Terrain shaping in modern warfare

For all the centuries in which conflict has existed, warriors – from the ancient Greeks, to medieval knights, to modern day warfighters – have faced multifaceted terrains, posing great challenges when it comes to navigating their surrounding environments. While it may not have always been referred to as terrain shaping, these same warriors have utilized tools and tactics to limit the enemy’s maneuverability on the battlefield and put themselves in a strategic position.

Over centuries, warfighters have utilized tools and tactics to limit the enemy’s maneuverability on the battlefield – known as terrain shaping – to create a tactical advantage. In today’s environment, with conflict rising in various regions across the globe, modern tools and tactics for terrain shaping are becoming increasingly mission critical. Forces are able to utilize terrain shaping, both offensively and defensively, to control and influence their operational environment, using the natural landscape to their advantage.

In offensive operations, terrain shaping is used to restrict the enemy’s mobility, create vulnerabilities, or funnel them into disadvantageous positions, enabling freedom of movement and maneuver. While in defensive operations, it is used to protect forces, delay or weaken enemy assaults and maximize the defender’s advantages, making it as difficult as possible for the enemy to advance.

There are a number of tactics for each type of operation, but traditional terrain shaping is incredibly soldier intensive and can slow operations down.

“You really want that process to be quick and effective,” said John, Director, Global Military Sales and Strategy for Textron Systems, and retired infantryman with 27 years of active duty experience. “The faster soldiers are able to get in a good defensive posture, the quicker they’re going to be able to resupply, reset and get back into the offense and increase agility.”

Militaries have, over time, developed techniques to get around traditional terrain shaping tactics, but modern forces are adding new solutions including top-attack munitions.

“Soldiers have never had to face top attack before,” John said. “With top attack, because you’re attacking from a standoff position, the current breaching techniques won’t work.”

Top attack, anti-vehicle munition systems, such as the XM204 and XM250, are key components in deterring the enemy, and are especially critical when considering the current international conflicts. This technology could aid in reestablishing borders, which would allow forces to set up additional dominant defenses to keep enemy forces out.

Across a variety of terrains and global regions, terrain shaping will continue to play a critical role in warfare.

“How we manage to use and fight the terrain is typically going to mean the difference between success and failure,” John said. “The ability of a commander to understand and use the terrain to their advantage is the difference between a successful operation and being defeated.”