Slide 8 of 86
Notes:
Title: Employment Considerations
Dialogue: Fire support planners must consider many factors when employing MLRS.
System Capabilities: Range, firepower and munitions give fire support planners flexibility in supporting the maneuver plan. Every M270 launcher has the capability of firing the entire MFOM. Additionally, the MLRS structure allows assignment of tactical missions down to the firing battery and platoon levels, if required.
Close Operations: In the close fight, MLRS best supports the maneuver commander with rocket fires. MLRS can be used for counter fire, raids, suppression of enemy air defense (SEAD) and engaging other targets beyond the FLOT that will impact on the close battle. Planners should ensure that the MLRS footprint and probability of dud munitions in the target area are considered by maneuver commanders when synchronizing battle plans. Specifically, they must be careful not to assign missions or targets that are closer than 2000 m to friendly troops.
Deep Operations: MLRS can support the commander’s deep operations plan with M39 (ATACMS) missile fires, normally fired by corps GS MLRS units. ATACMS is best suited for attack of long range high pay off targets. The methodology for planning and executing deep operations is the decide-detect-deliver-assess (D3A). We will discuss the D3A methodology in more detail during the delivery of fires block of instruction.
