ARRC JOURNAL
Moving Forward
Figure 3. Surface-to-Surface Fires Network
C2TA
The C2TA is a document that establishes
an agreement between the UK Secretary
of State for Defence and NATO. Not only
does it establish a command relationship
between the ARRC and the Supreme
Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR),
it defines the national force elements
the ARRC requires in order to deploy
and identifies the participating nations
(PNs) who will provide such forces. As
much as this would allow for the precise
composition of a MN FFAHQ and MN
FAB, the reality is that the C2TA is founded
on an affiliation for training purposes
only and has no C2 implication for force
generation within a crisis or operational
setting. Until such time as changes are
made to the construct of the document,
from an arrangement to an agreement,
requiring a commitment beyond training
to include operational deployment, the
ARRC will be required to scope multiple
options to ensure that, regardless of PN
offers, a fires C2 structure will be in place
that is sufficiently flexible and has been
tested in a robust training environment.
Figure 4. Framework Nation Corps Artillery HQ (UK)
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ALLIED RAPID REACTION CORPS
The ARRC has three
deliverable FFAHQ
options
available
to it – a framework
nation (UK based
and tested during
Exercise ARRCADE
FUSION 17 (AF17)),
a US FAB (tested
during
Exercise
DYNAMIC FRONT
2 (DF2) and DF18),
and a scalable MN
FFAHQ and MN FAB,
which is a concept
yet to be tested. The
requirement for a
third option is born out of the ARRC’s
experience during DF18 and coupled
with lessons learned from previous
exercises (DF2, AF17, Exercise IRON
RESOLVE 2017), and ARRC’s exposure
to the 19th BCD’s TSFC concept. The
three options are covered in detail below:
Option 1 – Framework Nation (UK-
based)
The framework nation option, provided by
elements of the 1st (UK) Artillery Brigade
(1 (UK) Arty Bde), is limited in numbers,
both in personnel and assets, but is highly
capable. It is naturally suited to smaller
operations or operations associated with
the ARRC’s JTF role where the ARRC
is simultaneously functioning as a JTF
and LCC headquarters with a division
under its command. Unless this option
is reinforced with additional manning
and associated S2S fires and ISTAR
assets, it will struggle to compete in a
medium to high intensity warfighting
environment, especially one in which
the 3rd (UK) Division (3
(UK) Div) is committed. The
1 (UK) Arty Bde would find
simultaneously supporting the
ARRC and 3 (UK) Div to be challenging
unless significant augmentation in both
personnel and equipment were provided
for.
Option 2 – US FAB
The US FAB option, with its HHB providing
the FFAHQ function and integrated fires,
C2 and ISTAR capabilities, provides an
ideal solution for the ARRC in all of its
roles, especially when conducting high
intensity corps warfighting or acting
as an LCC headquarters with multiple
corps under command. However,
the commitment of a US FAB to the
ARRC, although desirable, cannot be
guaranteed, hence the need for a third,
MN option.
Option 3 – Scalable MN FFAHQ and
MN FAB
This option, if resourced correctly,
provides most, if not all, of the
capabilities that the US FAB option
provides. However, it is streamlined to
do so with fewer personnel. Depending
on the ARRC’s assigned task, its
structure and manning can be adjusted
to provide a scalable light, medium
and heavy configuration. The light and
potentially medium configurations could
be resourced solely by the framework
nation (mission dependant) with core
personnel and potentially some fires and
ISTAR assets. The heavy configuration,
which would support a more demanding,
medium to high intensity warfighting
environment, would require significant
augmentation from NATO. The following
configurations have been suggested
and are an example of what a MN FAB
supporting a high intensity warfighting
corps/LCC might look like.
Figure 5. FFAHQ Based on US FAB