In Operation Iraqi Freedom, the boundaries between different services constantly evolved based on an ever-changing situation. Eventually, the Marine Corps area of operations (AO) included all of Al Anbar Province. However, the Air Force still controlled a large amount of airspace above the Marine Corps' AO, and the Marines found that their ability to employ fires against the threat was not responsive enough. Eventually the Marine Corps gained control of more vertical airspace and established a radar-equipped command and control (C2) site to provide positive control of aircraft. However, U.S. Marine Corps doctrine does not currently address the issue of airspace management and control in the combat zone. Therefore, a lot of confusion still existed on how to best manage the airspace between the various Marine C2 agencies. Introduction: The problem is not a shortage of command and control agencies or assets, and many command and control agencies have basic doctrinal functions. The direct air support center (DASC) provides air direction, the tactical air operations center (TAOC) provides early warning, and air traffic control (ATC) provides control in the terminal area. In a nonlinear battlefield, however, no traditional or accepted responsibility exists for providing control of aircraft in tactical environments. At the same time, there is not a one-size- fits-all solution. Because airspace control is not adequately addressed by doctrine, Marine air-ground task force (MAGTF) commanders must instead consider the enemy situation, friendly capabilities, method of fires, acceptable risk, and time/space factors on the battlefield.


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    Title :

    Airspace Control in the Combat Zone


    Contributors:
    J. G. Dean (author)

    Publication date :

    2010


    Size :

    10 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English