Kill Box

A kill box is a three-dimensional fire support coordinating measure (FSCM) used to facilitate the expeditious air-to-surface lethal attack of targets, which may be augmented by or integrated with surface-to-surface indirect fires. While kill boxes are permissive FSCMs with respect to the deliverance of air-to-surface weapons they are also restrictive in nature; trajectories and effects of surface-to-surface indirect fires are not normally allowed to pass through the kill box. A kill box is a unique FSCM that may contain other measures within its boundaries [e.g., no-fire areas (NFAs), restricted operations area (ROAs), airspace coordination areas (ACAs), etc.]. Restrictive FSCMs and airspace control measures (ACMs) will always have priority when established in a kill box. When established, the primary purpose of a kill box is to allow air assets to conduct interdiction against surface targets without further coordination with the establishing commander and without terminal attack control. A kill box will not be established specifically for close air support (CAS) missions. However, this does not restrict CAS missions inside of established kill boxes if all CAS requirements are met. When used to integrate air-to-surface and surface-to-surface indirect fires, the kill box will have appropriate restrictions. The goal is to reduce the coordination required to fulfill support requirements with maximum flexibility, while preventing fratricide.

A kill box is established and adjusted by component commanders in consultation with superior, subordinate, supporting, and affected commanders, and is an extension of an existing support relationship established by the joint force commander (JFC). Kill box boundaries normally are defined using an area reference system (e.g., Appendix E, Common Geographic Reference System [CGRS]), but could follow well defined terrain features or may be located by grid coordinates or by a radius from a center point. Changes in the status of established kill boxes, as with other FSCMs and/or airspace control measures (ACMs), must be coordinated as far in advance as possible. All joint force coordinating agencies must inform their forces of the effective times and locations of new FSCMs and/or ACMs. Following the direction to execute the change, the component operations cells should confirm the changes to ensure that affected forces are aware of new FSCM and/or ACM locations and that associated positive control measures are being followed. The two types of kill boxes and the terminology used during the life cycle of a kill box are defined below:

1. Blue Kill Box. A blue kill box permits air-to-surface fires in the kill box without further coordination with the establishing headquarters.
2. Purple Kill Box. Same as above, plus a purple kill box permits the integration of surface-to-surface indirect fires with air-to-surface fires into the purple kill box without further coordination with the establishing headquarters.

Term used to describe a kill box that is in effect, either planned via the joint targeting cycle or immediate during execution. Information about the time it becomes established, the duration, and other attributes will be published and disseminated using existing voice and digital command and control (C2) systems (e.g., Automated Deep Operations Coordination System [ADOCS], Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System [AFATDS], theater battle management core system [TBMCS], or fragmentary order [FRAG order] from the establishing headquarters [HQ]).

For the full report see the link below.

https://info.publicintelligence.net/fm3_09x34.pdf