One of the few things I think I can agree with Force Design 2030 is the fact that in peer vs peer combat, towed artillery is basically dead. Having said that I would also think that if towed artillery is dead in those setting then so is the idea of an "artillery raid".A typical HIMARS rapid insertion #HIRAIN scenario involves the rapid insertion, strike & extraction of HIMARS. Soldiers are able to off-load equipment, set up #HIMARS, establish comms, receive targeting, engage targets, and extract personnel & equipment in about 45 min. pic.twitter.com/nIm2vvKjvU
— Air Power (@MIL_STD) July 17, 2022
Flying in a battery of M-777's by way of CH-53Ks. Get them set up, conduct a fire mission and then fly off is just nonsense. Not with what we've seen and where we can reasonably predict battlefield surveillance is headed.
So what about HIRAIN?
We're talking about flying in HIMARS, have them de-plane, setup, conduct a fire mission, get back on the plane and then fly away.
In a peer vs peer high tech war?
I seriously think the concept needs to be rethought.
My proposal?
Start doing LAPES again. No need for a runway just a big enough clearing. Probably gonna need to borrow a bit of knowledge from the Army to do it (assuming they still have it) and would maybe even need a few of their parachute riggers to deploy to teach the skill. But that would get the weapon on the ground quickly making the airplane much less vulnerable.
I don't know if its possible if we could somehow use a robotic vehicle that can conduct the fire mission and simply toss it but that would be a better plan in my opinion.
If we could have a platform that could raise the missiles into firing position without having to waste a vehicle would be even better.
But the idea of landing a HIMARS, conducting a fire mission and then flying off again unscathed seems like wishful thinking.
