Feuerkraft

Feuerkraft (firepower) is the capacity of a military force to deliver destructive effect on targets using its weapons and supporting assets. It encompasses the lethality of individual weapons, their range and accuracy, as well as the ability to deliver ammunition efficiently and under varying conditions. In doctrine, Feuerkraft is a measure of potential combat effect rather than a single metric.

Its components include weapon systems (infantry rifles, artillery, missiles), munitions, fire-control and targeting systems, crews and training, and logistics that sustain firing activity. It also depends on support arms such as air power, naval gunfire, and electronic warfare; and on the ability to observe, locate, and engage targets in a timely manner.

In planning, Feuerkraft is used to appraise expected effects on enemy forces, from destruction of materiel to suppression and denial. It is most effective when integrated with maneuver, protection, and reconnaissance in combined arms operations.

Historically, Feuerkraft has advanced with the development of longer-ranged weapons, higher rates of fire, and precision-guided munitions, shifting emphasis toward accuracy and sustainable fire rather than sheer volume. The modern approach privileges targeting efficiency, coordination of fire with sensors, and the minimization of civilian casualties.

Related topics include fire support, artillery, and combined arms.