Shaping Operational Design

Since the final decade of the twentieth century, air and space power reigns supreme as the decisive arm in maneuver warfare. Air and space power dominance dramatically increased due to monumental technological achievements. Advanced missile technology, precision guided munitions, penetration weapons, global positioning system (GPS), and stealth platforms made airpower more survivable and effective. Arguably, precision airpower became the most dominant and the most determining factor in the success of military campaigns. However, air and space power is vulnerable to adversaries using subterranean tactics for defense. As a result, there is a growing trend of adversarial nations developing complex and survivable underground facilities and tunnel systems to protect command and control functions, to protect weapons of mass destruction facilities, and to protect fielded forces. The current trend to counter these facilities seems to be by penetrating the earth with kinetic munitions. However, multiple force applications could be developed and used to decrease the desire to use underground facilities. The ultimate effect is to create a psychological state of fear and terror of being buried alive or suffocating while underground. If technologies to locate these facilities are consolidated and an operational design model is developed to locate, map and target subterranean facilities, the ultimate effect is achievable and subterranean warfare can be deterred and defeated.