STUDIES OF CLOSE SUPPORT FOR LAND FORCES

SEC. 1102. STUDIES OF CLOSE SUPPORT FOR LAND FORCES (a) Secretary of Defense Study.—The Secretary of Defense shall conduct a study of close support, including close air support. (b) Contractor Study.—In conducting the study required by subsection (a), the Secretary shall provide for a study to be conducted by the Institute for Defense Analysis, a Federal contract research center. The Institute shall submit a report to the Secretary on such study at such time before March I, 1990, as the Secretary may require. (c) JCS Study.—The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff shall conduct a study of close support, including close air support. The Chairman shall submit a report to the Secretary of Defense on such study at such time before March 1, 1990, as the Secretary may require. (d) Studies To Be Independent.—Each study under subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall be conducted independently of the others. (e) Matters To Be Included.—The studies conducted under subsections (a), (b), and (c) shall include consideration of each of the following: (1) The nature of the present, and anticipated future, battlefield across a representative set of conflict levels. (2) The requirements of the land force for close support across this representative set of conflict levels in terms of targets and time, including the lessons of recent combat experience. (3) With regard to the battlefields and close support requirements identified pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2), the current and anticipated ground and air systems capable of meeting these requirements. 103 STAT. 1553 (4) With regard to these major systems, their significant characteristics in terms of effectiveness, integration with allies, command and control, survivability, and life-cycle cost. (5) The implications (in terms of roles and missions) of the selection of, or failure to select, each of these major systems as part of an appropriate force structure. (f) Report to Congress.—The Secretary of Defense shall submit to Congress a report on the studies conducted under this section. The report shall include— (1) the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the Secretary in the study conducted by the Secretary under subsection (a) with respect to each of the matters set forth in subsection (e); (2) copies of the reports to the Secretary under subsections (b) and (c), including the findings, conclusions, and recommendations contained in those reports; and (3) such comments on those reports as the Secretary considers appropriate. (g) Time for Submission.—The report required under subsection (f) shall be submitted not later than March 1, 1990. (h) Close Air Support Defined.—For purposes of this section, the term “close air support”, as defined in Joint Chiefs of Staff Publication 1, dated June 1, 1987, means air action against hostile targets which are in close proximity to friendly forces and which require detailed integration of each air mission with the fire and movement of those forces.