P LANNING AND C OORDINATION Planning

Planning

3-19. Employment of the MLRS requires thorough planning and coordination. Operations orders, fire support plans/annexes, and field artillery support plans should all include detailed tasks and instructions for MLRS units. These instructions should include types and amounts of ammunition by unit, platoon, and/or launcher posturing, and FCS configurations for specific launchers. Planners should consider the need for launcher redundancy in the allocation of targets. If resources allow, assign both primary and backup launchers to ensure timely target attack.

Rehearsals

3-20. Rehearsals are an integral part of the planning process for all operations. A rehearsal should both practice and test the plan. If at all possible, the rehearsal should be conducted with the force commander's rehearsal. A combined rehearsal will improve responsiveness of fires and the synchronization of all the force commander's resources for the battle.

Rocket Fires

3-21. Rockets will normally be fired at targets within the division area of operations by an attached or reinforcing MLRS battalion or a fires brigade (FIB). These units supporting the division are normally under the control of the division FC or a FIB, which may be designated by the supported commander as the force artillery HQ. See table 4-3 for information on MLRS rocket capabilities.

Missile Fires

3-22. The employment of ATACMS missiles will normally be retained at corps and higher levels. An attached or reinforcing MLRS battalion may, however, fire missiles that have been apportioned to the division to support its mission. Therefore, all firing elements and platforms of the MLRS battalion must be prepared for ATACMS missions. The planning tasks and functions necessary for the employment of ATACMS will be managed under centralized control, normally at echelons above division (EAD). Corps and other EAD can integrate the necessary target and intelligence information and coordinate/deconflict targets at operational depths.

Execution

3-23. The key to effective employment of ATACMS is planning and coordination (prior to execution).

Execution functions for fixed or non-mobile targets may also be initiated under centralized control.

Responsiveness may be improved by tailoring linkages to allow shorter paths (decentralized execution) from target acquisition sources through FIB or MLRS battalion nodes to the launcher for the attack of time-sensitive targets. If the force commander desires to decentralize execution for certain targets (typically high priority fleeting targets that are vulnerable to attack for very short periods of time), he will normally designate a subordinate commander (unit) as the execution authority.

Targets

3-24. The target sets for ATACMS Blocks I and IA include soft, sitting, and/or emitting high priority targets. The targets include major command and control nodes, air defense weapons and radars, logistics storage facilities, helicopter operating bases, surface-to-surface missile systems, multiple rocket launchers, and major troop assembly areas.

Note: Accurate reporting of platoon center locations is paramount because these locations are used to develop and coordinate Air Force restricted operations areas (ROAs). (See chapter 5.)

3-25. Block I, Block IA, Block II and M48/M57Comparison. The most important differences among Block I, Block IA, Block II M57, are range, payload, guidance, and default submunitions dispense pattern size.

(See table 3-1.) Pattern size can be found in the DP field of the FM;CFF message. There are 3 dispense patterns for Blocks I and IA: small, medium, and large.

Table 3-1 Block I, Block IA, Block II and M48/M57Comparison M39 Block I M39A1 Block IA M48/M57 QRU

Range (km) 25-165 70-300 70-270+

Payload 950 M74

grenades 300 M74 grenades 500 lbs unitary charge Guidance Inertial GPS aided GPS aided Default

Dispense Pattern Size

Large Medium N/A

Fire Support Coordination Line

3-26. Missile fires will often be located beyond the fire support coordination line (FSCL) because of the range of the weapon and expected target types. During planning and coordination, there should be emphasis on establishing procedural controls and the need to deconflict these fires with the joint force, particularly the air component. Coordination of attacks beyond the FSCL, if established, is especially critical to commanders of air, land, and special operations forces. Forces attacking targets beyond an FSCL must inform all affected commanders in sufficient time to allow necessary reaction to avoid fratricide, both in the air and on the ground. Finally, this coordination assists in avoiding conflicting or redundant attack

operations. In exceptional circumstances, the inability to conduct this coordination will not preclude the attack of targets beyond the FSCL.

Launchers

3-27. The M270 launcher can fire the Block I missile. However, because the missile depends on data from the launcher for its initial position and azimuth data, the time since the launcher's last SRP realignment and PDS update is very important. The crew must ensure that the launcher's position/azimuth data is current so the missile gets the most accurate data possible. M270A1/M142 launchers normally receive their position and azimuth data from global positioning system (GPS). Assuming GPS is functioning normally, these launchers will always have accurate data for Block I missiles.

3-28. Block IA missiles employ a GPS-augmented inertial navigation system that provides greatly improved accuracy. There will be a mix of old and new launchers in the force until the M142 launchers is fully fielded. Until then, mission planners should consider using units equipped with the M270A1 or M142 launcher in the following situations:

• Consider using the M270A1or M142 launcher for missions requiring quick response and the M270 launchers for the “stay hot, shoot fast” technique (see chapter 5). This technique is typically used to posture launchers on a firing point at an aim point to attack fleeting targets. It consists of sending an “at my command (AMC)” mission to the launcher. The launcher acknowledges the mission, moves to the firing point, lays on the target grid (aim point), then reports “ready” and time of flight. If the target is detected at or near the aim point grid, the mission is executed in the normal manner using a “fire” message (or an amended mission that adjusts the grid and changes the method of control to “when ready [WR]”). This technique eliminates launcher movement from hide position and elevation time. While the M270 launcher should only remain at aim point for up to 2 hours, the M270A1 or M142 launcher can remain on an aim point indefinitely. While this technique saves reaction time, units must assess the threat, including special operations forces (SOF) and aircraft.

• The MLRS uses 2 basic types of fire missions: planned (scheduled) and targets of opportunity (unscheduled). If planners anticipate many targets of opportunity suitable for MLRS fires, they should designate an MLRS unit equipped with the M270A1 or M142 launchers to attack those targets. The launcher's quicker response time may result in the ability to engage more targets.

• Planners should also consider using units equipped with M270A1 or M142 launchers for fires when the unit will need to quickly change munitions (for example, rockets to ATACMS). Because the M270A1 or M142 launchers contain all required software to process and fire all rockets and missiles onboard, they are the logical choice to provide fires when frequently alternating from rockets to missiles. Additionally, the LMS allows for improved employment/reaction times for fire missions, improved survivability because of decreased displacement time, and increased operational tempo and ammunition throughput because of decreased reload time and overall mission cycle times. The increased memory and embedded GPS gives the M270A1 or M142 launcher the capability to fire GPS-enhanced munitions.

3-29. Maneuver and force FA commanders must consider the following items when planning for MLRS fire support.

Fire Missions

3-30. MLRS fires typically require longer reaction times than cannon systems. Thus, the MLRS is better suited for planned missions. Both scheduled and unscheduled missions are used in the offensive and defensive phases of the battle.

Configuration Time

3-31. Configuration time for the M270 launcher is dependent on the requirement to load weapon files into the launcher fire control system (FCS). If ammunition requirements for a particular operation can be anticipated, the corresponding weapon files should be loaded before fire missions begin. Then, as fire missions require transitioning from one of the anticipated munitions to another, no additional time would

be required for software configuration of the FCS. If, however, different ammunition were requested that required loading a new weapon file, configuration time would increase.

Note: When planners have both M270 and M270A1 or M142 launchers available, see paragraphs 3-27 and 3-28 for planning considerations.

Reaction Time

3-32. The MLRS units normally require at least 30 minutes to process and execute a fire plan. Using methods other than the non-nuclear fire plan function of AFATDS can reduce this time (for example, establish a series of time on targets [TOTs], use AMC method of control, and so forth).

Launcher Response Time

3-33. The MLRS response time on any given mission may vary from 2 to 20 minutes.

Munition Load

3-34. Table 3-2 indicates the types of munitions each launcher is capable of shooting:

Table 3-2. Launcher Capabilities

Launcher Rockets ATACMS

M26 M26A2

ER-MLRS M30/31

GMLRS M39

Block I M39A1 Block IA

M48/M57 QRU

M270 X X X

M270A1 X X X X X X

M142 X X X X X X

3-35. The unit mission dictates an ammunition load and resupply necessities. Mission changes may require exchange of part or all of the unit ammunition stocks. Because of launcher response times in units equipped with the M270 launcher, a battery will normally have no more than 2 types of munitions while a platoon will normally carry only 1 type of ammunition.

Munition Range

3-36. The ammunition minimum and maximum ranges must be considered in positioning elements and assigning missions. (See table 3-3.)

Table 3-3. Range Comparison

System Minimum Range Maximum Range

MLRS M26 Rocket (DPICM) 8 km* 32.5 km

MLRS M26A2 Rocket (ER) (DPICM) 13 km 45 km

MLRS M30 Rocket (Guided) (DPICM) 15 km 70 km

MLRS M31 Rocket (Guided) (HE) 15 km 70 km

ATACMS M39 Missile Block I (APAM) 25 km 165 km

ATACMS M39A1 Missile Block IA (APAM) 70 km 300 km

ATACMS M39A3 Missile Block II (BAT) 35 km 145 km

ATACMS M48/57 Missile Quick Reaction Unitary

70 km 270 km

km = kilometer

* Sub munitions dud rates increase at ranges less than 10 km. The system software will allow firing at ranges down to 5 km.

Rehearsals

3-37. Units must establish procedures for rehearsals as a part of their tactical standing operating procedures (TSOPs). As a minimum, the SOPs should identify:

• Who will participate in the rehearsal.

• What should be rehearsed.

• What the sequence of the rehearsal will be.

• What the priority of methods for rehearsals will be.

Participants

3-38. The rehearsal should include significant events (such as the maneuver scheme, target acquisition employment, and obstacle emplacement). The battalion S-3, S-2, FDO, radar personnel (if applicable), and unit FDCs are all essential participants. When possible, the firing batteries and platoons, down to individual launcher level, should participate as well. The battalion benefits from the rehearsal by obtaining information for movement, schedules of fire, munitions requirements, and a more complete understanding of the operational time involved with the scheme of maneuver.

3-39. If the force commander does not conduct a rehearsal and rehearsal time is available, the S-3 and/or liaison officer (LNO) should conduct a rehearsal. The existing maneuver operations plan (OPLAN), the fire support plan, the fire support execution matrix (FSEM), the fires battalion OPORD, and the FA support plan and matrix should be used. The FSEM is ideal for use in the rehearsal because the rehearsal is normally conducted by performing and/or reciting the following:

• Actions to occur.

• Possible friendly initiatives.

• Possible reactions to enemy initiatives.

• Control measures.

• Significant events that are to occur in relation to time or to phases of an operation.

3-40. Benefits derived from a rehearsal conducted by only unit personnel depend on how well the leader conducting the rehearsal understands the force commander's concept of the operation. The battalion operations section pays particular attention to displacements. The battalion FDC issues fire orders.

Attached radars work situational cues with the cueing agents. Each firing unit conducts tactical and technical fire direction through launcher level. If alternative friendly courses of action hinge on enemy actions and if time permits, the alternatives should be rehearsed.

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