The Need to Change the Cultural Bias in the United States Air Force Against Close Air Support and to Reactivate the ABCCC

Abstract

The omission of close air support planning for Operation ANACONDA illustrates a profound short sightedness in US air and land force component commanders. This shortsightedness is a logical consequence of a cultural bias in the USAF that originates from its earliest beginnings. It is critical the USAF change its culture to build an efficient CAS capability to help ensure victory in future wars. Next the USAF must build up enablers to optimize its entire fighter-bomber inventory for efficient CAS execution. Specifically, the USAF should reconstruct its Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Center (ABCCC) capability and significantly increase the number of terminal air controllers to embed in small conventional and special operations ground units. Ultimately, the USAF needs to ensure the viability of its CAS mission in order to secure the asymmetric advantage tactical air promises to deliver in future warfare.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA491384

Entities

People

  • Michael J. Pfingsten

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Afghanistan Conflict
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Attrition
  • Combat Areas
  • Command And Control
  • Control Systems
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Joint Military Activities
  • Military Organizations
  • Rotary Wing Aircraft
  • United States
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design

Technology Areas

  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control