Controversial EABO concept has potential but will be scrutinized, speaker says

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The Marine Corps’ concept of deploying small, lightly armed but highly mobile forces in isolated locations within an enemy’s weapon engagement zone — known as Expeditionary Altitude Base Operations — is strategically It has the potential to quickly deploy troops in critical areas. Responding to evolving threats when other U.S. military assets are unavailable, a senior Marine Corps officer said on April 5.

In addition to being a threat response, Maj. Gen. Benjamin Watson of the Marine Corps Combat Research Institute said it could also act as a deterrent by discouraging an adversary from thinking before taking aggressive action. I said yes. -Air Space 2022.

The EABO proposal is controversial, but Marine Corps Commander General David Berger implemented a dramatic restructuring of the Marine Corps to facilitate it, slashing heavy weapons such as tanks and towed artillery. One of the reasons for this is the reduction in overall final strength.

Watson stressed, however, that EABO is a “naval concept”, endorsed by both Berger and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Michael Gilday, and that it will directly involve Navy assets, including carrier battle groups.

And EABO” is the concept. That hasn’t been proven yet,” Watson said, reinforced by other officials on the panel.

brig. His Expeditionary Warfare Director of the Navy Staff, General David Odom, resonated with both the naval aspect of EABO and the intensity of the experimental process ahead. Odom cited a number of recent exercises, including his Nobile Focus, which involved two Marine Expeditionary Forces, the Navy’s surface action ships, and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces. This exercise and subsequent trials tested one of the key challenges of the EABO concept: how to support and maintain these isolated units.

Maintenance and support issues must be addressed by substantial “engineering” work, including procurement of new amphibious vessels and unmanned systems, Odom said.

The Marine Corps is pushing for the production of a light amphibious combat vehicle that is much smaller and more agile than existing amphibious vehicles. The new Navy budget proposed delaying the start of the LAW program.

Tim Kao, vice president of data science at the Center for Naval Analysis, pointed out that the development of precision anti-ship missiles and other systems by potential adversaries such as China creates maintenance challenges. Operation Desert Storm.

Kao said that when considering EABO, “we must seriously consider how it will contribute to deterrence.”

Retired Maj. Gen. Jamie Barnett, vice president of global communications solutions at Viasat, said his company’s large and growing constellation of communications satellites will help ensure that EABO units are not isolated by providing secure connections. I said I could help the EABO unit.