Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, August 18, 1994 TAG: 9408180121
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Combined with precision missiles and bombs, these should allow U.S. military commanders ``to reach out and touch an enemy meaningfully,'' Adm. William A. Owens, one of the military's chief strategic planners, said Wednesday.
``If you see a large battlefield, 200 miles by 200 miles, and you can see surveillance reconnaissance so we know where all the relevant things are, can you imagine the power when you can take that knowledge ... and now tie it together with all those weapons to do something that is smart in terms of eliminating that problem, that enemy? Then you can envision doing a lot of things more efficiently,'' Owens said.
As vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Owens is the nation's second-highest ranking officer and one of the military's top battle scenario planners.
In an hour-long discussion with reporters, Owens said weapons and technology improvements continue because of, rather than in spite of, military spending cuts. Smart bombs that can pinpoint targets, single shells that can knock out multiple tanks, and surveillance equipment that can give commanders a clear picture of the battlefield mean that a smaller military can do more, Owens said.
``What we do right now is enormously relevant to what happens in that first 10 years of the next century.'' The aircraft, ships and technology ordered today will be used in wars as far out as the year 2025, he said, ``and that's scary.''
``We're not quite there yet, frankly,'' Owens added. ``We've come a long way since Desert Storm. Our forces are much more capable.''
That problems remain despite an already formidable array of technology was underscored in April, Owens said, with the accidental downing of two helicopters over northern Iraq, killing all 26 on board. Human error and poor communication among the Army helicopters, an Air Force AWACS radar plane and two Air Force F-16s led to the tragedy.
Owens heads the five-member Joint Requirements Oversight Council, a group of four-star officers from each military service that is overseeing war games and touring the major military commands, looking for ways to improve military coordination among the service branches.
A key focus for Owens and the military leadership is in improving communication between battlefield commanders and reconnaissance assets such as U-2 spy planes, satellites and unmanned camera planes. The Pentagon is also investing hundreds of millions in improving and expanding its array of ``smart'' munitions.
by CNB