- Reaction score
- 20,382
- Points
- 1,160
This is one of my disappointments about Aimpoint 1. Aimpoint 1 reorganizes the artillery by creating what IMHO is a perfectly suitable artillery structure for the 1980s Cold War fight. Fd regiments with SP batteries with their integrated FOOs and STA (with a tiny UAV capability) and a divisional LRPS regiment with HIMARS launcher batteries. The former suitable for the close support of battalions and brigades, the latter for general support of a division. The single connecting factor is that each is based on heavy equipment which will not change over the next few decades. The ammunition might but the equipment not so much.
IMHO, each regiment needs a general support battery that is a more flexible organization attuned to UAV strike launchers and STA assets (including FPV systems) which can be quickly replaced and improved as technology and counter technology advances. The only difference between the SP regiment's general support battery and that of the HIMARS regiment is the reach of their respective weapon systems. Again, the CS regiments systems would be of a class to support a manoeuvre brigade and those of the HIMARS regiment to support the division's deep fight and even beyond.
I sense that the vague role assigned to an as yet nonexistent divisional Target Acquisition unit's and the struggle as between an RCAF v RCA role may be indicative of why the artillery may be hesitant to delve too deeply into the bigger and heavier piloted and autonomous strike munitions. After the gains being made by IFM and LRPS maybe medium and long range strike munitions is just a bridge too far. In fairness loitering munitions are being looked at - such as the UOR Switchblade for Latvia - but again this seems to be at the battle group level. And don't get me wrong. I'm all for battalion-level organic UAV strike capabilities. I just think that we should already have an establishment within our CS and GS arty units that will cater to their employment. The actual system is irrelevant as it is primarily a munition; it will, or should, change many times and often in the coming years. An organization designed for the employment of that class of weapon, like 26th Field's, OWE Troop is needed now and at battery-level scale so that the appropriate doctrine and TTPs are developed, and exercised.
$0.02
