Which phase involves identifying and neutralizing enemy indirect fire weapons once acquired to achieve combat objectives?

In the context of fire support operations, the phase that focuses on effectively addressing and neutralizing enemy indirect fire weapons once they have been identified is known as Reactive Counterfire. This phase is predominantly concerned with responding to the threat posed by enemy artillery, mortars, or rocket fire that has already been detected. The goal is to quickly locate and destroy these weapons to mitigate their impact on friendly forces and protect combat objectives.

Reactive Counterfire typically involves the use of intelligence to pinpoint enemy positions and employs various artillery systems or air support to deliver a counter-strike against the identified threats. This ensures that the enemy can't continue to disrupt friendly operations or inflict casualties through indirect fire.

In contrast, Proactive Counterfire refers to efforts made to preemptively target potential enemy positions before they can initiate fire on friendly units. Defensive maneuvers involve various tactics employed to protect forces from enemy action, while air support operations are generally focused on providing aerial firepower to assist ground troops without the specific focus of countering indirect fire threats. Each of these alternatives serves a different purpose within the overall strategy of military operations.