2004 state of the Field Artillery

FA Journal, Nov-Dec, 2004 by David P. Valcourt, Robert T. Bray, Tommy A. Williams

We must push our senior 13F NCOs to the "head of the training line" before officers because both initial certification and sustainment training for CAS is time- and resource-intensive. By training 13F NCOs in JCAS, the Army will benefit most by investing in those who make their living in the joint fires business. Trained 13Fs will serve the Army repetitively in their assignments.

As a long-term goal, we look forward to working with our sister services to resolve the critical issues surrounding joint terminal attack controllers' (JTACs') availability and training. We remain committed to training future leaders in the application of all joint fires and effects.

* Fort Sill hosted our first-ever Joint Fires and Effects Course (JFEC) from 27 September to 15 October. This ground-breaking effort is proving to be a monumental step toward training leaders to employ joint fires and effects better.

This first JFEC class consisted of 25 students from all services and was focused on teaching related joint doctrine and tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs) for planning, synchronizing and executing joint fires and effects in support of a joint task force (JTF) and joint force commander (JFC).

Based on after-action review (AAR) comments from our first class--most enthusiastically positive--we will adjust the course and offer it quarterly. More to follow on this exciting new initiative.

Precision Munitions Organic to the Ground Force. To provide precision fires organic to the ground force to maximize responsiveness, we are developing precision-guided munitions for 155-mm and 105-mm howitzers and the multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS), some with accelerated fielding for GWOT.

* The Excalibur 155-mm unitary precision munition program has made some significant progress. On 16 September, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff signed the Joint Requirements Oversight Committee (JROC) memorandum officially granting approval of the Excalibur Unitary Round Operational Requirements Document (ORD). The Excalibur unitary round is projected for fielding in 4th Quarter of FY06 in conjunction with the fielding of the lightweight 155-mm howitzer (M777Al).

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

This unitary round has had some technical successes in recent tests. The Guided Series 3b Test conducted on 17 September demonstrated the proper functioning of the inertial measurement unit (IMU), global positioning system (GPS), mission computer and canard covers while exhibiting the stable flight of the projectile. Tentatively scheduled for early FY05, the Guided Gunfire A Test will demonstrate the round's ability to navigate to a point on the ground.

The Excalibur program is important to the Army as it will give our fires battalions precision capabilities in the close support fight, increased range and a steep terminal trajectory that will allow them to attack targets in urban and complex terrain while minimizing collateral damage.

* The Projectile Guidance Kit (PGK) will bring a precision capability to 105-mm and 155-mm howitzers. The PGK is a fuze device with fins that is applied to an existing 105-mm or 155-mm round to improve its accuracy. This will reduce the amount of ammunition required for missions and enhance the current and future forces' indirect fire accuracy. The Army anticipates PGK will achieve initial capability in FY09, with fielding in FY 10.