Liberty and Lethality: Integrating MC-12W Liberty and Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance Aircraft operations

Abstract

Responding to comments made by the Secretary of Defense in April 2008, the United States Air Force began procuring thirty-seven C-12 class aircraft to augment existing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems already operating in the United States Central Command's area of responsibility. However, this effort did not mark the beginning of studies directed at employing off-the-self, mission specialized aircraft for conducting counterinsurgency (COIN) operations. In addition to the MC-12W Liberty aircraft, the USAF was also studying a project designed to provide low cost air support to forces engaged in counterinsurgency operations. The Air Force called this project the Observation/Attack-X or Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance aircraft. Due to similar performance, electro-optical, infrared, imagery collection, and communication reach-back capabilities, these aircraft are both technically capable of performing Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance and Forward Air Controller-Airborne missions, but there are no current plans for the aircraft to share these mission areas. This study utilizes government requests for information, contracting data, capabilities and need statements, service memoranda, contractor produced publications, flight manuals, training programs, and doctrinal publications to answer the question; can the MC-12W Liberty and Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance aircraft perform common roles and missions while integrating operations, in order to maximize their support to COIN operations? This study begins by detailing the operational requirements and historical events that led to the acquisition of the MC-12W Liberty aircraft. It also introduces the requirements for a Light Attack/Armed Reconnaissance aircraft.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 20, 2010
Accession Number
ADA523208

Entities

People

  • Steven J. Tittel

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Sensors
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Aircraft Equipment
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Anti-Tank Missiles
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Laser Target Designators
  • Military History
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Precision-Guided Munitions
  • Students
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Government and Public Administration Law.
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies