Why US Special Operations must rediscover Special Reconnaissance
For the first time in decades, the United States faces the possibility of fighting in an environment where it cannot assume persistent battlespace visibility. During the Global War on Terror, commanders enjoyed an unprecedented level of battlespace awareness. Intelligence that once took days to acquire could now be accessed in near real time. However, this paradigm is shifting.
Developments in the Russo-Ukrainian War demonstrate that ISR is significantly more contested due to EW, cUAS technology, and kinetic interventions. As the intelligence environment changes, the question remains the same: how can intelligence be maintained in denied and contested spaces when ISR can no longer be guaranteed? Historically, SOF provided deep penetration and specialized reconnaissance in areas where technical ISR was insufficient.
As persistent technical collection becomes increasingly contested, Special Reconnaissance may once again become one of SOF’s defining comparative advantages.
Read the full article >> smallwarsjournal.com/isr-special-reconnaissance
