What is a Reconnaissance Mission and Why is it Important?
A reconnaissance mission is a type of military operation that aims to gather information about an enemy or a potential enemy, or about the terrain, weather, or other features of a particular area. Reconnaissance missions can be carried out by ground forces, air forces, naval forces, or satellites. The information obtained by reconnaissance can help military commanders plan their strategies, tactics, and operations.
Reconnaissance missions can be classified into different types according to their objectives and methods. Some of the common types of reconnaissance are:
- Terrain-oriented reconnaissance: This type of reconnaissance focuses on surveying the physical features of the land, such as hills, rivers, roads, bridges, etc. It can help military forces identify suitable routes, positions, and obstacles for their movements and actions.
- Force-oriented reconnaissance: This type of reconnaissance focuses on observing the enemy forces, such as their number, equipment, activities, disposition, etc. It can help military forces locate and target the enemy, assess their strengths and weaknesses, and anticipate their intentions and reactions.
- Civil-oriented reconnaissance: This type of reconnaissance focuses on the civil dimension of the battlespace, such as the areas, structures, capabilities, organizations, people and events (abbreviated as ASCOPE). It can help military forces understand the social and cultural context of the area, interact with the local population, and identify potential allies or adversaries.
Reconnaissance missions are essential for military operations because they can provide valuable intelligence that can improve the decision-making process and increase the chances of success. Reconnaissance missions can also prevent surprises and reduce uncertainties and risks. However, reconnaissance missions are also challenging and risky because they require stealth, speed, accuracy, and coordination. Reconnaissance missions can also face resistance or interference from the enemy or other factors.
Some examples of reconnaissance missions are:
- Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS): This is a NATO project that uses five Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) equipped with advanced radar sensors to provide a wide-area surveillance capability for the Alliance. The AGS system can monitor large areas of land and sea, day and night, in any weather condition, and provide near-real-time information to NATO commanders and decision-makers. The AGS system is based at the Sigonella Air Base in Italy and became operational in 2022.
- Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS): This is a NATO project that uses 14 E-3A aircraft with rotating radar domes to provide airborne surveillance, command and control, and communications for the Alliance. The AWACS aircraft can detect and track air and surface targets over long distances, and provide situational awareness and early warning to NATO forces. The AWACS aircraft are based at the Geilenkirchen Air Base in Germany and have been supporting NATO operations since 1982.
- Alliance Persistent Surveillance from Space (APSS): This is a NATO initiative that aims to launch a constellation of satellites to provide persistent surveillance from space for the Alliance. The APSS satellites will use optical and radar sensors to collect high-resolution imagery and data over areas of interest, and transmit them to NATO ground stations for analysis and dissemination. The APSS initiative was announced in February 2023 by a group of NATO Allies, together with former Invitee Finland (now a NATO member country) and Invitee Sweden, and is expected to become operational by 2028.
Reconnaissance missions are not only conducted by NATO, but also by individual countries or coalitions of countries for their own national or regional interests. Some examples of such missions are:
- Operation Desert Storm: This was a military operation led by the United States and a coalition of 34 other countries to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation in 1991. Reconnaissance missions played a crucial role in this operation, as they provided information on the location, strength, and disposition of Iraqi forces, as well as on the damage inflicted by coalition air strikes. Reconnaissance missions were conducted by various platforms, such as U-2 spy planes, SR-71 Blackbird aircraft, F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighters, Tomahawk cruise missiles, and special operations forces.
- Operation Enduring Freedom: This was a military operation launched by the United States and its allies in response to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The operation aimed to destroy the al-Qaeda terrorist network and its Taliban supporters in Afghanistan and other countries. Reconnaissance missions were essential for this operation, as they provided intelligence on the whereabouts, activities, and capabilities of the enemy, as well as on the terrain, weather, and civil situation in the area of operations. Reconnaissance missions were conducted by various platforms, such as Predator and Reaper UAS, RC-135 Rivet Joint aircraft, E-8 Joint STARS aircraft, AC-130 Spectre gunships, and special operations forces.
- Operation Inherent Resolve: This is an ongoing military operation led by the United States and a coalition of 82 other countries to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) terrorist group in Iraq and Syria. Reconnaissance missions are vital for this operation, as they provide information on the location, movement, and strength of ISIS fighters, as well as on the effects of coalition air strikes. Reconnaissance missions are conducted by various platforms, such as Global Hawk UAS, E-3 Sentry aircraft, F-22 Raptor stealth fighters, B-52 Stratofortress bombers, and special operations forces.