Interoperability of U.S. and NATO Allied Air Forces: Supporting Data and Case Studies, Issue 1603The United States is increasingly participating in coalition military operations. Coalition support may be required for successful military operations and in most such operations the United States desires to share the burden. U.S. allies recognize the increased security that coalition operations can bring. Because interoperability is a key element in coalitions, RAND undertook research to help the Air Force identify potential interoperability problems that may arise in coalition air operations and to suggest nonmateriel and technology-based solutions. The research focus is on command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C3ISR) systems in out-of-NATO-area operations. The authors' review of recent coalition air operations found that interoperability problems arose because of differences in doctrine, incompatible communications, different planning and execution systems, and different weapon system capabilities. For example, allies may lack sufficient all-weather, day and night precision-guided weapons. The authors suggest the following to increase interoperability in coalition operations: (1) common or harmonized doctrine for combined joint task force operations, from planning through assessment, (2) compatible or adaptable concepts of operation for airborne surveillance and control, (3) common information-sharing standards and compatible tactical communication systems, and (4) expert, experienced personnel who understand the capabilities of coalition partners. From a technology perspective and cost considerations, C3ISR initiatives appear to offer the best opportunities for interoperability enhancements. |
Contents
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xxiv | |
1 | |
2 | |
Summary Observations | 5 |
For What Capabilities and Services Is Interoperability Required? | 7 |
Patterns in the Breadth of the Contributions | 12 |
For What Types of Missions Is Interoperability Required? | 14 |
Operational Level | 30 |
Capability Shortfalls and Performance Deficiencies | 31 |
Issues in NATO Operational Planning for Air | 32 |
Information Overload | 33 |
Exercises and Training | 34 |
Technological Level | 35 |
Conclusions | 37 |
Afterword on Operation ALLIED FORCE OAF | 39 |
Conclusions | 16 |
3 Lessons Learned in Some Recent Coalition Operations | 18 |
Overview | 19 |
Unity of Purpose Effort and Command | 22 |
Flexible Command Structures | 24 |
Tensions Between Political and Military Requirements | 25 |
Other StrategicLevel Issues | 27 |
4 Conclusions | 42 |
Appendix | 45 |
B NATO Contributions to Recent US Coalition Operations | 49 |
C Analysis of Missions Flown | 79 |
D Base Access | 92 |
Bibliography | 100 |
Common terms and phrases
AFSOUTH Air Force air operations air power Aircraft Contributed airlift Balkans bases Bosnia brigade C3ISR capabilities Challenges and Workarounds coalition partners combat Contributions to Operation Country DESERT FOX DESERT THUNDER DETERMINED FALCON fact sheet France Germany GUARDIAN ASSISTANCE headquarters humanitarian relief IFOR infantry battalion interoperability interoperability challenges interoperability problems Interoperability Required Iraq Italy Joint JTF-GA Kosovo multinational munitions NAEWF Netherlands non-NATO NORTHERN WATCH Number of Aircraft Operation ALLIED FORCE Operation DECISIVE ENDEAVOR Operation DELIBERATE FORCE Operation DENY FLIGHT Operation DESERT STORM Operation DETERMINED Operation NORTHERN WATCH Operation PROVIDE Operation PROVIDE PROMISE Operation SOUTHERN WATCH participated peacekeeping percent political PROVIDE COMFORT PROVIDE PROMISE RECCE recent U.S. coalition reconnaissance RESTORE/CONTINUE HOPE Rwanda SHARP GUARD Somalia sorties flown SOURCE Southwest Asia strategic surveillance Table tactical tanker Turkey U.N. operations U.S. Air U.S. coalition operations United Kingdom United Nations UNPROFOR USAF
Popular passages
Page xxi - Interoperability: The ability of systems, units, or forces to provide services to and accept services from other systems, units, or forces, and use of the services so exchanged to enable them to operate effectively together.