ADP 3-90, page 54

Chapter 3 3-14 ADP 3-90 31 July 2019 3-85. Commanders and staffs use the IPB process to identify aspects of the AO or area of interest across relevant domains that affect enemy and friendly operations. The IPB process is collaborative and requires information from staff elements and subordinate units. All staff and subordinate elements use the results and products of the IPB process for planning. (See ADP 2-0 and ATP 2-01.3 for discussions of the IPB process.) 3-86. The intelligence process contributes to all warfighting functions. It helps commanders protect subordinate forces and identify key terrain, obstacles, and trafficability. IPB provides the basis for line of sight overlays and situation templates. Line of sight overlays help protect the force. If an enemy force cannot observe a friendly force, that enemy force cannot engage the friendly force with direct fire weapons. Situation templates also help protect the force. If they know how fast enemy forces can respond, commanders can sequence their operations, so they occur at times and places where enemy forces cannot respond effectively. Situation templates address terrain, mobility corridors, artillery range fans, movement times between enemy reserve assembly area locations and advancing friendly forces, and other related intelligence variables. FIRES 3-87. The targeting process ensures the collective and coordinated use of Army indirect fires, air and missile defense, and joint fires to gain and maintain fire superiority. Commanders use a variety of methods and assets to achieve lethal and nonlethal effects on enemy forces to enable friendly maneuver. Army Indirect Fires and Joint Fires in the Offense 3-88. The use of preparation fires, counterfires, suppression and destruction fires, information operations, cyberspace operations, and electronic warfare all contribute to gaining and maintaining fire superiority. Commanders use long-range artillery systems (cannon, rocket, and missile) and joint fires (such as naval surface fire support, air support, information operations, offensive cyberspace operations, and electronic attack) to engage enemy forces throughout the depth of their defensive positions. 3-89. Fire support planning is the continuing process of analyzing, allocating, and scheduling fires. It determines how commanders employ available fires, what types of targets to attack, what collection assets units use to acquire and track those targets, what assets it uses to attack those targets, and what assets verify effects on targets. This planning does not stop at the objective or LOA. Coordination among fire cells and the proper use of FSCMs at each echelon are critical in preventing fratricide while enabling the simultaneity of fires delivery with forces operating on the ground and in the air. 3-90. The fire support coordinator or chief of fires (depending on the echelon) integrates fires into a unit’s scheme of maneuver for its commander. The fire support coordinator or chief of fires supports the unit’s maneuver by planning preparation fires, harassing fires, interdiction fires, suppressive and destruction fires, and fires to support military deception activities. These fires can be time or event driven. The fire support coordinator or chief of fires plans fires on known and likely enemy positions. Successful massing of indirect fires, cyberspace effects, and joint fixed-wing attacks requires a fires cell that is proficient in tracking friendly indirect fire asset positions and knows weapons employment requirements. It also requires a tactical air control party proficient in the timely execution of close air support. Fire planning reconciles top-down planning and bottom-up refinement. 3-91. As an attacking force moves forward, preparation fires neutralize, suppress, or destroy enemy positions. Commanders assess the probable effects of preparation fires against losing a degree of surprise or increasing their vulnerability to counterfires when determining whether to fire an artillery preparation. Commanders may also decide to employ precision munitions against selected high-payoff targets to negate the requirement for long duration preparation fires using standard munitions. 3-92. A defending enemy force possessing artillery, rocket, cyberspace, and electronic warfare capabilities seeks to use any advantage to disrupt friendly command or control, fire support, information collection, and sustainment activities. Methods that an attacking force could employ when faced with a defending enemy force enjoying superior fire support capabilities include—  Target selected enemy forces to enable the forward displacement of friendly fire support systems.  Disperse attacking troops, systems, and supplies as much as is possible.