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 The transformation of air
operations is not focusing only on the aerial dimension, the
effects they create, as part of the broader campaign view. For example,
as ground forces the shift
from heavy to light, rapidly deployable forces such as the
Stryker Brigades means that deployed units will require air
support more frequently than before and must be ready to respond to
such calls in every terrain, including urban environment, which
require specialized weaponry and tactics, due to close proximity to friendly
and non combatants. To respond to such missions air forces must use
smaller, high precision weapons.
The prevailing military thinking has shifted dramatically since
the end of the 20th century, when planners focused on the use of
Overwhelming Force to ensure victory, (as vindicated in Operation
Desert Storm, 1991) to the employment of Overmatching Power, as
clearly proven in Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003. With the
efficient use of precision weapons networked employing sensors,
intelligence sources and decision making levels throughout the
theater, the emphasis has shifted from attrition-based campaign
determined by numbers of platforms, to the aggregated effects
caused by the weapon used. In this respect, four capabilities are
emerging as keys features - Knowledge,
Speed, Precision,
and Lethality. These elements are
currently guiding the transformation of the US forces, and are
gradually adapted by many other military forces worldwide.
Information: Intelligence
about hostile forces, specifically real-time and near-real time
(such as persistent assets such as airborne SAR ground radar
surveillance and UAVs and availability of continuous satellite
coverage), terrain etc, Blue force situational picture, accurate
weather forecasts, technical and logistical information all
contribute to an essential resource for planning and efficient
utilization of available forces.
Speed: Speed of deployment to
the theater, op tempo, speed of processing information and
responding to time critical targets. The need for speed has regained
the interest in heavy bombers which had lost their
popularity since the end of the cold war. They were employed
successfully in during Operation Desert Storm, and most
impressively, during OEF and OIF, where mass coordinated attacks
and pin-point strikes were employed by few
B-52H and
B-1B bomb loaded "trucks".
 Precision: not just the
precision of weapon systems, but also the accuracy of information
and targeting. Closing rapid cycles between sensors-and-shooters
is a critical factor in the effective employment of precision
weapons. This capability frequently requires the employment of
special-forces teams on the ground, as well as ground/air liaison
and coordination teams. During Desert Storm, about 30 Special
Forces teams deployed on missions separate from the conventional
force. In OIF, about a thousand men were closely wedded to
conventional forces. By being able to carry out "precision
decisions" these teams were located where the action unfolded, equipped
with target acquisition and designation equipment, using opportunities for the employment of precision weapons.
Lethality: is directly affected by the timeliness, precision and
efficiency of modern weapons. It took an average of four aircraft
to kill one target in Desert Storm, whereas in OIF just one
aircraft could kill about four targets.
With the
introduction of improved knowledge, speed, precision and
lethality, the infrastructure and procedures of net centricity
operations are also transforming – a critical aspect is planning –
which has to be done faster, is also more complex, as human and
machine factors must coordinate and are shared across many
players, including conventional and special forces. The planning
process should also be network centric - not limited to a single
aircraft, weapon or unit but must also involve joint forces, and
become more responsive to changing scenarios.
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