The National Interest about the urban battles of the future
The face of war is constantly changing and makes special demands on the weapons and tactics of the armies. In order to increase the combat capability and effectiveness of combat work, it is necessary to take into account all the nuances of the proposed battle sites. In addition, one should make predictions about possible features of future wars, with the help of which the army will be able to prepare itself for possible threats in time.
In recent decades, a specific picture of a typical war has been formed. Instead of past battles in large open spaces, the main battles take place in urban environments. All this affects various aspects of the war, including the combat capability of various units and equipment. Recently, the American edition of The National Interest published the article Battleground Metropolis: The Future of Urban Warfare (“The battlefield is a megapolis: the future of wars in the city”), authored by Alex Ward, deputy director of the Center for International Security. B. Scowcroft, US Strategy and Military Policy Specialist.
A. Ward begins his article with the question: if there are so many conflicts in the world, why should the United States think about the battles of the future that will unfold in the cities? The answer to this question is simple. It is to the cities that the interests of the opposing sides belong. In addition, there are people in the cities, both the peaceful population that needs to be defended, and the fighters with whom to fight. The National Intelligence Council, in a recent Global Trends 2030 report, states that by 2030, 60% of the world's population will live in cities. For comparison, at the end of the last century the share of the urban population was 47%. Cities are the centers of administrative and commercial activities, as well as communication and logistics centers. Thus, if the United States wants to protect its interests in the future, then they should act in the cities.
The characteristic trend of the last decades is the formation of megacities: urban agglomerations with a population of more than 10 million people. This fact should seriously complicate the work of the armed forces. According to existing forecasts, large agglomerations will differ significantly from each other. For example, some cities (for example, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai) will be relatively calm, and other localities (Karachi, Lagos or New Delhi) risk plunging into unrest. Such problems may be related to the growth of social, economic and political divisions caused by a number of characteristic features of urbanization. When contradictions reach a peak, cities with weak management structures may not withstand a new load.
A. Ward believes that the insufficient influence of the authorities of the metropolis and social contradictions can be a good basis for the emergence of crime, terrorism and other dangerous phenomena. They can be a serious threat to the local population or other countries, including the United States and its allies. In the event of serious crises, the United States and its allies will have to take action and restore order. Nevertheless, due to the necessity of fighting in urban conditions, the chances of the opposing sides will be approximately equal.
The author recalls that it is easy for troops to enter the city, but it is extremely difficult to knock them out. Urban development facilitates the organization of ambushes, which will affect their number. Most of the combat missions will be carried out by the infantry, as the most adapted to work in the city. Since the presence of numerous buildings to some extent facilitates the defense, many of the characteristic advantages of a professional and well-equipped army will be leveled. A. Ward believes that in the conditions of the city relatively weak enemy units will be able to fully counteract even the advanced US Army and the armed forces of their allies.
A. Ward notes that the time of city wars, with some reservations, has already arrived. This view is supported by the famous battles in Mogadishu, some clashes in Iraq, and even the January attack on the newspaper’s editorial office in Paris. All these events demonstrate what the battles will be in the future, what the American military will have to face and how difficult the struggle against the enemy will become. In addition, there will be some element of "visibility" associated with the wide distribution of gadgets that can take photos and videos.
The US Army must adapt to new conditions and prepare to respond to new threats. Otherwise, it will not be able to remain an effective tool of state power, which, as a result, will weaken the overall power of the United States. For effective work of the troops in the city, it is necessary to develop the necessary tactics of actions, a complex of special training, as well as decentralized communication and control systems, which will make it possible to control both military and civilian structures.
Further, in the publication of The National Interest, methods of preparing the armed forces to perform combat missions in urban environments are considered. As in most other cases, army training should begin with appropriate training for ground forces and the Marine Corps. The main combat units in the city will be companies and battalions. Of particular importance in such battles is the training of the unit commander. He must be well trained and educated, since he is required to make decisions quickly, even in difficult circumstances. In addition, the company or battalion commander must take into account the cultural and other characteristics of the local population. As a result, there is a need for both serious training and correct selection of personnel, first of all commanders.
However, only the training and the mind of the fighters cannot lead to victory in battle. The troops need the most modern equipment and equipment with which the combat mission will be performed. First of all, the army requires light weaponry, which ensures good maneuverability of a fighter in combination with a high destructive ability. In addition, the troops need equipment of three different types. These are various sensors, video systems and means of identification; communication and control systems that are protected from interception; as well as various visualization tools that allow you to quickly and efficiently get acquainted with the situation. The specifics of the location of many cities, located on the banks of rivers or seas, requires equipping troops with appropriate landing gear. Finally, the army needs to maintain good relations with the defense industry, which should supply it with the most modern types of weapons, equipment and equipment.
A. Ward separately notes the high priority of intelligence. Before the commencement of combat operations in the city, the troops should have as much information as possible about the enemy. Accurate and complete intelligence information may have special priority, given that various “non-state forces” can access arms and technology, previously used only armies. Thus, the United States should be able to know everything about the forces of the enemy and is guaranteed to surpass it in terms of the material part.
The command of the United States must remember that victory in the metropolis is possible only with the support of allies and foreign partners. However, most countries that may be involved in such operations on the side of the United States do not have the necessary experience of war in cities, not to mention large agglomerations. Thus, the US faces a new specific task. Continuing military-technical cooperation with the allies, the US military will have to train and "pull up" them to the desired level.
Moreover, the armies of other countries are not the only ally of the US armed forces. To increase the effectiveness of military operations in the city, the army must assume leadership of a network of various civil services. Administrative agencies, law enforcement agencies, various service structures, etc. should be under the control of the military. In addition, the military should interact with both officials and the civilian population, since they know best the peculiarities of the local landscape, buildings, culture, etc. Thus, at the time of the conflict, the army should become the center of crisis management, bearing in mind that fighting itself is not its only goal and universal solution to all existing problems.
There are many different events in the world that affect international security. Considering all these problems, it is possible to understand why many specialists do not see the point in beginning the preparation of the US armed forces for fighting in urban conditions. However, Alex Ward does not agree with this opinion. Some signs of the beginning of the “era of urban wars” can be observed already now, for example, having considered battles with the participation of the Islamic State organization. The US armed forces do not have much time to search for and train fighters, who in the future will become competent and experienced unit commanders. Moreover, there is not much time for general preparation for the conflicts of the near future. For this reason, according to A. Ward, work in the new direction should begin now, as long as there is an opportunity to ensure the safety of megalopolises and avoid serious problems in the future, as well as to reduce possible losses of personnel and civilians.
Alex Ward in his publication raised an important question, the seriousness of which may manifest itself in the very near future. It must be recognized that the command of the US armed forces understands the complexity of the situation and the prospects for armed conflict, which in the future must move to the cities. Over the past few years, NATO countries have conducted some research, during which specialists are trying to establish the face of the war of the near future, including fighting in urban environments.
Early last year, experts from the United States and the United Kingdom discussed emerging issues, and came to the conclusion that additional work was needed to identify the main features of future conflicts and form new tactics. In the middle of last year, the US military conducted Unified Quest headquarters drills. During this event, the work of the troops during the hypothetical armed conflict, which began at the end of the next decade, was studied. The fictional megalopolis became a conditional battlefield. According to the legend of the exercises, the battles began after the destruction of the dam and the flooding of large areas, as a result of which the armed formations of the conditional enemy were activated. The Blue received the task of neutralizing the Reds. Those, in turn, tried to defend themselves not only in battles, but also in other areas. The conditional aggressor actively used electronic warfare and tried to attack the “Blue” with the help of computer viruses.
Based on the results of the Unified Quest exercises, conclusions were made about the need to create new means of communication and control, training personnel, etc. It should be noted that the conclusions drawn from the results of the exercises coincide to a certain extent with the proposals of A. Ward. The Pentagon and related organizations continue the necessary research and testing. Over the next few years, the US military may begin mastering new equipment and technologies that will enable them to effectively perform combat missions in a city or metropolis setting. However, the completion of such training of troops should be attributed to a more distant future. Most likely, new tactics and advanced technologies will be mastered not earlier than the beginning or mid-twenties.
Based on:
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/battleground-metropolis-the-future-urban-warfare-12467
http://defensenews.com/
http://army.mil/
http://breakingdefense.com/
http://vz.ru/
In recent decades, a specific picture of a typical war has been formed. Instead of past battles in large open spaces, the main battles take place in urban environments. All this affects various aspects of the war, including the combat capability of various units and equipment. Recently, the American edition of The National Interest published the article Battleground Metropolis: The Future of Urban Warfare (“The battlefield is a megapolis: the future of wars in the city”), authored by Alex Ward, deputy director of the Center for International Security. B. Scowcroft, US Strategy and Military Policy Specialist.
A. Ward begins his article with the question: if there are so many conflicts in the world, why should the United States think about the battles of the future that will unfold in the cities? The answer to this question is simple. It is to the cities that the interests of the opposing sides belong. In addition, there are people in the cities, both the peaceful population that needs to be defended, and the fighters with whom to fight. The National Intelligence Council, in a recent Global Trends 2030 report, states that by 2030, 60% of the world's population will live in cities. For comparison, at the end of the last century the share of the urban population was 47%. Cities are the centers of administrative and commercial activities, as well as communication and logistics centers. Thus, if the United States wants to protect its interests in the future, then they should act in the cities.
The characteristic trend of the last decades is the formation of megacities: urban agglomerations with a population of more than 10 million people. This fact should seriously complicate the work of the armed forces. According to existing forecasts, large agglomerations will differ significantly from each other. For example, some cities (for example, Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai) will be relatively calm, and other localities (Karachi, Lagos or New Delhi) risk plunging into unrest. Such problems may be related to the growth of social, economic and political divisions caused by a number of characteristic features of urbanization. When contradictions reach a peak, cities with weak management structures may not withstand a new load.
A. Ward believes that the insufficient influence of the authorities of the metropolis and social contradictions can be a good basis for the emergence of crime, terrorism and other dangerous phenomena. They can be a serious threat to the local population or other countries, including the United States and its allies. In the event of serious crises, the United States and its allies will have to take action and restore order. Nevertheless, due to the necessity of fighting in urban conditions, the chances of the opposing sides will be approximately equal.
The author recalls that it is easy for troops to enter the city, but it is extremely difficult to knock them out. Urban development facilitates the organization of ambushes, which will affect their number. Most of the combat missions will be carried out by the infantry, as the most adapted to work in the city. Since the presence of numerous buildings to some extent facilitates the defense, many of the characteristic advantages of a professional and well-equipped army will be leveled. A. Ward believes that in the conditions of the city relatively weak enemy units will be able to fully counteract even the advanced US Army and the armed forces of their allies.
A. Ward notes that the time of city wars, with some reservations, has already arrived. This view is supported by the famous battles in Mogadishu, some clashes in Iraq, and even the January attack on the newspaper’s editorial office in Paris. All these events demonstrate what the battles will be in the future, what the American military will have to face and how difficult the struggle against the enemy will become. In addition, there will be some element of "visibility" associated with the wide distribution of gadgets that can take photos and videos.
The US Army must adapt to new conditions and prepare to respond to new threats. Otherwise, it will not be able to remain an effective tool of state power, which, as a result, will weaken the overall power of the United States. For effective work of the troops in the city, it is necessary to develop the necessary tactics of actions, a complex of special training, as well as decentralized communication and control systems, which will make it possible to control both military and civilian structures.
Further, in the publication of The National Interest, methods of preparing the armed forces to perform combat missions in urban environments are considered. As in most other cases, army training should begin with appropriate training for ground forces and the Marine Corps. The main combat units in the city will be companies and battalions. Of particular importance in such battles is the training of the unit commander. He must be well trained and educated, since he is required to make decisions quickly, even in difficult circumstances. In addition, the company or battalion commander must take into account the cultural and other characteristics of the local population. As a result, there is a need for both serious training and correct selection of personnel, first of all commanders.
However, only the training and the mind of the fighters cannot lead to victory in battle. The troops need the most modern equipment and equipment with which the combat mission will be performed. First of all, the army requires light weaponry, which ensures good maneuverability of a fighter in combination with a high destructive ability. In addition, the troops need equipment of three different types. These are various sensors, video systems and means of identification; communication and control systems that are protected from interception; as well as various visualization tools that allow you to quickly and efficiently get acquainted with the situation. The specifics of the location of many cities, located on the banks of rivers or seas, requires equipping troops with appropriate landing gear. Finally, the army needs to maintain good relations with the defense industry, which should supply it with the most modern types of weapons, equipment and equipment.
A. Ward separately notes the high priority of intelligence. Before the commencement of combat operations in the city, the troops should have as much information as possible about the enemy. Accurate and complete intelligence information may have special priority, given that various “non-state forces” can access arms and technology, previously used only armies. Thus, the United States should be able to know everything about the forces of the enemy and is guaranteed to surpass it in terms of the material part.
The command of the United States must remember that victory in the metropolis is possible only with the support of allies and foreign partners. However, most countries that may be involved in such operations on the side of the United States do not have the necessary experience of war in cities, not to mention large agglomerations. Thus, the US faces a new specific task. Continuing military-technical cooperation with the allies, the US military will have to train and "pull up" them to the desired level.
Moreover, the armies of other countries are not the only ally of the US armed forces. To increase the effectiveness of military operations in the city, the army must assume leadership of a network of various civil services. Administrative agencies, law enforcement agencies, various service structures, etc. should be under the control of the military. In addition, the military should interact with both officials and the civilian population, since they know best the peculiarities of the local landscape, buildings, culture, etc. Thus, at the time of the conflict, the army should become the center of crisis management, bearing in mind that fighting itself is not its only goal and universal solution to all existing problems.
There are many different events in the world that affect international security. Considering all these problems, it is possible to understand why many specialists do not see the point in beginning the preparation of the US armed forces for fighting in urban conditions. However, Alex Ward does not agree with this opinion. Some signs of the beginning of the “era of urban wars” can be observed already now, for example, having considered battles with the participation of the Islamic State organization. The US armed forces do not have much time to search for and train fighters, who in the future will become competent and experienced unit commanders. Moreover, there is not much time for general preparation for the conflicts of the near future. For this reason, according to A. Ward, work in the new direction should begin now, as long as there is an opportunity to ensure the safety of megalopolises and avoid serious problems in the future, as well as to reduce possible losses of personnel and civilians.
Alex Ward in his publication raised an important question, the seriousness of which may manifest itself in the very near future. It must be recognized that the command of the US armed forces understands the complexity of the situation and the prospects for armed conflict, which in the future must move to the cities. Over the past few years, NATO countries have conducted some research, during which specialists are trying to establish the face of the war of the near future, including fighting in urban environments.
Early last year, experts from the United States and the United Kingdom discussed emerging issues, and came to the conclusion that additional work was needed to identify the main features of future conflicts and form new tactics. In the middle of last year, the US military conducted Unified Quest headquarters drills. During this event, the work of the troops during the hypothetical armed conflict, which began at the end of the next decade, was studied. The fictional megalopolis became a conditional battlefield. According to the legend of the exercises, the battles began after the destruction of the dam and the flooding of large areas, as a result of which the armed formations of the conditional enemy were activated. The Blue received the task of neutralizing the Reds. Those, in turn, tried to defend themselves not only in battles, but also in other areas. The conditional aggressor actively used electronic warfare and tried to attack the “Blue” with the help of computer viruses.
Based on the results of the Unified Quest exercises, conclusions were made about the need to create new means of communication and control, training personnel, etc. It should be noted that the conclusions drawn from the results of the exercises coincide to a certain extent with the proposals of A. Ward. The Pentagon and related organizations continue the necessary research and testing. Over the next few years, the US military may begin mastering new equipment and technologies that will enable them to effectively perform combat missions in a city or metropolis setting. However, the completion of such training of troops should be attributed to a more distant future. Most likely, new tactics and advanced technologies will be mastered not earlier than the beginning or mid-twenties.
Based on:
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/battleground-metropolis-the-future-urban-warfare-12467
http://defensenews.com/
http://army.mil/
http://breakingdefense.com/
http://vz.ru/
Information