No-drive zone
Encyclopedia
A no-drive zone is a form of interdiction
and specifically a militarily enforced declaration of an intent to deny vehicular movement over a strategic or tactically valued line of communication by the threat of vehicle destruction. A capability first used in the Balkans and a term recently coined during the 2011 Libyan civil war
as a potential course of action to prevent Muammar Gaddafi
's government forces from approaching rebel strongholds near Benghazi
, no drive zones present unique challenges to military planners and warfighters. Unlike No-fly zone
enforcement where electronic and visual means of identification of relative few air entities allow warfighters to sort out potential targets, no drive zones may include a variety of vehicle types with no electronic signatures to identify themselves and where enemy, friendly, and unaffiliated traffic are co-mingled. Enforcement from the air is further complicated by the necessary coordination with ground controller units providing persistant surveillance and possible identification when airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
(ISR) assets are unavailable or denied necessary airspace access.
Employing air to ground precision-guided munition
s in support of a no drive zone is an extremely challenging effort. Moving vehicles present a difficult target for fighter aircraft as they can stop or turn compounding the targeting solution calculation or travel into areas where unacceptable collateral damage
may occur after targeting and weapon release . The anticipated rules of engagement
would likely include notification to the friendly or supported forces that no vehicles should be allowed to enter the zone as all vehicles detected in the zone will be considered as suspected hostile. Vehicles detected in the zone may be subjected to the Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, and Assess (F2T2EA) process by warfighters or engaged immediately per free-fire zone
tactics. However, this interuption of ground travel over major roadways or designated geographic areas over a long period of time could have negative impacts on the economic flow of goods in the region.
Several different munitions would be available to enforce a no drive zone. One system in development, the GBU-53/B
Small Diameter Bomb II, is being designed to attack moving targets, through the weather, and from standoff ranges . It will be able to distinguish between tracked vehicles and wheeled vehicles but cannot identify the exact vehicle type. The GBU-53/B accepts post-release control from either an airborne or ground controller unit to include the ability to receive retargeting and abort commands.
Other engagment options could include vehicle interdiction by other military vehicles, artillery, laser-guided bomb
s , or directed-energy weapon
s .
Interdiction
Interdiction is a military term that refers to the act of delaying, disrupting, or destroying enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area. A distinction is often made between strategic and tactical interdiction...
and specifically a militarily enforced declaration of an intent to deny vehicular movement over a strategic or tactically valued line of communication by the threat of vehicle destruction. A capability first used in the Balkans and a term recently coined during the 2011 Libyan civil war
2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
as a potential course of action to prevent Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Gaddafi
Muammar Muhammad Abu Minyar Gaddafi or "September 1942" 20 October 2011), commonly known as Muammar Gaddafi or Colonel Gaddafi, was the official ruler of the Libyan Arab Republic from 1969 to 1977 and then the "Brother Leader" of the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya from 1977 to 2011.He seized power in a...
's government forces from approaching rebel strongholds near Benghazi
Benghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
, no drive zones present unique challenges to military planners and warfighters. Unlike No-fly zone
No-fly zone
A no-fly zone is a territory or an area over which aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in a military context, somewhat like a demilitarized zone in the sky, and usually prohibit military aircraft of a belligerent nation from operating in the region.-Iraq,...
enforcement where electronic and visual means of identification of relative few air entities allow warfighters to sort out potential targets, no drive zones may include a variety of vehicle types with no electronic signatures to identify themselves and where enemy, friendly, and unaffiliated traffic are co-mingled. Enforcement from the air is further complicated by the necessary coordination with ground controller units providing persistant surveillance and possible identification when airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance may refer to:*the US Joint Command see Joint Functional Component Command for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance.*the military term, see ISTAR....
(ISR) assets are unavailable or denied necessary airspace access.
Employing air to ground precision-guided munition
Precision-guided munition
A precision-guided munition is a guided munition intended to precisely hit a specific target, and to minimize damage to things other than the target....
s in support of a no drive zone is an extremely challenging effort. Moving vehicles present a difficult target for fighter aircraft as they can stop or turn compounding the targeting solution calculation or travel into areas where unacceptable collateral damage
Collateral damage
Collateral damage is damage to people or property that is unintended or incidental to the intended outcome. The phrase is prevalently used as an euphemism for civilian casualties of a military action.-Etymology:...
may occur after targeting and weapon release . The anticipated rules of engagement
Rules of engagement
Rules of Engagement refers to those responses that are permitted in the employment of military personnel during operations or in the course of their duties. These rules of engagement are determined by the legal framework within which these duties are being carried out...
would likely include notification to the friendly or supported forces that no vehicles should be allowed to enter the zone as all vehicles detected in the zone will be considered as suspected hostile. Vehicles detected in the zone may be subjected to the Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, and Assess (F2T2EA) process by warfighters or engaged immediately per free-fire zone
Free-fire zone
A free-fire zone in U.S. military parlance is a fire control measure, used for coordination between adjacent combat units. The definition used in the Vietnam war by US troops may be found in field manual FM 6-20:- Free-fire zones in the Vietnam War :...
tactics. However, this interuption of ground travel over major roadways or designated geographic areas over a long period of time could have negative impacts on the economic flow of goods in the region.
Several different munitions would be available to enforce a no drive zone. One system in development, the GBU-53/B
GBU-53/B
The GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II is an American air launched, guided bomb.Development was started in 2006 for a class bomb that can identify and strike mobile targets from standoff distances in all weather conditions. It will be integrated on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Its first flight...
Small Diameter Bomb II, is being designed to attack moving targets, through the weather, and from standoff ranges . It will be able to distinguish between tracked vehicles and wheeled vehicles but cannot identify the exact vehicle type. The GBU-53/B accepts post-release control from either an airborne or ground controller unit to include the ability to receive retargeting and abort commands.
Other engagment options could include vehicle interdiction by other military vehicles, artillery, laser-guided bomb
Laser-guided bomb
A laser-guided bomb is a guided bomb that uses semi-active laser homing to strike a designated target with greater accuracy than an unguided bomb. LGBs are one of the most common and widespread guided bombs, used by a large number of the world's air forces.- Overview :Laser-guided munitions use a...
s , or directed-energy weapon
Directed-energy weapon
A directed-energy weapon emits energy in an aimed direction without the means of a projectile. It transfers energy to a target for a desired effect. Intended effects may be non-lethal or lethal...
s .