Employment and command and control for the Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) missile system

Abstract

The author describes the employment and command and control of the Non-Line-of-Sight (NLOS) missile system. A history of the system portrays NLOS as a weapon system still in the early stages of development. A detailed description depicts NLOS as an application of fiber optic technology enabling the engagement of helicopters and ground targets beyond visual range. The plan to organize and employ NLOS in separate units (anti-air and anti-tank) at the maneuver brigade level is described. Command and control of the system is discussed in the context of its employment as a dual capable system at the maneuver brigade level and in the context of a definition of command and control. Early command and control testing for the NLOS system is discussed and some of the results of that testing provides the basis for the following conclusions: The employment of NLOS at the maneuver brigade level should work with the exception of NLOS-AT (anti-tank) units being used to engaage helicopters; the employment of NLOS-AD (air defense) in the air role is heavily contingent on the development and successful integration of masked target sensors into the Forward Area Air Defense Command, Control and Communications (FAADC2I) system; and the lack of weapon system hardware and proposed automated command and control systems for the NLOS system precludes a definitive evaluation of command and control at this time