The Airspace Control System- A Key to Operational Maneuver
Abstract
The Airspace Control System - A Key to Operational Maneuver The Airspace Control System (ACS) was developed out of a need to conduct operational maneuver and still protect the safety of forces in any combat environment. This paper examines the tension that is created between the force conservation focus of the ACS and the Joint Forces Commander's need to freely conduct operational maneuver to achieve decisive advantages over the enemy. The discussion begins with a historical illustration of ACS trends, which explores operations that were constrained due to inadequate freedom of maneuver, ill-conceived command and control, and tactics that risked air and ground forces. It will be shown that joint doctrine today still fosters these trends by not delineating an adequate means to achieve desired fundamentals of war via the ACS. Further complicating what the ACS can deliver are service-centric Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) systems that detract from the ability to positively control and protect users due to inadequate interoperability and standardization. Joint Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures (JTTP's) attempt to integrate overarching joint doctrine and service-centric C4I systems, but limit maneuver in the interest of safety. In order to mitigate the tension between the force conservation focus of the ACS and the need to freely conduct operational maneuver, it is necessary to revise joint doctrinal and JTTP methodology, as well as enhance joint ACS training in order to understand and overcome some of the self-imposed limits. In order to eventually eliminate this tension, which is vital to future military effectiveness, the joint community and services must develop, acquire, and program/fund a truly joint net-centric ACS that can safely integrate, manage, and harness positive control of all users and missions in real time.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 09, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA422799
Entities
People
- Brian R. Bruckbauer
Organizations
- Naval War College