Centralized Control With Decentralized Execution: Never Divide the Fleet?

Abstract

Air Force Doctrine Document 1, the USAF capstone doctrine document highlights the tenet of centralized control with decentralized execution as crucial to the effective application of airpower. However, numerous forces are changing the applicability of that doctrine. US involvement in wars with limited aims, combined with the technology which allows senior commanders to see the common operational picture and view from the cockpit is driving a trend towards the centralization of air power execution. At the same time, the development of Network Centric Warfare can either centralize or decentralize the control and execution of air power.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Feb 24, 2003
Accession Number
ADA424923

Entities

People

  • Daniel F. Baltrusaitis

Organizations

  • Air War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Autonomy
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Airborne Warning And Control System
  • Aircrafts
  • Autonomous Systems
  • Combat Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Control Systems
  • Employment
  • Military Organizations
  • Personnel Management
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Unmanned Systems
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.