'Kill Box'

How to prepare, employ, organize, plan, and execute 'Kill Box' procedures...

Intro

A 'Kill Box' is described as a: "three-dimensional areas used to facilitate
the integration of joint fires while also being a permissive fire support coordination
measure (FSCM)."

General Overview

The purpose of a 'Kill Box' is to allow attacks against surface/sub-surface targets without the need to coordinate any further with the AO (Area of Operations) commander; and without terminal attack control measures, such as traditionally used with CAS/JTAC employment. 'Kill Box' use does not preclude the need for fratricide prevention and ROEs (Rules Of Engagement) measures. 'Kill Box' use allows the AO commander the ability to reduce the unnecessary coordination needed to give effective support, all while avoiding fratricide.

A Kill Box status can be: open (active/cold) or closed

Kill Boxes can be: planned or immediate

Blue (BKB) & Purple (PKB) Kill Boxes
Blue - only permits air-to-air/air-to-land interdiction in the kill box
Purple - both air-to-air/air-to-land AND surface/sub-surface targets by land and/or maritime friendly forces

Sizes - Kill Boxes can be sized according to:

• grid square

• radius from a center point

• well-defined landmarks (valley/rivers/buildings etc.)

*Purple Kill Box Considerations*

Whereas a blue Kill Box only has a maximum height limit (such as 10,000 feet) and no minimum limit, a purple Kill Box has both a minimum and maximum height restriction, so that aircrafts can deconflict with land/maritime forces while they utilize their respective surface-to-surface fires

For a purple Kill Box you must find the maximum ordinance height of the HIGHEST surface-to-surface weapons system(s) used

If you plan to stay ABOVE the max ordinance of the highest surface based fire, then all the other systems will remain deconflicted

Projectile trajectories are based on:

• specific type of munition/rounds used

• the amount of charge/propellant used

• the distance/angle of trajectory used

3 types of control restrictions for Kill Boxes exists:

• altitude

• time

• lateral separation

Altitude - for A3, fires that stay under 1km in max ordinate are easiest to integrate with A/Cs
That may mean limiting to only using mortar fires

Time - another deconflicting technique is to use 'time of fire' to separate the use of surface and air fires
Usually speaking, 1 minute of separation AND verbal confirmation is used

Lateral Separation - this deconflicting measure uses grid coordinates to limit the direction/angle of attack of both the surface and aerial fires
Ex.: surface fires are kept WEST of grid 1234 and aerial fires are kept EAST of same grid line

Aircraft (A/C) & UAV Selection

The most common A3 weapon platforms for KBs are:

• attack rotary-winged

• fixed-winged A/C*

• Darter SUAV

• fixed-winged UAV*

* - denote standoff capable assets to be used with ENY AA/Heavy WPNs (.50 cal/missiles etc.)

Working as part of a Team

Using a 'spotter', UAV etc. will help identify targets

Targets can be 'lasered' by a spotter/UAV and then attacked by air/surface weapon systems

Here are a few examples:

UAV with laser in 'hold' position (ctrl + T)

Coordination with A/C locking onto UAV laser

Laser-guided cluster munition targeting UAV laser

Cluster munition detonation

UAV targeting ENY position

Air-to-surface maritine vessel targeting with radar lock-on

Laser Designator

UAV/Laser Designator Terminal Screen

Mortar team

Mortar Post-strike Damage

Same description as above

Kill Box Terminology

Established: a Kill Box is 'hot'; term is very similar to 'open'

On-Order: when a Kill Box is planned but not 'established/opened' at the current time

Canceled: The Kill Box is closed/canceled/no longer in effect

Open/Close: when an established Kill Box is in effect or when it no longer is in effect

Active: the Kill Box is being used/ENY targeted at the present moment

Cold: the Kill Box is not currently being used/targeted at the present time

Command & Control Responsibilities

3 types of control restrictions for Kill Boxes exists:

• altitude

• time

• lateral separation

Each Kill Box needs to have a coordinating commanding authority. That command is selected by the Fire Support Coordination Measure cell (FSCM). Coordination of all forces (land/sea/air) needs to be clearly written and explained in OPORDs. The commanding authority is often called the Joint Force Commander (JFC).

Common coordinating procedures:

• long-range fires (artillery/missile)

• fixed/rotary-winged A/C engagements

• ground/sea/air forces that need to traverse the Kill Box

Planning

To avoid confusion, Kill Boxes are listed using a standard format

Each Kill Box will have the:

• Head Quarter (HQ) responsible for its operation

• List whether a Blue or Purple Kill Box

• A 'name' for each Kill Box

• A control number in chronological order of use

• Date/Time/Group (DTG) of establishment AND cancellation

A Kill Box is graphically illustrated by black box/grid lines, or for Arma 3 it can be marked in blue/purple

Top left and bottom right corner grids taken for KB reference

Top left and bottom right corner grids taken for KB reference


Kill Box briefing

Execution

The first step in the execution phase of a Kill Box is when its established

An A/C in-bound for a KB will contact the JFC on a pre-selected frequency

The JFC will brief the A/C will any relevant information:

• Status of the KB (open/closed)

• Blue/Purple type

• coordinating instructions for other friendly forces in the area

• SEAD activities

https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2995385643

NFA/RFA

NFA - No Fire Area
NO type of fires allowed in the prescribed area


RFA - Restricted Fire Area
Selective fires allowed by exception only

Typical NFA/RFA include:

• friendly troops/equipment/supplies

• civilian population/infrastructure

NFA for civilian communication tower

RFA for friendly force in a hide (guns only; no bombs/missiles)

Kill Box Examples

3 Practical Exercise Examples

Example 1:
TASK: create and execute a Blue/Purple Kill Box of 1km square grid; conduct prior reconnaissance of the area;

CONDITION: dismounted ENY assets with no AA capabilities; daytime operation with unlimited visibility; possible inventory: 1 fixed-winged, rotary-winged, drone of choice

STANDARD: destroy >75% of ENY personnel


Example 2:
TASK: create and execute a Blue/Purple Kill Box of 1km square grid;

CONDITION: dismounted and mounted ENY assets with no AA capabilities; daytime operation with unlimited visibility; 1 fixed-winged, rotary-winged, drone of choice

STANDARD: destroy 100% of ENY tactical assets and >50% of ENY personnel


Example 3:
TASK: create and execute a Blue/Purple Kill Box of 1km square grid;

CONDITION: UNK ENY assets; daytime operation with unlimited visibility; 1 fixed-winged, rotary-winged, drone of choice

STANDARD: destroy >50% of ENY tactical assets and >50% of ENY personnel

Conclusion

Kill Boxes are described as:

• Blue or Purple

• open/close or hot/cold

• significant coordination with land/air/sea forces are needed

• Kill Box planners must prepare a briefing for pilots

• Pilots entering a Kill Box must contact the JFC and 'check-in'

• the JFC briefs the A/C with last minute details/information

Kill Boxes:

• are hasty or planned

• have specific open/closed times

Common deconflict measures for Kill Boxes are:

• altitude

• time

• lateral separation

Careful ENY analysis will help determine which type of A/C and surface fire to utilize
(does the ENY have AA capabilities; armor etc.)