text: Threats to be Countered by Short-Range Air Defense
  Due to the prolific use of unmanned systems, commercial off-the-shelf UASs are readily available and
  can be weaponized with relative ease. There are over 1,000 current and developing UAS programs worldwide
  today. UASs are typically comprised of a control element, communication systems, support elements, an
  unmanned aircraft, a payload or pod, and a human element.
  UASs serve as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance platforms for target detection,
  identification, and location; weapon targeting; target designation; and battle damage assessment. State-of-
  the-art sensors and data links provide real-time targeting for fire support systems, maneuver forces, and
  aircraft. UASs equipped with laser designators provide immediate targeting assistance and terminal guidance
  of munitions. UAS platforms also can serve as a means for weapons delivery or may themselves serve as the
  weapon, and have been used extensively to attack high payoff targets without endangering pilots.
  UASs have relatively low radar cross sections, low speed, and low thermal signatures, thus making
  them difficult to detect, track, and engage. They may enter a friendly area of operations from multiple
  directions. Mission-dictated flight profiles take full advantage of terrain, increasing system survivability and
  optimizing coverage. Flight altitudes for UASs vary by their size and mission. UASs conducting intelligence,
  surveillance, and reconnaissance missions operate at altitudes consistent with their sensor systems. They
  normally fly at altitudes safe from small arms fire; UASs which SHORAD forces may encounter can stand
  off and detect from up to 25 kilometers.
  MANNED ROTARY-WING AIRCRAFT
  Most countries maintain helicopter fleets to support military operations. While the majority of
  helicopters can be armed to perform a variety of roles, the attack helicopter poses the greatest threat to
  maneuver forces. The versatility and survivability of helicopters make them ideal for use in most combat
  areas.
  Threat ground force commanders rely primarily on helicopters to fulfill direct air support requirements.
  Helicopters can perform a variety of missions, including reconnaissance, intelligence, surveillance, and target
  acquisition; weapon targeting; target designation; battle damage assessment; troop insertion; and target
  attack. Hovering and low-flying helicopters, taking full advantage of terrain masking, are difficult to acquire
  and target.
  An especially challenging ingress technique is nap-of-the-earth flying, in which a helicopter hovers at
  a masked point, dashes to the next mask point, and hovers again. This technique is challenging because of
  short exposure times and varying between near-zero Doppler and moderate Doppler velocities.
  Improvements in fire control and weapon capabilities enable helicopters to search, acquire, and fire at ground
  targets from longer standoff ranges, thus increasing their survivability and effectiveness.
  MANNED FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT
  Air power remains essential to virtually every type of military operation, and it will continue to play a
  role in future conflicts despite the emergence of ballistic missiles and cruise missiles. There are more than
  40,000 operational military aircraft today; some 10,000 were produced during the Cold War era and are
  currently in third world inventories. Over 50 countries have an aviation industry of some kind, and over 20
  countries design their own aircraft.
  Manned fixed-wing combat aircraft are highly flexible and can perform a variety of missions in
  offensive and defensive operations: air interdiction, strategic attack, suppression of enemy air defense, close
  air support, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Fixed-wing aircraft can employ a variety of
  munitions, including bombs, guns, rockets, cruise missiles, and tactical air-to-surface missiles. Integrated
  navigation/bombing computers and related mission equipment provide new combat aircraft with a precision-
  strike capability, day or night and in bad weather.
  New aircraft incorporate such features as radar warning receivers, on-board jammers, chaff, flares, and
  a lower radar cross section to improve survivability and mission success rate. In addition, the proliferation of
  fixed-wing aircraft throughout the world increases the probability that opposing forces may employ the same
  type of aircraft in a conflict; this exacerbates the already challenging problem of identification.