- DEFENSE SUPPRESSION. The "DESERT STORM demonstrated the necessity for ol~tstanding performance of the precision guided munitions. Laser guided bombs (and their E A-613, other Navy defense sup- advanced successors such as inertially aided munitions), aircraft and weapon SLAM, and TLAM have all proven their worth, both militar- pres Si On ily and politically. We need- to maintain the technologicatedge systems was a noteworthy these weapons give, both through continued research and strength in high demand for strike development, preplanned product improvement (P31), and in support of all services and coali- maintenance of sufficient munitions in our arsenal to cope tion forces during the campaign. with likely future contingencies." - Admiral J. T. Howe, USN, Commander- Their performance was instru- in-Chief U.S. Naval Forces Europe, Quick rrtental in the early achievement Look First Impressions Report, 20 March of air superiority. 1991 "Suppression ofenemyairdefenses (SEAD) was one "The 2000 pound penetrator is the weapon you need of the Navy's noteworthy strengths. The EA-6B performed to kill the really hard, important, war-winning targets." ve~ well and w~ the clear choice. USN HARM (high-speed anti--radiation missile) and jam doctrine was successful..." - Rear Admiral R.D. Mixson, USN, Com- mander Battle Force YANKEE (Red Sea), - Vice Admiral S.R. Arthur, USN, Com- during OPNAV debrief, 18 April 1991 mander U.S. Naval Forces Central Com- mand, Quick Look - First Impressions - TACTICAL RECONNAIS- Report, 22 March1991 SAN CE. The importance of real- - S1~ART WEAPONS. Although time and near-real-time tactical not all weapons were used in reconnaissance in support of sufficient numbers to draw defini- strike planning, naval gunfire tive conclusions (the standoff land support (NGFS), and battle dam- age assessment (BDA) was clearly attack missile (SLAM) for ex- demonstrated during DESERT ample), "smart" or precision weapons clearly demonstrated STORM. Navy platforms such as their capabilities against point the tactical air reconnaissance pod targets and we will be procuring system (TARPS) equipped F-14 more of them. We also reaffirmed and unmanned aerial vehides (UAVs) performed as designed, a requirement for highly accurate but could not meet the demand. p(?netrating weapons for use against heavily bunkered or - AIRBORNE TANKING. Geogra- h~.:~rdened structures. phy dictated extensive land-based "laser Guided Bombs (LGBs) were consumed at a tanking support for both USAF much greater rate than an ticipa ted in pre-hostilities plan- and naval air strikes into Iraq. ninS. LGBs quickly became the weapon ofchoicefor a variety Tanker coordination went ex- of missions against relatively low-value, non-hardened tar- tremely well. But tankers were gets. MK-83 LOBs were particularly us~l..." stretched thin, and their appor- tionment necessarily limited the - Vice Admiral S.R. Arthur, USN, Corn- Navy's long-range strike contribu- mander U.S. Naval Forces Central Corn- tion. mand, Quick Look - First Impressions Report, 22 March1991 -60-
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