The Navy and Marine Corps are sculpting the form of future expeditionary operations through development of powerful new means for littoral power projection. These changes involve shifts across the breadth and depth of their doctrine, force structure, training, and equipment. As Marines continue to refine their vision for conducting warfare in the 21st century, they are relying heavily on the wide range of sea-based fire-support capabilities offered by the DD(X) future surface combatant and its advanced gun system (AGS).
Future Marine forces will strike rapidly and decisively across great distances, launching operations from well over the horizon at sea and advancing to objectives located deep inland. Our new concept of expeditionary operations—ship-to-objective maneuver—represents a dramatic departure from the past. The Corps will bring this concept to fruition by realizing enhanced capabilities that will be available through the application of future technologies. It will refine traditional doctrine by adding emphasis to maneuver warfare philosophy and thus achieve another major paradigm shift in expeditionary warfare. The DD(X) and AGS are critical components of this transformational effort.
The approximately 100-nautical-mile range of this revolutionary gun system will expand the battle space to an extent that was impossible with traditional naval guns, thus increasing the tactical flexibility of Marine units conducting ship-to-objective maneuver operations. Unlike current gun systems, the AGS can use trajectory shaping to engage targets located on the reverse slopes of terrain features. The system's high rate of fire and large ammunition magazines will enable it to deliver the volume fires required for success in ground combat; its accuracy will make it an ideal weapon for putting precision fires on discrete targets.
While there always will be a need for organic, mobile fire-support systems to accompany Marines ashore, the appetite of these systems for heavy, large-caliber ammunition presents acute resupply problems. Availability of the sea-based AGS to engage targets at long range with great accuracy means that the ammunition requirements for Marine fire-support units ashore can be reduced appreciably. In addition to mitigating ship-to-shore logistic demands, the AGS will give Marine commanders the option of husbanding their organic combat power for timely employment at the decisive moments in offensive and defensive situations.
Put simply, Marines need the advanced gun system on the DD(X). It has exceptionally long range, large magazine capacity, and multi-role capabilities that will make it an invaluable supporting arm for the Marines and sailors who will fight expeditionary battles in the decades ahead. The AGS is an essential element of our future planning, and we eagerly anticipate the contributions it will make as one of our primary fire-support systems.
General Hanlon is the Commanding General of the Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Quantico, Virginia.