Accession Number:

ADA604514

Title:

Command and Control in Africa: Three Case Studies before and after Tactical C2

Descriptive Note:

Journal article

Corporate Author:

AIR UNIV MAXWELL AFB AL AIR FORCE RESEARCH INST

Personal Author(s):

• Matlock, Damon
• Gaustad, Jonathan
• Scott, Jason
• Bales, Danielle J.

Report Date:

2014-08-01

Pagination or Media Count:

21.0

Abstract:

Africa provides a unique context to study the role of the United States in coalition command and control C2 systems. The Air Force s tactical C2 is not well understood outside the platforms that supply the capability despite its importance to mission success. This article highlights modern-day tactical C2 of airpower by using three recent examples in US Africa Command AFRICOM. The Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System JSTARS was the common tactical C2 thread throughout the operations and thus offers a good lens through which to study AFRICOM s C2 writ large. In particular, these operations in Africa have gone largely undocumented since 2011, and properly employed C2 is often treated as an afterthought or a given. The study of examples from Africa is ideal for demonstrating the value of C2 in a wide spectrum of operations. Libya provides conventional C2 battle employment. Additional examples emphasize flexibility and utility of C2 in nontraditional means. These case studies prove the critical nature of tactical C2.

Descriptors:

• *AFRICA
• *AIR POWER
• *COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
• AIR FORCE
• BATTLES
• CASE STUDIES
• CONTROL
• MILITARY OPERATIONS
• MISSIONS
• REPRINTS
• SPECTRA
• TACTICAL WARFARE

Subject Categories:

• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics
• Command, Control and Communications Systems

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE