The US Army PrSM development by Lockheed Martin was initially to provide improved deep-fires capabilities, allowing for adversary disruption and destruction. It has evolved into a multi-target capable 200+km system using the existing HIMARS launcher. A multi-mode moving target/ship seeker was tested in 2020. (Photo: LMCO/USArmy) The ‘Terrain’ Much of the attention being given to a Pacific conflict has been oriented on confronting the Peoples Republic of China in the South China and/or East China Seas. These ocean areas are bordered by land masses of Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia and by smaller islands extending south from the Japan mainland with China to the east. However, analysts like Patricia M Kim of the Thornton Center for East Asia Studies viewing PRC initiatives abroad over the past two decades suggest it has a broader intent to advance its presence in strategically important theatres, including Cambodia, and into Africa. More specifically, its 2022 accords with the Solomon Islands suggest the possible scope of a Pacific confrontation could be much wider. Therefore, considering this wider contingency – how LRPF may be deployed and employed and their requisite roles – may be more diverse than initially suggested. The Tools: Ground-Launched Anti-Ship/Surface Defence Although attention on LRPF systems had, at least for armies, been striking deep ground targets, the additional need for such capabilities against surface ships is highlighted in a Pacific conflict. This is already recognized and embraced by a number of other militaries concerned with threats to their coastline. Vietnam’s Naval Coastal Artillery have had batteries of the Russian Bastion-P mobile guided missile with active- passive radar seeker and 350 km range against sea targets (greater against land targets) since 2011. They also field ZIL 8X8 truck-mounted 450km range P-5 Pyatyorkas and IMI’s 306mm Extra with 150km range. Poland has expanded its ground-launched Coastal Missile Squadrons using the Kongsberg Naval Strike Missile (NSM) – already widely adopted for naval platforms and aircraft, offering both proven anti-ship and land attack capabilities in a single missile. With an 125kg titanium alloy blast/ fragmentation warhead with a programable intelligent multi-purpose fuse, it is relatively lightweight at 400kg, allowing for mounting platform adaptability and mobility. Navigating by GPS, inertial and terrain recognition,n its infrared imaging seeker and onboard target data base allow independent detection, recognition, and target discrimination. The US Marine Corps has integrated NSM onto a JLTV 4X4 chassis as its Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) for use by Marine Littoral Regiments. NSM is ideally suited to expeditionary employment, since its relative compactness and light weight facilitate transport even by CH-53 helicopter, C-130 transport and landing craft. This also aids its ability to displace quickly once fired, and to hide to avoid being targeted. The successful integration and launch of the Joint Strike Missile air-launched variant of NSM from the F-35A and C offers valuable possibilities for coordinated ground and air NSM attack. The missile has also been proposed as a candidate to meet Australia’s land-based anti-ship missile Project Land 4100 Phase 2. Kongsberg and Thales are teamed offering the ‘StrikeMaster,’ with two NSM canisters mounted on the Bushmaster vehicle. Ground-launched NSM is particularly well suited to defending a site from naval intrusion or securing a maritime choke-point. As Hans Christian Hagen, VP Business Development at Kongsberg stated, “Its manoeuvrability, ability to use a round-about route, and ability to confidently differentiate “red” target ships from “white/neutral” make it ideal in what could be expected to be a complex target environment.” That the The new emphasis on strategic interests in the Pacific presents a range of military challenges. One of these is an added emphasis by Western ground forces on building their capabilities for delivering long-range precision fires. This mirrors capabilities that have already been resident in the Soviet/Russian and the Peoples Liberation Army. It includes not only ground strike but anti-access coastal defence, as adopted by Vietnam and several Baltic states as a deterrent to hostile sea-borne encroachment. Long-range precision fires (LGPF) have been used by ground forces as deep fires, intended to disrupt and destroy opposing supporting logistics, command and control, and air defences. These roles are being demonstrated by Ukraine’s successful employment of the M270 HIMARS. The operational demands of a Pacific campaign and the conditions it represents will further expand the demands placed on LRPF and their roles and missions. Stephen W. Miller Long Range Precision Fires on the Pacific Battlefield 8 · MT 5/2022 Defence of the US and its Allies f
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