Aerospace Power in Urban Warfare: Beware the Hornet's Nest

Publisher Marketing: As the U. S. Armed Forces continue to debate post-Cold War roles and missions, a significant intellectual divide has developed concerning the approach to operations in urban environments. The bulk of professional literature on this subject deals with methods to improve the capabilities of the infantryman, around whom an urban force would best be structured. New technologies and experiments seek to provide the foot soldier with better communications, improved ability to fire and maneuver through the urban jungle, and protection from a variety of threats. An alternative approach to the challenge of urban environments emphasizes joint operational concepts that achieve operational and strategic objectives with minimum risk to friendly forces. This perspective "steps back" from a pure infantry fight and seeks the best means to influence the urban environment from the pre-crisis phase through conflict termination and transition. New technologies and procedures provide friendly commanders with improved intelligence, enabling him to understand and shape the crisis in consonance with strategic goals. Based on the improved situational awareness, commanders can orchestrate precision strikes that use a wide variety of lethal and non-lethal munitions appropriate for the situation.