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Air & Space Air & Space FunctionsFunctions

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If you are an airmanIf you are an airmanthen you believe that airpower, then you believe that airpower,

if used in certain ways,if used in certain ways,will achieve victorywill achieve victory

more quickly than if usedmore quickly than if usedin other ways.in other ways.

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• Levels of Air & Space DoctrineLevels of Air & Space Doctrine• Functions of Air & Space PowerFunctions of Air & Space Power

• CounterairCounterair• CounterspaceCounterspace• CounterlandCounterland• CounterseaCountersea• Strategic AttackStrategic Attack• CounterinformationCounterinformation• Command & ControlCommand & Control

OverviewOverview

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Air & Space FunctionsAir & Space Functions• AirliftAirlift• Air RefuelingAir Refueling• SpaceliftSpacelift• Special Operations EmploymentSpecial Operations Employment• IntelligenceIntelligence• SurveillanceSurveillance• ReconnaissanceReconnaissance• Combat Search & RescueCombat Search & Rescue• Navigation & PositioningNavigation & Positioning• Weather ServicesWeather Services

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• Levels of Air & Space DoctrineLevels of Air & Space Doctrine• BasicBasic• Operational Operational • TacticalTactical

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3 Levels of Doctrine3 Levels of Doctrine

• Basic Doctrine (AFDD 1)Basic Doctrine (AFDD 1)• Most fundamental and enduring beliefs that Most fundamental and enduring beliefs that

guideguide proper use of air & space forces proper use of air & space forces• NOT a checklist or scientific formulaNOT a checklist or scientific formula

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3 Levels of Doctrine3 Levels of Doctrine

• Operational Doctrine (AFDD 2)Operational Doctrine (AFDD 2)• More detailed organization of air & More detailed organization of air &

space forcesspace forces• Tactical DoctrineTactical Doctrine

• Most detailedMost detailed• Codified in AFTTP 3-series (Air Codified in AFTTP 3-series (Air

Force Tactics, Techniques, and Force Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures)Procedures)

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• Functions of Air & Space PowerFunctions of Air & Space Power• broad, fundamental, and continuing broad, fundamental, and continuing

activities of air and space poweractivities of air and space power • not necessarily unique to the Air not necessarily unique to the Air

ForceForce • these battle-proven functions can be these battle-proven functions can be

conducted at any level of war and conducted at any level of war and enable the Air Force to shape and enable the Air Force to shape and control the battlespacecontrol the battlespace

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CounterairCounterair

““... attain and maintain...... attain and maintain...air air superioritysuperiority by the destruction or by the destruction or neutralization of enemy forces”neutralization of enemy forces”

AFDD 1

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• Traditional war:Traditional war: defense >>> offense defense >>> offense• Airpower:Airpower: offense > defense offense > defense

• Ability to mass quickly and decisivelyAbility to mass quickly and decisively• SpeedSpeed• Range (strike at enemy’s core)Range (strike at enemy’s core)• SurpriseSurprise

Offense vs. DefenseOffense vs. Defense

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Potential Counterair TargetsPotential Counterair Targets

• AircraftAircraft• Airbases and launch facilitiesAirbases and launch facilities• AircrewsAircrews• Warning and control facilitiesWarning and control facilities• Surface based air defenseSurface based air defense

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• Traditional role most think aboutTraditional role most think about• Good opportunity to destroy both Good opportunity to destroy both

crews and airframescrews and airframes• Can be extremely dangerousCan be extremely dangerous

AircraftAircraft

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Airbases Or Airbases Or Launch FacilitiesLaunch Facilities

• If the aircraft can’t be flown, they’re If the aircraft can’t be flown, they’re not a threatnot a threat

• Very efficient way to destroy aircraftVery efficient way to destroy aircraft

(on the ground)(on the ground)• Can attack logisticsCan attack logistics

• POL, munitions, etcPOL, munitions, etc

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AircrewsAircrews

• You need someone to fly the You need someone to fly the plane!plane!

• Cost & time to train a pilot is Cost & time to train a pilot is very significantvery significant

• Attack in the airAttack in the air• Attack on the groundAttack on the ground

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Warning And Control Warning And Control FacilitiesFacilities

• Effectively eliminate the enemy’s ability to Effectively eliminate the enemy’s ability to think, communicate, or gather intelligencethink, communicate, or gather intelligence• Render enemy deaf, dumb, and blind...Render enemy deaf, dumb, and blind...

• Information WarfareInformation Warfare• Disrupt enemy information capabilitiesDisrupt enemy information capabilities• Enemy incapable of mounting coordinated defense Enemy incapable of mounting coordinated defense

efforteffort

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Surface-based Air DefensesSurface-based Air Defenses

• Surface to air missiles (SAMs)Surface to air missiles (SAMs)• Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)Anti-Aircraft Artillery (AAA)• Extremely lethal to aircraftExtremely lethal to aircraft

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CounterspaceCounterspace

““..attain & maintain.....attain & maintain...space space superioritysuperiority by the destruction by the destruction or neutralization of enemy or neutralization of enemy forces”forces” AFDD 1

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CounterspaceCounterspace

• Offensive CounterspaceOffensive Counterspace• DeceptionDeception• DisruptionDisruption• DenialDenial• DegradationDegradation• DestructionDestruction

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CounterspaceCounterspace

• Defensive CounterspaceDefensive Counterspace• Active & passive actions which Active & passive actions which

protect our space-related protect our space-related capabilities from enemy attack or capabilities from enemy attack or interferenceinterference

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CounterlandCounterland

““...attain & maintain...superiority over ...attain & maintain...superiority over surface operationssurface operations by the destruction by the destruction or neutralization of enemy surface or neutralization of enemy surface forces”forces”

AFDD 1

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• DisruptingDisrupting, , delayingdelaying, or , or destroyingdestroying the the enemy’s forces enemy’s forces before it can be used before it can be used against friendly forcesagainst friendly forces..

• Two types of interdiction attack targetsTwo types of interdiction attack targets• Military weapon systems (tanks)Military weapon systems (tanks)• Military supplies (POL)Military supplies (POL)

InterdictionInterdiction

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• One of airpower’s most flexible and powerful One of airpower’s most flexible and powerful usesuses• Strike at enemy forces w/o having to fight themStrike at enemy forces w/o having to fight them• Disrupts enemy’s offensive operationsDisrupts enemy’s offensive operations• Very powerful force enhancerVery powerful force enhancer

InterdictionInterdiction

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• Air operations against hostile targets in the Air operations against hostile targets in the close proximityclose proximity to friendly forces….. to friendly forces…..

• Occurs in or near battlefieldOccurs in or near battlefield

Close Air SupportClose Air Support

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• Provides direct support of Provides direct support of friendlyfriendly surface surface forcesforces

• Can seriously disrupt enemy’s will to fight!Can seriously disrupt enemy’s will to fight!• Most focused, yet briefest effectsMost focused, yet briefest effects of all of all

counterland missionscounterland missions• At times, may be most critical missionAt times, may be most critical mission• Should be used at battle’s most decisive pointShould be used at battle’s most decisive point

Close Air SupportClose Air Support

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• “…“….extensions of Air Force functions into a maritime environment”.extensions of Air Force functions into a maritime environment”• Objective: Objective:

• Gain control of the mediumGain control of the medium• Support of naval forces (or independently)Support of naval forces (or independently)

CounterseaCountersea

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““...operations intended to directly achieve ...operations intended to directly achieve strategic effects by striking at the enemy’s strategic effects by striking at the enemy’s centers of gravity”centers of gravity” (COG) (COG)

AFDD 1AFDD 1The point where:The point where:

• the the enemy is most vulnerableenemy is most vulnerable• an an attack will have the best chanceattack will have the best chance of being of being

decisive.decisive. Col John Warden, Col John Warden, The Air CampaignThe Air Campaign

Strategic AttackStrategic Attack

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• Striking enemy in the coreStriking enemy in the core• Bring enemy to it kneesBring enemy to it knees• Stop enemy’s will to fightStop enemy’s will to fight

• Possible strategic attack targetsPossible strategic attack targets• National leadershipNational leadership• Command & control (C2)Command & control (C2)• War production facilitiesWar production facilities• InfrastructureInfrastructure

Strategic AttackStrategic Attack

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CounterinformationCounterinformation

• Seeks to establish Seeks to establish information information superioritysuperiority through control of the through control of the information realminformation realm

• FocusFocus: countering the enemy’s : countering the enemy’s ability to attain information ability to attain information advantageadvantage

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CounterinformationCounterinformation

• Offensive CounterinformationOffensive Counterinformation• Disable/degrade selected enemy information Disable/degrade selected enemy information

opsops• EX: Jamming radars, deception, PSYOPSEX: Jamming radars, deception, PSYOPS

• Defensive Counterinformation Defensive Counterinformation • Protecting our informationProtecting our information• EX: OPSEC, COMSECEX: OPSEC, COMSEC

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Command & Control (C2)Command & Control (C2)

• Process by which Process by which • the commander decides what action is the commander decides what action is

to be takento be taken• the system monitors the the system monitors the

implementation of the decision implementation of the decision

(AFDD (AFDD 1)1)

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Command & Control (C2)Command & Control (C2)

• C2 includes the battlespace management C2 includes the battlespace management process of process of planningplanning, , directingdirecting, , coordinatingcoordinating, and , and controllingcontrolling forces & forces & operationsoperations• Accomplished across the entire range of Accomplished across the entire range of

military operationsmilitary operations

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• Levels of Air & Space DoctrineLevels of Air & Space Doctrine• Functions of Air & Space PowerFunctions of Air & Space Power

• CounterairCounterair• CounterspaceCounterspace• CounterlandCounterland• CounterseaCountersea• Strategic AttackStrategic Attack• CounterinformationCounterinformation• Command & ControlCommand & Control

Interim SummaryInterim Summary

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AirliftAirlift

• The transportation of personnel and The transportation of personnel and material through the air, and can be material through the air, and can be applied across the entire range of applied across the entire range of military operations in support of national military operations in support of national objectivesobjectives

AFDD 1

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AirliftAirlift• Foundation of US national securityFoundation of US national security

• Vital component of US defense policyVital component of US defense policy• Critical support of overall national Critical support of overall national

policy/objectivespolicy/objectives• 3 levels of airlift3 levels of airlift

• Intertheater (strategic)Intertheater (strategic)• Intratheater (theater)Intratheater (theater)• Operational supportOperational support

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3 Levels of Airlift3 Levels of Airlift• Intertheater (C-5, C-141, C-17)Intertheater (C-5, C-141, C-17)

• Air bridge linking Air bridge linking theaters to CONUStheaters to CONUS, to , to other other theaterstheaters, and , and within CONUSwithin CONUS

• Intratheater (C-130)Intratheater (C-130)• Air movement of personnel & material within a Air movement of personnel & material within a

CINC’s area of responsibility (theater)CINC’s area of responsibility (theater)• Operational Support (C-12, C-20, C-21)Operational Support (C-12, C-20, C-21)

• Timely movement of limited numbers of critical Timely movement of limited numbers of critical personnel & cargo for the assigned userpersonnel & cargo for the assigned user

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Air RefuelingAir Refueling

AFDD 1

• The capability to refuel aircraft in flight, The capability to refuel aircraft in flight, which extends presence, increases range, which extends presence, increases range, and allows air forces to bypass areas of and allows air forces to bypass areas of potential troublepotential trouble

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• Expands employment options by commander Expands employment options by commander by increasingby increasing• RangeRange• PayloadPayload• FlexibilityFlexibility

• Integral part of US airpower across the range Integral part of US airpower across the range of military operationsof military operations

• Essential in the ability to conduct air Essential in the ability to conduct air operations worldwideoperations worldwide

Air RefuelingAir Refueling

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Air RefuelingAir Refueling5 Basic Modes of Operation5 Basic Modes of Operation

• Support of nuclear Single Integrated Operation Support of nuclear Single Integrated Operation Plan (SIOP)Plan (SIOP)• Support of long-range conventional strategic Support of long-range conventional strategic attack missionsattack missions• Deployment of air assets to a theaterDeployment of air assets to a theater• Support of airlift line of communication or air Support of airlift line of communication or air bridgebridge• Support of combat & combat-support aircraft Support of combat & combat-support aircraft operating within a theateroperating within a theater

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SpaceliftSpacelift

• Projects power by delivering satellites, Projects power by delivering satellites, payloads, and material into or through payloads, and material into or through space (AFDD 1)space (AFDD 1)

• Objective:Objective:• Launch or deploy new and replenishment Launch or deploy new and replenishment

space assets as necessary to achieve national space assets as necessary to achieve national security objectivessecurity objectives

• Must be flexible, functional, timely and Must be flexible, functional, timely and responsive to user’s needsresponsive to user’s needs

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3 Types of Spacelift Launches

• Launch to Deploy– Initially achieve a satellite system’s designed

operational capability

• Launch to Sustain– Replace satellites that are predicted that to fail or

abruptly fail

• Launch to Augment– Increase operational capability in response to

contingency requirements, crises, or war

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Special Operations Special Operations EmploymentEmployment

The use of airpower operations to The use of airpower operations to conduct unconventional warfare, conduct unconventional warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance, direct action, special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, foreign internal counterterrorism, foreign internal defense, psychological operations, defense, psychological operations, and counterproliferationand counterproliferation

AFDD 1

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Special Operations Special Operations EmploymentEmployment

• Accomplish tasks at all 3 levels of warAccomplish tasks at all 3 levels of war• Low-visibility, covert, clandestine opsLow-visibility, covert, clandestine ops

• Usually conducted in Usually conducted in enemy-controlledenemy-controlled or or politically sensitivepolitically sensitive territories territories

• Used as means to control escalationUsed as means to control escalation• Conventional force use may be undesirableConventional force use may be undesirable

• Can operate independently from theater Can operate independently from theater commander forcescommander forces• Require careful coordination!Require careful coordination!

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IntelligenceIntelligence

• Provides clear, brief, relevant, and Provides clear, brief, relevant, and timely analysis on foreign timely analysis on foreign capabilities and intentions for capabilities and intentions for planning & conducting military planning & conducting military operationsoperations

AFDD 1

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IntelligenceIntelligence• Objective: enable commanders & forces to “know the Objective: enable commanders & forces to “know the

enemy” and operate smarterenemy” and operate smarter• Provides:Provides:

• Indications of enemy intentionsIndications of enemy intentions• Guides decisions on Guides decisions on howhow, , whenwhen, & , & wherewhere to engage to engage

enemyenemy• Gives commanders:Gives commanders:

• Best estimate of enemy capabilitiesBest estimate of enemy capabilities• COGsCOGs• Courses of actionCourses of action

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The function of systematically observing air, space, surface/subsurface areas, places, persons, or things by visual, aural electronic, photographic or other means

Surveillance

AFDD 1

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SurveillanceSurveillance

• A continuing process!A continuing process!• Not oriented toward a specific targetNot oriented toward a specific target

• Air- & space-based surveillance Air- & space-based surveillance assets exploit elevationassets exploit elevation• Detects enemy initiatives at long rangeDetects enemy initiatives at long range

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ReconnaissanceReconnaissance

• Complements surveillance in obtaining, by Complements surveillance in obtaining, by visual observation or other detection methods, visual observation or other detection methods, specific information about the activities & specific information about the activities & resources of an enemy or potential enemy, resources of an enemy or potential enemy,

oror• Securing data concerning the meteorological, Securing data concerning the meteorological,

hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of hydrographic, or geographic characteristics of a particular areaa particular area

AFDD 1

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ReconnaissanceReconnaissance

• Recce capabilities are valuable across Recce capabilities are valuable across all all levelslevels of war of war• Possess multiple & diverse capabilitiesPossess multiple & diverse capabilities• Recce at one level must consider possible Recce at one level must consider possible

effects on other levelseffects on other levels• IntelligenceIntelligence, , SurveillanceSurveillance, & , &

ReconnaissanceReconnaissance must operate together! must operate together!

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Combat Search & RescueCombat Search & Rescue

• Air operations conducted to recover Air operations conducted to recover distressed personnel during wartime or distressed personnel during wartime or MOOTWMOOTW

• Key element in sustaining morale, Key element in sustaining morale, cohesion, and warfighting capability of cohesion, and warfighting capability of friendly forcesfriendly forces• Denies enemy from potential intel sourcesDenies enemy from potential intel sources• Preserves combat resourcesPreserves combat resources

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Navigation & PositioningNavigation & Positioning

• Provide accurate location & time of reference in Provide accurate location & time of reference in support of strategic, operational, and tactical support of strategic, operational, and tactical operations (AFDD 1)operations (AFDD 1)

• Space-based systemsSpace-based systems• GPSGPS

• Air-based systemsAir-based systems• Air-to-surface radarAir-to-surface radar

• Ground-based systemsGround-based systems• Navigation aidsNavigation aids

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Weather ServicesWeather Services

• Supply timely and accurate environment Supply timely and accurate environment information, including both space information, including both space environment & atmospheric weather to environment & atmospheric weather to commanders for their objectives & plans at all commanders for their objectives & plans at all levels of warlevels of war

AFDD 1

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Weather ServicesWeather Services

• Gathers, analyzes & provides meteorological Gathers, analyzes & provides meteorological datadata• Necessary for mission planning & executionNecessary for mission planning & execution

• Integral in decision-making process & timingIntegral in decision-making process & timing• Planning & conducting air, ground & space opsPlanning & conducting air, ground & space ops

• Influences selection of targets, routes, weapons Influences selection of targets, routes, weapons systems, delivery tacticssystems, delivery tactics

• Key element of Information SuperiorityKey element of Information Superiority

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• Levels of Air & Space DoctrineLevels of Air & Space Doctrine• Functions of Air & Space PowerFunctions of Air & Space Power

• CounterairCounterair• CounterspaceCounterspace• CounterlandCounterland• CounterseaCountersea• Strategic AttackStrategic Attack• CounterinformationCounterinformation• Command & ControlCommand & Control

SummarySummary

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Air & Space FunctionsAir & Space Functions• AirliftAirlift• Air RefuelingAir Refueling• SpaceliftSpacelift• Special Operations EmploymentSpecial Operations Employment• IntelligenceIntelligence• SurveillanceSurveillance• ReconnaissanceReconnaissance• Combat Search & RescueCombat Search & Rescue• Navigation & PositioningNavigation & Positioning• Weather ServicesWeather Services