battlefield-surveillance-limitations
The chapter highlights the gap between the capability to attack hard targets at long range and the inadequate means to reliably locate and designate those targets, noting cancelled or delayed NATO projects and the reliance on ground observers.
1 chapter across 1 book
The Third World War: The Untold Story (1982)Sir John Hackett
Chapter 5 of 'The Third World War: The Untold Story' examines the state and development of battlefield weaponry leading up to the mid-1980s, focusing heavily on tank technology and the challenges of target acquisition and engagement. It contrasts Western and Soviet tank designs, highlighting differences in sophistication, firepower, and reliability, while also discussing the limitations in surveillance and target acquisition systems that affected the effective use of advanced munitions. The chapter underscores the critical importance of early attrition of enemy armor and the technological arms race in fire control, sensors, and munitions.