Kill Chain (F2T2EA)
The operational sequence for dynamic targeting: Find, Fix, Track, Target, Engage, Assess.
Phases
| Phase | Activity | Key Systems |
|---|---|---|
| Find | Detect target existence | ISR platforms, SIGINT, HUMINT, OSINT |
| Fix | Determine target location | Geolocation, multi-INT fusion |
| Track | Maintain custody | Persistent ISR, tracking algorithms |
| Target | Select effector and plan engagement | C2 systems, weaponeering |
| Engage | Execute fires or effects | Kinetic/non-kinetic; any domain |
| Assess | Battle damage assessment | ISR, intelligence analysis |
SOCOM Application
SOF often operate across the entire kill chain, from HUMINT-driven find/fix to direct action engagement. Integration of AI/ML tools (like SOF_DE) accelerates the chain.
Army Theater Application
The Multi_Domain_Task_Force is the Army’s attempt to own an entire theater-range kill chain inside one brigade-equivalent formation. The Multi_Domain_Effects_Battalion does find, fix, and track with long-endurance unmanned aircraft, high-altitude balloons, TLS-EAB signals collection, and the TITAN fusion ground station. The Long_Range_Fires_Battalion does engage with HIMARS, Typhon, and Dark_Eagle.
The constraint at this scale is not detection or missile range. It is track custody across the flight time of the weapon, which for a Tomahawk against a ship under way can exceed an hour. See Sensor_to_Shooter for the full chain and diagram, and Long_Range_Precision_Fires for the portfolio that fills the engage step.