- US Special Operations Command is looking for equipment needed for future battles.
- As with past and current combats, urban warfare is expected to be a major focus.
- SOCOM is considering a beyond-line-of-sight targeting system that would allow carriers to track and eliminate threats without being detected.
Let's consider a hypothesis. China invaded Taiwan. After several tense hours of deliberations, the United States decided to prioritize freedom and the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific and to begin defending the island.
The Chinese government is betting on the rapid occupation of Taiwan and will throw everything it has at Taiwan. The Chinese military gained temporary air superiority over the battlefield and launched a large-scale amphibious attack. Soon, Chinese tanks and infantry fighting vehicles will be rolling into Taiwanese soil.
U.S. special operations forces on the island have joined their Taiwanese comrades in major urban centers, preparing for intense urban warfare.
Although a hypothetical scenario, this is something U.S. special forces might face in the future. After all, this, like any other high-intensity conflict scenario, is the situation they have been training for. Looking ahead to these future combat possibilities, U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is pursuing new technologies to help special forces survive and thrive in urban warfare.
futuristic scene
SOCOM in October solicitation For non-line-of-sight targeting systems for urban warfare. The system allows special forces to track, target and even engage enemy fighters without directly exposing themselves.
SOCOM is collaborating with SOFWERX, a technology testing and innovation platform, to facilitate a series of feasibility studies and rapid prototyping events to “create rapid, accurate, operator-controlled, non-prototype equipment.” Explore and test technology with goals. Line-of-sight (non-LOS) targets in urban surveillance environments. ”
As the request states, recent battlefield advances such as autonomous systems and remotely located sensors allow ground forces to access and operate from “static, fixed locations with line-of-sight of enemy positions.” is becoming difficult.
The system relies heavily on artificial intelligence, using large amounts of data and machine learning to understand different scenarios and provide relevant information to operators on the ground. Basically, SOCOM is looking for a sensor that can tell special operators the exact location of enemy fighters during urban combat, allowing them to target the threat from a safe position.
The program focuses on four areas: sensors, data networking, data processing, data analytics and artificial intelligence.
Like most new Department of Defense programs, SOCOM requires the system to be open-architecture so that new technology can be introduced as it becomes available.
modern urban warfare
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine shows that urban warfare remains as deadly as ever.
For example, the Kremlin lost more than 100,000 Russian soldiers and Wagner Group mercenaries, including casualties, during the 2022-2023 winter offensive, many of which were concentrated in the Bakhmut siege in Donbas. The proliferation of unmanned aerial vehicles and electronic warfare systems has increased the typical dangers of urban combat, such as snipers, artillery, and close quarters combat.
“When you hear the words 'urban warfare,' you think of buildings, close range, fire support challenges, and CAS. [close air support]or MEDAVAC [medical evacuations]. These are my concerns when I go to urban areas,” a former Delta Force operator told Insider.
Admittedly, American special forces are no strangers to urban warfare.
“Everywhere you look, there's fighting in urban areas. Afghanistan was really an exception where there were long-range engagements,” said the retired official, who asked not to be identified because he continues to work with the government. the special forces added.
During industrial counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Iraqi insurgency, U.S. special operations forces got a taste of urban warfare and its complexities. Despite world-class training, elite forces like Delta Force lost special forces that this new sensor could have saved. In the fight against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, US special forces once again fought brutal urban warfare in Mosul.
“We train extensively in close combat, but even the best training is not always enough. It definitely helps us navigate well and spot threats before we see them.''We already have some gadgets that help us,'' the former Delta Force operator said.
However, with rapid advances in technology, new systems are needed to stay ahead of the competition.
