Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
Army Times
April 21, 2008 By Matthew Cox
When asked to name his top hardware priority in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus said that sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment has become the key to many units’ success on the battlefield.
As the commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, Petraeus told Military Times that ISR equipment has been a “key enabler” to many of the units in Iraq.
Since the war began in 2003, units have become more reliant on ISR assets, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and the Army’s tactical Internet, Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below.
“I think the commanders downrange are always looking for additional ISR,” Petraeus said. He explained that as time has passed, more of the troops’ needs have been met and surpassed what he thought he would see in theater.
Petraeus praised the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, calling it “a tremendous asset,” but he said it went beyond its armor-protective capabilities.
Many commanders, he said, have already started modifying MRAPs to become command and control platforms.
The Army did look at the uparmored Humvee for this role, but Petraeus said in the end it just couldn’t support the additional weight that comes with ISR hardware.
MRAPs already have Blue Force Tracker, a satellite-based situational awareness tool for tracking the locations of friendly forces, and IED countermeasures. Secure, tactical Internet capability hardware would also be needed in such a vehicle.
Another new capability that commanders want to see used more in Iraq is that offered by small, dedicated ISR teams such as Task Force ODIN.
Task Force ODIN, which stands for observe, detect, identify and neutralize, is a small aviation unit that deployed in October and was created specifically for reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and acquisition.
The concept for the capability was spearheaded by Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Dick Cody as a way to use Army aviation assets, including helicopters and UAVs, to maintain a constant watch for enemies placing bombs on Iraq’s roads. There is now only one such task force operating in Iraq, but Petraeus suggested that a second would be created to augment the new ISR capability.
In addition to hardware, there has been a growing need for additional intelligence personnel in Iraq.
Just before the surge, Petraeus requested a “substantial increase” in intelligence analysts for the mission.
“What is proving very useful is to keep [analysts] riveted on one target set in the same way special mission units have been riveted on one target set ... because it has become so complex,” Petraeus said.
April 21, 2008 By Matthew Cox
When asked to name his top hardware priority in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus said that sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment has become the key to many units’ success on the battlefield.
As the commander of Multi-National Force-Iraq, Petraeus told Military Times that ISR equipment has been a “key enabler” to many of the units in Iraq.
Since the war began in 2003, units have become more reliant on ISR assets, such as unmanned aerial vehicles and the Army’s tactical Internet, Force XXI Battle Command, Brigade and Below.
“I think the commanders downrange are always looking for additional ISR,” Petraeus said. He explained that as time has passed, more of the troops’ needs have been met and surpassed what he thought he would see in theater.
Petraeus praised the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, calling it “a tremendous asset,” but he said it went beyond its armor-protective capabilities.
Many commanders, he said, have already started modifying MRAPs to become command and control platforms.
The Army did look at the uparmored Humvee for this role, but Petraeus said in the end it just couldn’t support the additional weight that comes with ISR hardware.
MRAPs already have Blue Force Tracker, a satellite-based situational awareness tool for tracking the locations of friendly forces, and IED countermeasures. Secure, tactical Internet capability hardware would also be needed in such a vehicle.
Another new capability that commanders want to see used more in Iraq is that offered by small, dedicated ISR teams such as Task Force ODIN.
Task Force ODIN, which stands for observe, detect, identify and neutralize, is a small aviation unit that deployed in October and was created specifically for reconnaissance, surveillance, targeting and acquisition.
The concept for the capability was spearheaded by Army Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Dick Cody as a way to use Army aviation assets, including helicopters and UAVs, to maintain a constant watch for enemies placing bombs on Iraq’s roads. There is now only one such task force operating in Iraq, but Petraeus suggested that a second would be created to augment the new ISR capability.
In addition to hardware, there has been a growing need for additional intelligence personnel in Iraq.
Just before the surge, Petraeus requested a “substantial increase” in intelligence analysts for the mission.
“What is proving very useful is to keep [analysts] riveted on one target set in the same way special mission units have been riveted on one target set ... because it has become so complex,” Petraeus said.