ADP 3-90, page 55

The Offense 31 July 2019 ADP 3-90 3-15  Protect attacking troops, systems, and supplies by only moving them into attack positions at the last possible moment.  Counter enemy target acquisition efforts by effectively using counter-reconnaissance and security operations, military deception, cover, and concealment.  Target enemy command and control nodes to disrupt them.  Exploit initial penetrations of enemy defensive positions to the maximum extent possible. (Overrunning enemy artillery systems, command and control nodes, and sustainment assets will seriously degrade a defending enemy force’s combat power.) The method or methods attacking commanders employ depend on the applicable mission variables. 3-93. Preparation fires are normally high-volume fires delivered over a short period to maximize surprise and shock effects. These preparation fires also include the conduct of electronic warfare and offensive cyberspace operations. They can continue while ground maneuver elements are moving or maneuvering during the conduct of the offense. 3-94. Artillery and mortars occupy positions that are well forward and within supporting range of the flanks of attacking maneuver forces to provide responsive indirect fires. Commanders consider the effect that movement has on the available amount of fire support. When facing an enemy with a highly sophisticated integrated fires complex, disaggregation of friendly artillery to the section level may be required for survivability. Commanders support their decisive operations by designating priority of fires. Their main efforts before their initiation of their decisive operation generally have priority of fires. They place coordinated fire lines as close to their units as possible without interfering with the maneuver of their forces. They plan on-order coordinated fire lines that shift as their forces move and maneuver. This allows the rapid engagement of targets beyond these coordinated fire lines by the maximum number of available systems. 3-95. The effective assignment of Army forward observers, joint fires observers, and target acquisition assets to quick fire networks facilitates responsive fires. Quick fire networks allow the lead observers to communicate directly with specific field artillery or mortar firing units. These communication arrangements enhance responsiveness through streamlined networks and focused priorities. Communications planning also includes the need for communications networks for the rapid clearing of targets for rotary- and fixed-wing attacks. 3-96. Commanders conduct information operations to support the offense with both lethal and nonlethal effects. Through their scheme of information operations, commanders establish objectives in the information environment and synchronize information-related capabilities to achieve these objectives through the creation of specific effects. Electronic warfare jamming resources and available supporting cyberspace assets concentrate on neutralizing enemy fire control, target acquisition, and information collection assets as a friendly force moves through an enemy’s disruption zone and closes into an enemy’s main defensive positions in the battle zone. Commanders use military deception to prevent an enemy force from determining the location and objective of a friendly decisive operation. In addition, intelligence sensors provide guidance to both friendly jammers and lethal indirect fire weapon systems, so attacking units can destroy enemy command and control nodes, reconnaissance and surveillance assets, artillery, and other high-payoff targets. Air and Missile Defense 3-97. Commanders should never assume friendly air superiority. A ground force’s primary air defense systems are joint fighter aircraft conducting offensive counterair operations. These systems are operated by the joint force air component commander. Air and missile defense systems include organic or attached mounted or dismounted maneuver short-range air defense systems. During mission analysis, commanders, informed by the air defense coordinator, determine the air threat and its effect on the operation. During offensive operations, commanders direct the positioning of available organic or supporting radars and short- range air defense systems to locations where they can best support the unit’s attack in accordance with the critical and defended asset lists. The air defense and airspace management element in a unit staff ensures that it has communications with the appropriate air and missile defense organization’s command post. 3-98. The supporting air and missile defense command post provides additional information to supported units, clarifying the air defense situation. This includes information on the engagement of air threats by the joint force air component commander and Army air defense systems. Attacking units concentrate on