Command and Control wins fight

  • Published
  • By Gen. Hal Hornburg
  • Commander, Air Combat Command
Simply put, Air Combat Command's mission is to develop and nurture airmen, be prepared to deploy and be prepared to fight. Our six focus areas -- people, expeditionary operations, command and control, information operations, infrastructure and transformation -- prioritize our limited resources.

My philosophy is: "If you don't control it, you can't command it. And if we don't (control it), somebody else will."

The science of control depends on the fusion of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance enabled by communications and computers. Their contributions are clear, but don't lose sight of the objective: command, and I don't mean blindly executing an air tasking order created two days earlier.

The art of command requires the ability to steer airpower as the battle rhythm dictates, independent of the rigid ATO cycle.

The Air Force's concept for the joint forces air component commander was first validated in Operation Desert Storm. The JFACC commands the air campaign from the air and space operations center and is responsible for the centralized control of all theater air and space operations in support of the joint forces commander. A robust command and control architecture lays the foundation for decentralized execution by putting the commander's intent in the hands of combat forces empowered to make tactical decisions.

The JFACC is primarily concerned with the answers to two questions throughout a campaign: "What's going on?" and "Did we achieve the desired effect?" Today, these answers are provided by our fleet of C2 battle management and ISR weapon systems like the AOC, AWACS, Rivet Joint, JSTARS, U2 and Predator. Each has impressive sensor and communication suites capable of detecting, tracking and identifying the full spectrum of enemy action. However, most of these platforms send their respective sensor products back to proprietary ground stations or tribal liaison cells. This "stovepiping" of information causes unnecessary delays between sensor, decision-maker, and ultimately, shooter.

Emerging information technologies and capabilities-based acquisition will dramatically enhance the speed and efficiency of future command and control systems. I see a future where C2 battle management and ISR are merged into a seamless capability where timely, accurate, and relevant information is rapidly transferred to decision makers.

This capability, when fused into a common operational picture, will allow commanders and operators to compress the sensor-to-shooter kill chain down to seconds instead of minutes.

Compared to Desert Storm, where it often took more than a day to get from sensor to kill, commanders will fight future conflicts with real-time, persistent ISR and instantaneous C2 battle management capabilities. I see a future where the flight time of the weapon is the longest part of the kill-chain.

It has been said the goal in war is "to make your enemy do something you want him to do even though he doesn't want to do it." It is no coincidence this sounds like a definition of leadership. As the primary force provider for our nation's combat airpower capabilities, it is our responsibility to shape and define both the thrust and vector of transforming Air Force command, control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

We will continue to work with the Air Force warfighting integration staff and the AFC2ISR Center as they develop and integrate future C2ISR capabilities. Future JFACCs must have the right mix of command and control capabilities to attack with overwhelming precision against any threat.

When we do this, our adversaries won't be able to fly to the fight, drive to the fight or control forces in the fight without us knowing about it. Our commanders will shape future conflicts with this level of battlespace awareness. (Courtesy of Air Combat Command News Service)