lowest tactical levels (combined tactical battle group or company). Therefore, each combined arms brigade has a mixed artillery regiment that trains and prepares for deployment with direct engagement battle group (infantry and armor). Artillery Organization: Each artillery regiment, inside light and medium brigades is organized in: • two field artillery batteries able to fire the 155 mm CAESAR guns and 120 mm mortars; • a short-range air defense (SHORAD) battery firing MISTRAL missiles; • an intelligence battery dedicated to brigade. Three specific regiments (RA) are part of the heavy armored and mechanized brigades: • the 40th RA equipped with self-propelled armored tracked vehicle named AUF1; • the 1st RA equipped with two unitary rocket launcher (URL) batteries and two radar batteries (COBRA); • the 54th RA is the air defense regiment, organized in four short range air defense batteries (SHORAD) and two tactical coordination batteries (TCB) for 3rd Dimension space management and implementation of high-speed data links. 3 Numerous capabilities implemented Evolving technical during recent operations capabilities Afghanistan and Ivory coast Dynamic management of 3D space Target acquisition The arrival of the URL in ground forces: The 3rd dimension (3D) resources management capability was • 13 URLs will be delivered to the 1st RA before the end of 2014. Permanent fire support In the frame of SCORPION program, which will renew and decisive: a third-dimension defense management center (CMD3D) The URL is the only highly accurate, all-weather and permanent consolidate the operational capacities of combined tactical battle Since 2008, operations have been characterized by a renewed of the 54th RA was deployed to allow all air-land resources to be fire support for 2014-2022, with the pending delivery of 155 and groups, the Army will be equipped with new acquisition resources. use of artillery, which has been deployed in combined tactical monitored and coordinated. 120 mm precision shells. battle groups with reduced structures to provide fire support for The multi-role armored vehicle (VBMR) will replace current Use of fire: Artillery 3rd dimension expertise plays a key role in • It is fully integrated into tactical and logistical maneuvers. It is the entire combat area. In Afghanistan, 4 500 shells (155 mm and reconnaissance VABs by 2020. Its equipment allows it to detect enabling the tactical combined arms commander to coordinate easy to use by joint force commanders or tactical battle groups 120 mm) were fired to support combined tactical battle groups, and locate targets with ten-meter accuracy in all conditions. It the actions of all available resources (artillery shells, helicopters, commanders. and also for targeting purposes to support Special Forces. features a 5-meter telescopic mast with day and night vision, and Close Air support, UAVs.) a removable radar, and will significantly improve team observation • It has a range of technical effects that are readily used by the The CAESAR gun range has significantly expanded the area of capabilities. Joint Commander of Operations: time fuse/percussion/ action for tactical battle groups. The complementary nature of delayed-penetration firing. guns and mortars has been consolidated: the CAESAR guns Guyana, Djibouti, Lebanon Studies are underway to improve target localization computing provide support from forward advanced bases, while mortars via imaging. They aim to achieve metric accuracy by 2020. A weapons system whose strengths specifically address Surface-air protection through field compartment control maneuver in the contact area. Therefore, regardless of changes in the operational needs of forces in stabilization missions: Air Defense of land forces is carried out by short-range air the maneuver, units can be supported laterally, accurately and Ammunition • Due to the range of the weapons system - up to 80 km - it can closer to allied units. defense sections (SHORAD). Each platoon has six MISTRAL shoot without even leaving its forward advanced base. missiles and detection and firing control radar (NC1-30 and NC1- The air-defense and field artillery double qualification of the The artillery possesses a full range of ammunition: neutralization, • Rockets are detected at the last moment, which does not allow 40). The advantage of these sections is their ability to deploy in artillery observation teams allowed all possible fire support to be illumination, blinding and warning. It also has guided BONUS the opponent to take cover. the field and their complementary capability between radar effectively combined with a minimal impact on the human anti-tank rounds for effective use in symmetrical or asymmetrical detection and visual surveillance performed by these units in this • The terminal angle is vertical, which makes this munition very resources. conflicts. field. The MISTRAL missile has further enhanced its capabilities effective in destroying targets in urban areas, in mountainous The 1st RA has received GPS-guided rockets for URL since April Afghanistan has also been the scene of regular use of tactical with the delivery of the MISTRAL 3 in 2014, which features an areas or in areas protected by rocky knolls. 2014. They allow destruction of protected targets at a distance of UAVs in connection with artillery. Tactical UAV (SDTI) and mini increased range (8 km) and which is capable of destroying targets • The cost/effectiveness ratio is particularly advantageous. UAV (DRAC), capable of intelligence and time sensitive targeting, up to 80 km. Current studies focus on guided 120 mm and 155 mm with a smaller signature. • The logistics impact is significantly reduced due to the rocket’s were able to perform a full firing loop: acquisition, control, shells, which will be available after 2022. level of accuracy: each target is treated with a single munition. adjustment and damage assessment. Above all, the URL can be used at all conditions, and can provide Effectors: Field Artillery launchers permanent and immediate support. It was used specifically by Mali France currently has four types of launchers: British forces in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has gradually become the preferred fire support system. Strategic projection of fire support • Due to the strategic mobility, the self-propelled 155 mm Air Defense Surveillance and acquisition: The SERVAL operation was characterized by the elongations of CAESAR gun showed its effectiveness in Afghanistan and the air-land offensive action. In this action, the artillery was especially in Mali (38 km range). The French Army uses the MARTHA system for the air defense present for both observation teams but also for gun and mortar • The AUF1 155 mm armored tracked self-propelled howitzer (28 chain of command control systems. fire. The strategic mobility of the self-propelled CAESAR gun was km range). It currently has NC1-30 and NC1-40 detection and fire control a major asset. A unit of two CAESAR guns was able to conduct a • The rusticity and strategic mobility of the RTF1 120 mm towed radars with a range of 20 km to 28 km. raid over 1,000 km, keeping pace with close combat armored mortar make it an easy and effective way to support infantry The early warning and 3D surveillance are provided by the 3D vehicles (VBCI, AMX -10 -RC) on harsh desert terrain, from units in combat. In 2022, an on-board automated mortar GIRAFFE radar and soon by GM200 radars with a range of 200 km, NIAMEY to TESSALIT. Following the raid, smoothly conducted, embedded in a multirole armored vehicle (MEPAC) will support which will be delivered starting in 2018. the detachment has performed more than 40 neutralization, forces in addition to the RTF1 towed mortar. Air Defense