The Death of Information Operations: Making the Case for Non-Kinetic Operations

Abstract

Across the Air Force, Airmen agree that Information Operations "IO" is a topic worthy of our attention, but few Airmen can agree on exactly what IO is. The primary source of this confusion traces back to the very label we are using. The word information in its name implies a direct and exclusive relationship between IO and Information Superiority as well as the Information Domain. Another contributing factor is the persistent confusion between influence capabilities, provided by IO, and influence effects, the essence of all warfare. In the end, reliance on information as the common denominator for this set of capabilities eventually led to IO tribalism within the Air Force and an inefficient "everything is IO" mindset. If Air Force IO is going to provide relevant and useful engagement options to commanders, it must bring specific capabilities to the fight not already clearly defined in our air warfare, space operations, or mobility doctrine. The Air Force made significant progress by streamlining its version of IO in January 2005, but still did not clearly define a replacement for information as the entrance qualifier for IO doctrine. Without a common "glue" to bind these capabilities, IO is simply a conglomeration of unrelated and otherwise orphaned mission areas. This research paper examines IO concept development over the last decade and investigates some of the problems resulting from recent Air Force IO terminology and doctrine. Based on a vision for the seamless integration of kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities, this paper proposes discarding the misnomer IO in favor of a new term, "Non-Kinetic Operations". More than just a name change, this new label represents the glue that binds Electronic Warfare, Influence Operations, and Network Warfare Operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 2005
Accession Number
ADA476299

Entities

People

  • Kelly G. Robinson

Organizations

  • Air Command and Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Counter WMD
  • Cyber
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Combat Areas
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Electronic Warfare
  • Information Operations
  • Information Systems
  • Information Warfare
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Psychological Operations
  • Unified Combatant Commands
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.

Technology Areas

  • Microelectronics
  • Space