reconnaissance and surveillance leader course combat assessment

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader Course

COMBATASSESSMENT


“Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake.”

Napoleon


Action: Identify the Combat Assessment (CA) process

Condition: Given a block of instruction in a classroom environment

Standard: Identify the CA process IAW the following blocks of instructions.

Terminal Learning Objective


Safety Requirements- Fire

Risk Assessment- Low

Environmental considerations- None

Evaluation- Knowledge of the CA process will be evaluated during the FTX.


References• Tactics, Techniques and Procedures for the Targeting

Process (FM 6-20-10)• USAF Intelligence Targeting Guide (Air Force Pamphlet

14-210 Intelligence)• Joint Targeting School• Combat Targeting Course• Joint Pub 1-02• Doctrine for Joint Fire Support (Joint Pub 3-09)• Air Force Targeting (AFI 14-117)• Special Operations Targeting and Mission Planning (Joint

Pub 3-05.5)• BDA Quick Guide (DI-2820-4-03)


Action: Identify the definition and purpose of CA

Condition: Given a block of instruction in aclassroom environment

Standard: Identify the definition and purpose of CA IAW the following block of instruction.

Enabling Learning Objective A


Definition

• Combat Assessment is the timely and accurate estimate of damage resulting from the application of military force, either lethal or non- lethal, against a predetermined objective.


Combat Assessment can be applied to the employment of all types of weapons systems throughout the range of military operations.

- Air - Ground - Naval - Special Operations Forces - Space

CA Employment


• Primarily an intelligence responsibility

• Requires input and coordination from the operators

• Must be translated into SOR’s by the team

Producing CA


The purpose of Combat Assessment is to provide an accurate enemy strength assessment so that the commander can make informed decisions.

Purpose


Purpose

Combat Assessment (CA), in its most basic form, is geared to quick and accurate answers to the following three questions:

1. Was the target hit? Yes or No.

2. What was the extent of the damage? Both physical and functional damage.

3. Were the commanders objectives met? Yes, no or partially.


Questions Answered for the Commander

Did the weapons impact the target as planned? Did the weapons achieve the desired results and fulfill the

objectives, and therefore the purpose of the attack? How long will it take enemy forces to repair damage and

regain functionality? Can and will the enemy compensate for the actual damage

through substitution? Are restrikes necessary to inflict additional damage, to

delay recovery efforts or attack targets not successfully struck?

What are the collateral effects on the target systems as a whole or on other target systems?


CA Report (CRACK Report)

• AAA-DTG of detonation• BBB-Location (6 Digit) or target number• CCC-Target Description (buildings, airfields, military

equipment, bridges, etc) and Damage (physical and functional)

• DDD-Confidence Level (confirmed, probable, possible)

• EEE-Additional Information (any additional information that the team has that may further aid the commander in making future decisions such as restrikes, types of ordinance or weapons systems employment)


There are two levels of Combat Assessment:

• Tactical level

• Targeting process

Two Levels of CA


1. Allows commanders to get a series of timely and accurate snapshots of the effects on the enemy.

2. Provides commanders an estimate of the enemy’s combat effectiveness, capabilities, intention.

3. Helps commanders determine when or if their targeting effort is accomplishing its objective.

Tactical Level


Targeting Process

• CA in the targeting process pertains to the result of attacks on objectives designated by the commander

• CA helps determine if a restrike is necessary

• Commanders use this information to allocate or redirect attack systems to make the best use of all available combat power


What are our goals?

What targets must be effected to accomplish the goal?

What weapons achieve the desired effect?

How do we optimize weapon delivery?

How do we get weapons to the target?

Did we meet our goals? If not, why not?

The Targeting Process

• 6 step process focuses the C/JTF’s lethal and non-lethal systems against the enemy to achieve the CINC’s intent. (USAF, USN)


The Targeting Process

Decide •What targets must be acquired and attacked, which attack option to use and who will engage the target at the prescribed time

•Target acquisition assets gather information. Targets are validated and tracked with this information. NOT all information is useful but may develop the commanders situational awareness of the battlefield.

Detect

•Attack targets in accordance with the Commander’s guidance. The tactical situation drives a technical solution including specific attack unit, ordinance and time of attack.

•Provides feedback on the question “Has the Commander’s guidance been met?” If not, the detect and deliver functions must continue to focus on the targets involved. Feedback may also result in changes to decisions made during the Decide step.

Deliver

Assess

4 Step Process (USA, USMC, NATO)

• Successful use of this process delivers incredible destruction to the enemy while limiting friendly causalities

•This process is also effective in operations other than war


COB/DOB/AOB

Division Collection Manager

Division G-2 Division G-3

Corps

LRS Team

The Collection Process(Division)


The mission to conduct CA will come in the form of a Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Target Acquisition or CA mission.

•CA must measure things that are important to commander (PIR, SIR, SOR) and not allow information from the team to drive what is important to him.

CA Missions


Likely CA Targets

•Roads

•Bridges

•Airfields

•Military vehicles/installations

•Buildings/factories

•Railroads

•Dams/locks


Example Mission Statement

Tm 2 conducts Combat Assessment operations to confirm trafficability of bridge NLT 221900JUL01 in vicinity of McBride's bridge (GL 467873) in order to facilitate future JTF operations.

(who, what, when, where and why)


What are two purposes or uses of CA?


What are two purposes or uses of CA?

A tactical level and a targeting process


What must CA requirements be translated into?


What must CA requirements be translated into?

SOR’s


Action: Identify the components of CA

Condition: Given a block of instruction in a classroom environment

Standard: Identify the components of CA IAW the following block of instructions and FM 6-20-10 and USAF Intelligence Targeting Guide (Air Force Pamphlet 14-210 Intelligence)

Enabling Learning Objective B


COMBAT ASSESSMENT

• Combat assessment consists of 3 components• Each component seeks to answer a specific

question– Combat Assessment (CA)

• Were the strategic, operational and tactical objectives met by force employment?

– Munitions Effects Assessment (MEA)• Did the forces employed perform as expected?

– Re-attack Recommendation (RR)• If the above answers are NO, what will fix the

problem?


Three Phases to CA

Phase I- Physical Damage Assessment

Phase II- Functional Damage Assessment

Phase III- Target System Assessment (this assessment is completed by the appropriate agency)


Phase I – Physical Damage Assessment

•Physical Damage Assessment estimates the quantitative extent of physical damage (through munitions blast, fragmentation, and/or fire damage effects) to a target resulting from the application of military force.

•This assessment is based upon observed or interpreted damage.


Physical Damage Assessment

Key factors in determining the extent of physical damage assessment are:

•Target type and sizeWas the attacked target/element a piece of equipment or a building or bunker? How hard is the target? How big is the target?

•Warhead type and size Did the weapon used against the target/element have a general purpose, shaped-charge, penetrator or a sub-munition warhead? How big (weight) was the warhead?

•Warhead detonation location Did the weapon detonate above or outside the target? Did the weapon detonate upon impacting the target? Did the weapon detonate inside the target? If so, where?


In determining the level of physical damage, a confidence level is assigned to indicate the assurance of the assessment •CONFIRMED-Visually or otherwise assured through IMINT, weapon system (aircraft cockpit) video,SIGINT, MASINT and/or HUMINT with virtual (95%) certainty. No inference involved.

•PROBABLE-Greater than 50% likelihood that the damage assessment is accurate. Data sources are reliable and require little inference.

•POSSIBLE-Less than 50% likelihood that the damage assessment is accurate. Requires considerable inference.

Confidence Levels of Physical Damage


•Report in detail, and be specific.

•NO DAMAGE, DESTROYED are easily defined and understandable

•Difficulties are judgment calls when specifying the level of damage between these two extremes.

Physical Damage Assessment


Phase II – Functional Damage Assessment

Functional damage assessment estimates the effects of military force on degrading/destroying the functional or operational capability of the targeted facility or objective to perform its intended mission. The level of success is based upon the operational objectives established against the target.


Phase II – Functional Damage Assessment

• Phase II CA reviews all phase I damage assessments and amplifies the initial analysis.

• Phase II draws on all-source intelligence and operational data to determine functional damage to a target and an estimate of impact on the target system.


• A key step in functional damage assessment is identifying and establishing the installation(s) or targets critical elements.

• A critical element is defined as one which, if destroyed or not operating, will preclude the installation from functioning.

Functional Damage


Functional Damage

Because the assessment of the functional damage level is very subjective, a confidence level is not associated.

However, when functional damage occurs, an estimation of the time required for recuperation or replacement of the target function is included.


• The targets “normal” level of operation must be quantified. -If it is an industrial target-what does it produce? -If it is an military installation, what basic purpose does

it serve?

• Without these pre-attack assessments, wartime functional damage assessments may be inadequately stated.

Functional Damage


Functional Damage Assessment Definitions

•NO FUNCTIONAL DAMAGE-Target is undamaged or has sustained no or minimal damage to critical element(s) causing no decrease in normal functional capability. The target is fully operational or capable of action (e.g. mission ready). This damage level does not require recuperation or replacement times.•LIGHT FUNCTIONAL DAMAGE-The critical element(s) of the target has sustained damage, causing less than a 15% decrease in normal operational capability. *•MODERATE DAMAGE-The critical element(s) of the target has sustained damage, causing a 15-45% decrease in normal operational capability. *



•SEVERE FUNCTIONAL DAMAGE-The critical element(s) of the target has sustained damage, causing greater than 45% decrease in normal operational capability. *

•FUNCTIONALLY DESTROYED-The critical element(s) of the target has sustained damage rendering the target unusable for its original purpose. Target is incapable of supporting combat or production operations without repair or replacement of critical elements. *



•ABANDONED-Regardless of physical damage, the facility or equipment is not being used for its intended purpose. Target is incapable of supporting combat or production operations without being reoccupied and/or re-equipped.•UNKNOWN FUNCTIONAL DAMAGE-Although the critical element(s) of the target has been attacked, there is insufficient data to assess if any functional damage has occurred

* This type of damage level requires an estimation of the time required for recuperation or replacement of the target function.


•Intermediate damage definitions are dependent on target type and the ease of assessing damage.

For example:

CA Damage Definitions


NO DAMAGE, LIGHT, MODERATE, and SEVERE DAMAGE is determined by the percent of the target area (building) damaged.

Physical DamageBuildings


•NO DAMAGE-0% of target element area damaged

•LIGHT DAMAGE-Up to 15% of the target element area damaged

•MODERATE DAMAGE-15-45% of the target area damaged

•SEVERE DAMAGE-45-75% of the target area damaged

•DESTROYED-75-100% of the target area damaged

Physical Damage Buildings


Functional DamageBuildings

• A building is designed to environmentally shelter the enclosed function or equipment.•Destruction the building may is not required; rather, destruction of the critical element(s) inside should be the objective.•Location and hardness of a building’s contents are key to a meaningful functional assessment.•Depending on the type and location of critical elements, a lesser percentage may be adequate to achieve the desired level of functional degradation.


•A building may serve as an important landmark or other symbol of national unity and resolve; in these cases, the entire building may be the critical element.


Novi Sad Radio Relay & TV-FM Broadcast Station

Pre-Strike


Novi Sad Radio Relay & TV-FM Broadcast Station

Post-Strike

Compose CRACK Report


Novi Sad CRACK Report

• AAA-DTG of Detonation• BBB-Location• CCC-Radio Relay/TV station

Physical Damage-Destroyed Functional Damage-Functionally Destroyed

• DDD-Confirmed visually by team• EEE-Radio/TV antenna destroyed, building

sustained severe structural damage. Outlying buildings also destroyed.


•NO DAMAGE- No apparent/observable damage

•DAMAGED- Physical deformations present, such as; holes in equipment, scorching visible on exterior and/or equipment components blown off (broken tracks/wheel, armored plates). Major components are still intact

•DESTROYED- Unrepairable, possibly scrap. Catastrophic damage (K-kill)

Physical DamageMilitary Equipment

(deployed and in depots)


Military Equipment (deployed and in depots)

• Careful consideration must be taken when reporting NO DAMAGE. In certain cases,physical deformations may not be observed/seen.

• Analytical judgements using multiple sources/types of information, such as no vehicle movement for extend periods must be considered.

• When reporting physical damage, it is important to report the total quantity seen, and the NUMBER of pieces of equipment damaged or destroyed.


Military Equipment Defined

•Armored vehicles: tanks and apc’s

•Artillery: field and ADA systems (towed/SP)

•Trucks: all types of non armored vehicles (land transport, C3I, etc.)

•Locomotives and rolling stock: all types of rail transportation

•Aircraft: all types of fixed and rotary wing aircraft


Military Equipment Defined

•Rockets: multi round and single round rockets and their associated launchers

•Missiles: surface to surface and surface to air (fixed and mobile) missiles and their associated launchers

•Radar antennas: stand alone or attached to van/trailer. May or may not be associated with a missile site.

•Fire control components: all vans/trailers (radar, guidance, power and computer) associated with SSM, SAM and AAA sites.


Functional DamageMilitary Equipment

•The DAMAGED category to equipment “generally” equates to the following partial or complete disruption of the equipment’s functionality, although in some cases visible damage may have only minimal or no effect on equipment functionality.



•Armored vehicles and artillery: affects equipment’s firepower capability (F-kill) and/or its mobility (M-kill). This damage is not repairable by the crew on the battlefield.

•Trucks: prevents vehicle mobility (M-kill) and/or internal equipment usage for a number of hours until repairs can be made.

•Locomotives and rolling stock: prevents mobility (M-kill) for a number of hours until repairs can be made. Materials within rolling stock cars may also be damaged/destroyed.



•Aircraft: prevents takeoff (PTO-kill) for a number of hours until repairs can be made.

•Rockets/missile or launcher: prevents successful/effective firing (F-kill) of the weapon. This damage is not repairable by the crew on the battlefield.

•Radar antennas or their associated vans/trailers: prevents radar system from performing its intended function, either missile firing (F-kill) or target acquisition/target tracking, until repairs can be made.



Functional damage of equipment also reduces the functional capability of:

• C2 nodes• Logistics nodes to perform tasks of fuel,arm, fix, transport, man and protect.• Engineering resources to provide mobility,

counter-mobility and survivability support.



The level of functional damage of a missile or radar site depends upon the extent of damage, the number/redundancy of critical elements and their damage, and interconnectivity of the various elements that make up the site.


CRACK ReportMilitary Equipment


Compose CRACK Report

CRACK ReportMilitary Equipment


Military Equipment CRACK Report

• AAA-DTG of Detonation

• BBB-Location (6 digit) or target number

• CCC-T-55 tank Physical Damage-Destroyed/Catastrophic kill Functional Damage-Catastrophic kill

• DDD-Confirmed visually by team

• EEE-Tank completely destroyed, damage not repairable, tank is scrap


• NO DAMAGE-No apparent/observable damage

• CRATERED-Runways/taxiways cratered, but aircraft are able to maneuver around for taxi/flight operations

• CUT-Runways/taxiways with multiple craters in line and sufficiently close enough together to prohibit aircraft movement around the cratered area. However, taxi/flight operations (including aircraft launch) could occur beyond the cut

• INTERDICTED-Runways/taxiways with multiple cuts sufficiently close enough together to prevent takeoff/landing operations between the cuts and/or the last cut and the runway overrun

Physical DamageRunways and Taxiways


Functional DamageRunways and Taxiways

• The effectiveness of an attack on a runway/taxiway is based on the ability of surface cratering to prevent aircraft takeoff or landing.

• To achieve interdiction, no undamaged part of the runway/taxiway is long or wide enough for use as a takeoff surface.

• Takeoff/landing capabilities of the aircraft located at the airfield must be known to successfully assess runway/takeoff damage

• Near by roads should also be assessed for possible aircraft use.


Functional DamageRunways and Taxiways

• The critical factor when assessing runways/taxiways is knowledge of the type/category of aircraft that can or cannot use the airfield

• A fighter/bomber base may be considered interdicted if normal operations of the aircraft stationed there are precluded.

• However, the airfield may be useable by other aircraft types that can operate using an unimproved runway (VTOL, rotary wing)

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader CoursePre-strike Herat Airfield Post-strike


Runway

Taxiway

Service Apron

Pre-strike

Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader CourseCompose CRACK Report

Post-strike


• AAA-DTG of Detonation• BBB-Location (6 digit) or target number• CCC-Runway and taxiways on airfield Physical

Damage-Runway is cratered, taxiway is interdicted, service apron is cratered Functional Damage-VTOL/STOL and rotor wing can use runway, taxiway and service apron. No roads near airfield capable of supporting normal fixed wing aircraft operations. Moderate functional damage

• DDD-Confirmed visually by team• EEE-Restrike needed if airfield is to be functionally

destroyed

Runways and TaxiwaysCRACK Report


In assessing physical damage, consider whether camouflage, concealment, and deception techniques may have been used by the enemy to either minimize or amplify the extent of physical damage, which may distort the assessment.

Physical Damage Considerations


Serb “plastic” bridge is guarded by a “plastic” tank

Deception Techniques


•Collateral damage is also assessed and reported during CA.

•It is defined as unintentional or incidental damage affecting facilities, equipment, or personnel occurring as a result of military actions directed against a targeted enemy force or facility.

Collateral Damage


CA may take different forms besides the determination of the number of casualties or the amount of equipment destroyed. Other information of use will be:

- Whether targets are moving or hardening in response to attack

- Changes in deception efforts and techniques

- Increased communication efforts as the result of jamming

- Whether the damage achieved is affecting the enemy’s combat effectiveness as expected

CA Additional Information


Phase III – Target System Assessment

• A broad assessment of the overall impact and effectiveness of all types of attacks against an entire target systems capability; for example, enemy ADA. May also be applied against enemy unit combat effectiveness.

• Relatively permanent

• This assessment is completed by the appropriate agency


The images above are pre- and post-strike aerials of the Kabul RADCOM Station Northwest, a bunker and communications complex. The site was used to store ammunition and equipment and was also a Taliban communications station.


• Initial Physical Damage Assessment- 90% of building sustained structural damage

• Functional Assessment- Communication equipment damaged to the extent that C3 activities have ceased

• Target System Assessment- Loss of C3 from this site severely degraded coordination in the forward areas requiring subordinate commanders to rely on slower and more vulnerable means of communications

Pre strike Post strike


Munitions Effectiveness Assessment (MEA)

MEA provides feedback on how well ordnance, tactics, weapon systems and platforms performed in combat.


Re-Attack Recommendation (RR)

• It provides the JFC specific advice on re-attack of targets and further target selection to achieve objectives.

• RR is a comprehensive reassessment of the enemy as a system in order to refine objectives, guidance, strategy, tactics and techniques.

• It is a combined operations and intelligence function.


Post Operational Activities

• During the post operational phase of the targeting cycle, there is a crucial need to collect all available information that feed both the CA and MEA process

• This data collection effort is essential to:– Evaluate the full extent of target physical and

functional damage– Determine the true effectiveness of employed

munitions– Critique and improve the CA analysis and reporting

process


The goal of Combat Assessment or “ground truth” operations is to bridge the gap of knowledge that exists between the level of damage CA collection assets have shown during hostilities, and what actual physical and functional damage was done to the enemy targets and systems.

•This is where HUMINT becomes invaluable.


SUMMARY

The accomplishment of CA missions in many cases will be critical to pave the way for a main force operation. Accurate identification and location of enemy targets along with precise control will allow supporting assets to accomplish their objectives with minimum risk. Reconnaissance assets are also a critical factor in the overall fire support process and at times may be the only source of information for targeting high value targets and reporting CA information.


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reconnaissance and surveillance leader course combat assessment

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