ATP-3-09-90 Division Artillery Operations and Fire Support Download
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Targeting At The Division ATP 3-09.90 3-7 3-28. Parallel planning must begin as early as possible in the MDMP. The fire support planners exchange and share all pertinent information with subordinate units and adjacent and higher headquarters. 3-29. Division staff of all warfighting functions participate in the targeting working group and war gaming to ensure a complete understanding of what targets must be engaged. They also recommend where, when, and which system(s) will be used to detect and engage them to create the division commander’s desired effects. Together, they identify the available assets to be allocated, additional assets required, and communication channels needed to provide information on a real-time basis. 3-30. The targets identified are linked to validated information collection requirements in the initial information collection plan (see FM 3-55). The initial information collection plan is developed to identify which assets are available to detect the targets where and when the engagement can be most effective. As collection requirements for acquisition of targets are developed through information collection, assets are committed to detect HPTs. Using a systematic process, the fires cell focuses available resources and refines targeting information so that HPTs can be effectively engaged. HIGH-PAYOFF TARGET LIST 3-31. The high-payoff target list is a prioritized list of high-payoff targets by phase of the operation (FM 3- 09). The HPTL is a dynamic document that is continually refined, during both planning and execution, based on the situation and commander’s guidance. Too many HPTs will dilute the information collection, acquisition, and attack efforts. A high-payoff target is a target whose loss to the enemy will significantly contribute to the success of the friendly course of action (JP 3-60). HPT engagements are critical to the success of friendly operations based on the division commander’s targeting guidance. See table 3-1. Table 3-1. Division high-payoff target list (example) Phase of the Operation—1—Isolate the Enemy Unit: Priority Category High-Payoff Target 1 Fire support Multiple rocket launchers 2 Maneuver Mechanized reserves 3 C3 ≥ Battalion headquarters 4 RSTA Counterfire radars 5 ADA Surface-to-air missile launcher Category input is as found in advanced field artillery tactical data system ADA – air defense artillery C3 – command, control, and communications RSTA – reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition 3-32. HPTs are those nodes within the enemy high-value target set that when eliminated cause the set to become dysfunctional, thus enhancing the likelihood of enemy failure and division success. High-value target sets include those capabilities, functions, or systems that are critical to the enemy in the context of an operation. Target sets are identified and prioritized for each phase of the operation. Within the sets, individual targets are rank-ordered by target value, sequence of appearance, importance, or other criteria that satisfy the targeting guidance and thus create desired effects. In this way, the targeting working group reduces, modifies, and reprioritizes high-value targets while ensuring that HPTs support the division commander’s concept of operations. For more detail on HPTs and the HPTL see ATP 3-60. Target Selection Standards 3-33. Target selection standards are criteria applied to targets to determine when and if they will be engaged. 3-34. Effective target selection requires a thorough knowledge of enemy doctrine and tactics, an appreciation of the terrain, expertise with the available resources (lethal and nonlethal capabilities, sensor, and collection), and friendly force vulnerabilities and risk elements. The targeting working group predicts enemy actions following a successful attack. For example, the successful suppression of indirect fires directed against the division may require the elimination of a finite number of enemy firing batteries achieved either by destruction, the loss of communications, and the abandonment of weapons by their crews, or a combination of effects. 12 October 2017