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Cruise missiles to be fought at strategic level – Part 2

A two-component system can offer a way to fight cruise missiles. The first component is a joint use of forces engaged in cruise missile fight. The second one is an organizational-technical system capable of implementing the methods to fight cruise missiles. It provides a complex strategic approach to cruise missile fight and unites arms and various command levels.
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On Aug. 18, 2020, the U.S. Defense Department conducted a flight test of a conventionally configured ground-launched cruise missile at San Nicolas Island, Calif. The test missile exited its ground mobile launcher and accurately impacted its target after more than 500 kilometers of flight. Data collected and lessons learned from this test will inform DOD's development of future intermediate-range capabilities (Picture source: U.S. DoD/Scott Howe)

The first component calls for the commander of a group of troops to determine in peacetime the strength of weapons, cruise missile engagement stages and methods to fight them depending on the mission and expected conditions. It promotes a complex engagement of all forces of the group in the strategic direction against cruise missiles.

The exposure of adversary plans is one of the elements to be fulfilled at all levels. The integration of specific actions against cruise missiles into the common strategic fight of the group of troops can increase the reliability of information on adversary actions in each expected situation, which is important in the initial stage of a war characterized by a massive use of various cruise missiles.

The tactical level fulfils the tasks to destroy approaching cruise missiles close to units and formations. The necessary conditions to detect and distribute the missiles have to be created. They can be provided only by agreed actions of the superior command to repel a cruise missile strike beginning from the strategic command level of the group of troops.

The joint and organized massive cruise missile attacks should be countered by joint and organized actions of all command levels. The combined character of missile defense means it has to engage all arms of forces in an operation planned and organized by one strategic command with the necessary powers to control various forces and implement the strategic plan of the operation.

It is appropriate for the strategic command to divide the fight against cruise missiles into stages that reflect the essence and contents of hostile actions and the operations of friendly forces: the stages of cruise missile engagement by the adversary and the stages to fight the cruise missiles. Each stage has to determine the engaged forces to down cruise missiles and methods to fight them (specific methods at strategic, operational and tactical level).