text: Chapter 2
  2-73. The need for BDA for specific HPTs is determined during the decide function. BDA requirements
  should be recorded on the AGM and the information collection plan. The commander's decision must be
  made with the understanding that an asset used for BDA may not be available for target development or
  target acquisition. BDA information is received and processed by the ACE, and the results of engagement
  are analyzed in terms of desired effects. The results are disseminated to the targeting working group. The
  targeting working group must keep the following BDA principles in mind:
  * BDA must measure things that are important to commanders.
  * BDA must be objective. The intelligence officer should verify BDA received from another echelon
  if time permits. Intelligence officers strive to identify and resolve discrepancies between the BDA
  results at different HQ at all echelons.
  * The degree of reliability and credibility of the assessment relies largely upon collection resources.
  The quantity and quality of collection assets influence whether the assessment is highly reliable
  (concrete, quantifiable, and precise) or has low reliability (best guess). The collection manager
  plans and coordinates organic and nonorganic collection assets to obtain the most reliable
  information when conducting BDA for each HPT.
  2-74. BDA has three components. They are:
  * Physical damage assessment.
  * Functional damage assessment.
  * Target system assessment.
  Physical Damage Assessment
  2-75. Physical damage assessment estimates the quantitative extent of physical damage through munitions
  blast, fragmentation, and fire damage effects to a target. This assessment is based on observed or interpreted
  damage.
  Functional Damage Assessment
  2-76. Functional damage assessment estimates the effect of engagement on the target to perform its intended
  mission compared to the mission objective established against the target. This assessment is inferred based
  on all-source intelligence and includes an estimate of the time needed to replace the target function. A
  functional damage assessment is a temporary assessment (compared to target system assessment) used for
  specific missions.
  Target System Assessment
  2-77. Target system assessment is a broad assessment of the overall impact and effectiveness of all types of
  engagement against an entire target system capability, for example, enemy air defense artillery systems. It
  may also be applied against enemy unit combat effectiveness. A target system assessment may also look at
  subdivisions of the system compared to the commander's stated mission objectives. The target system
  assessment is a relatively permanent assessment (compared to a functional damage assessment) that will be
  used for more than one mission.
  2-78. BDA may take different forms besides the determination of the number of casualties, or the amount of
  equipment destroyed. Other information of use to the targeting working group includes, but not limited to,
  the following:
  * Whether the targets are moving or hardening in response to the engagement.
  * Changes in enemy behavior and techniques.
  * Increased communication efforts as the result of jamming.
  * Whether the damage resulting from an engagement is affecting the enemy's combat effectiveness
  as expected.
  2-79. BDA results may change plans and earlier decisions. The targeting working group must periodically
  update the targeting decisions and products made during the decide function.