ATP-3-09-12 Field Artillery Counterfire and Weapons Locating Radar Operations Download
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Chapter 4 4-10 ATP 3-09.12 26 October 2021 4-24. Zones are a means of prioritizing acquisitions within the radar sectors of search. Zones focus WLR acquisitions on the supported commander's priorities. A zone is a geometric figure placed around an area that designates the area as more, or less, important. CRITICAL FRIENDLY ZONE 4-25. A critical friendly zone is a friendly area of coverage employed by weapons locating radar which the maneuver commander designates as critical to the protection of an asset whose loss would seriously jeopardize the mission (FM 3-09). When the WLR predicts a round will impact in a CFZ, the WLR generates a call for fire message which provides the POO and POI. This happens automatically unless overridden by the radar operator. A call for fire message priority 1 is transmitted to the COS or TPS. The CFZ provides the most responsive submission of targets to the FS system. The CFZ does not have to be located within the WLR's sector of search however, the WLR needs sufficient track volume to calculate the POO and POI. CALL FOR FIRE ZONE 4-26. A call for fire zone is a weapons locating radar search area from which the commander wants to attack hostile firing systems (FM 3-09). A CFFZ is placed around a known or suspected enemy FS position identified as a HPT. A target identified in a CFFZ generates a call for fire priority 2 message. The commander may upgrade the priority, to priority 1. A CFFZ must be in the WLR's sector of search. ARTILLERY TARGET INTELLIGENCE ZONE 4-27. An artillery target intelligence zone is a weapons locating radar search area in enemy territory that the commander monitors closely to detect and report any weapon ahead of all acquisitions other than those from critical friendly zones or call for fire zones (FM 3-09). Any weapon detected in an artillery target intelligence zone will generate an artillery target intelligence message. The ATIZ is developed during the MDMP and contributes to pattern analysis. Acquisitions from an ATIZ may warrant changing the ATIZ to a CFFZ. CENSOR ZONE 4-28. A censor zone is an area from which the weapons locating radar is prohibited from reporting acquisitions (FM 3-09). A CZ is normally placed around friendly weapon systems to prevent them from being acquired by friendly WLRs. The CZ is most often used in noncontiguous situations or during cross FLOT operations, raids, or infiltration. The forward line of own troops is a line that indicates the most forward positions of friendly forces in any kind of military operation at a specific time (JP 3-03). Care must be used when employing a CZ since the WLR ignores all acquisitions coming from the CZ. This remains true even if the hostile weapon is firing at a unit inside a CFZ. When using a CZ careful planning and characteristic understanding must be considered. DEVELOPING ZONE DATA 4-29. Zone data must support the tactical plan and satisfy the WLRs requirements for data input. The counterfire and targeting officers use the MDMP to develop zone data. The data is entered and transmitted from the COS/TPS to the WLR using the automated RDO. The following considerations apply when developing zone data: A zone must be defined by a minimum of three and a maximum of six coordinates. If using a circular zone include center grid and radius desired. Only a CZ and CFZ may overlap while simultaneously active. Grid coordinates must be listed and entered sequentially. Active zone coordinates cannot fall outside the sector of search (except for CFZ). ZONE PLANNING 4-30. Radar zones are managed to comply with the commander's priorities. Understanding the commander's plan, and integrating FSOs into the development, refinement, and triggering are key to successful radar zone