The Long and Winding Road: The US Army Managerial Approach to Command and the Adoption of Mission Command (Auftragstaktik)

The purpose of the current paper is to examine the adoption and adaptation process of mission command (Auftragstaktik) in the US Army. This concept, developed by the Prussians, denotes a decentralized command approach wherein superiors dictate their intent and allow subordinates to formulate their operational plans independently and change it according to the emerging situation. The paper examines the US command approach prior to the adoption of mission command. It argues that it was heavily influenced by corporate management practices which inherently contradict mission command approach. It continues and investigates how the US Army endeavored to emulate the approach in its doctrine and in major operations.

While it has officially incorporated mission command into its doctrine, it has been less successful in utilizing it in operational situations. This state of affairs has to do with the cultural legacy of the managerial approach to command that still persist. Despite the partial success, the US Army has recently reaffirmed its commitment to this approach.     

Insights from a Database of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Militants

This article uses a novel database of 1,625 posthumously published biographies of members of two Islamist militant organizations (Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM)), all of whom were killed in the course of carrying out militant attacks. In general, each biography provides data on the militant’s birthplace, education, recruitment, and training. The number of observations in this database is a full order of magnitude larger than those of previous databases assembled from militant biographies. While the sample of militants in this database is the product of multiple selection effects, analysis of the database undermines many common myths about Pakistani militants and casts doubt on current policy approaches to mitigating Islamist militancy in Pakistan.     

Reconsidering American strategy in South Asia: destroying terrorist sanctuaries in Pakistan's tribal areas

Over seven years after the 11 September 2001 attacks on the United States, Afghanistan is again at the forefront of the headlines, faced with a brutal insurgency and a resurgent Taliban. Many scholars and policymakers attribute the instability in Afghanistan to a terrorist sanctuary in the neighboring Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Pakistan has attempted to eliminate this sanctuary through negotiation and armed force. This paper argues that Pakistani strategy has failed to achieve its desired results because of local tribal norms, the weak nature of previous agreements, military units ill-equipped for a counterinsurgency and counterterrorism role, as well as ideological fissures in the Pakistani establishment. Afterward, the paper argues that the United States and Coalition forces should pursue their strategy remaining cognizant of local tribal norms, step up training efforts for Pakistani forces, promote development of the tribal areas, and cultivate options for eliminating the FATA sanctuary through covert means.     

基于费效分析的地空导弹火力配系优化

为科学评价地空导弹火力配系方案,针对不同的地空导弹火力组成体系,采用费效分析方法,结合地空导弹操作使用,首先给出了地空导弹火力配系费效分析步骤,然后分别对火力配系的费用和效能进行了讨论,并建立了火力配系费效准则和综合费效比模型,最后通过区域反导实例验证了该方法的可行性.     

一种串行通信的误码率测试方法

针对目前导弹系统RS-422,RS-485等串行通信总线的误码率测试没有统一、科学、客观的测试方法与测试仪器,提出一种基于通信设备内部自身通信验证的误码率测试方法,该方法采用通讯设备的自闭环链路实现收发端口互相校验,以半双工的工作方式,在多通道串行通信模块的通道之间建立发送-接收链路,基于伪随机码m序列为测试码流,利用统计学中的置信度原理,在保证测试结果的可信度前提下,定量地评估通信系统的质量,具备充分理论依据的基础上实现了低成本高效率的误码率测试.     

混合总线网络化ATS硬件结构与组网方案设计

混合总线网络化ATS可整合多种总线测试仪器/设备功能,发挥不同总线测试平台优势,增强系统灵活性,节约新系统的构建成本.针对靶场测试设备现状,研究了基于网络化测试技术的混合总线ATS构建方法.提出了混合总线网络化ATS硬件结构并设计了利用接口适配器和利用网关设备2种组网方案.     

反导预警雷达的优化配置问题研究

根据反导预警雷达的预警任务和配置要求,建立带有可调参数的反导预警雷达优化配置模型.首先,给出雷达对弹道覆盖范围的计算方法,并建立X波段多功能相控阵雷达的优化配置模型.其次,考虑实战中对预警时间和重叠探测区的不同需求,在P波段远程预警相控阵雷达的优化配置模型中引入了可调参数,使输出的方案能同时满足对预警时间和重叠探测区的作战需求.最后,通过实例分析验证了模型的可行性,并且发现预警时间最大化与重叠探测区最大化不能同时实现,反导作战指挥人员应根据实际情况选择适当的可调参数,输出满足实战需求的雷达配置方案.     

主成分分析在铁谱磨粒识别中的应用研究

介绍了主成分分析(PCA)基本原理与算法,提出了主成分分析用于铁谱磨粒识别的基本思路和方法,给出了具体的应用步骤,并通过实例对基于主成分分析的铁谱磨粒识别方法有效性进行了分析和验证,结果表明,该方法在减少铁谱磨粒识别工作量和提高识别准确率方面效果良好。     

基于功能角色模型的反馈系统故障模式影响分析

从系统功能设计过程出发,在分析反馈系统工作原理及其功能角色模型构造特点的基础上,认为反馈信号在输入端可等效为正、负、零三种误差信号。以此为基础,提出了反馈系统基于该理论的故障传播分析方法和技术。最后以飞机发动机燃料计量系统为例,阐述该方法在反馈系统中应用的可行性。经案例分析表明,该方法可以比较有效地解决一类带反馈环的故障分析问题,大大提高了功能角色模型的应用范围。     

一种基于三角面元的目标RCS实用计算方法

提出一种计算复杂目标高频区RCS的实用方法。首先采用3DStudioMax对装甲车进行三角面元模拟,然后运用路德维格积分[1]和物理绕射理论(PTD)计算目标的雷达散射截面积,通过对方柱RCS的计算,验证了所提方法的有效性,最后给出了C波段和X波段不同极化的装甲车和坦克RCS的方位分布图。