Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance: Mission Command and Centralized Control

The United States Army is organizing, training, and equipping its divisions with medium-altitude unmanned aerial systems UAS. These platforms are entering the battlespace just as operations in Afghanistan may be winding down, and just as the Air Force is gaining the ability to generate sixty-five global combat air patrols with heavily armed MQ-9 Reapers. There is risk that as the Army begins to rely more on organic medium altitude capabilities, the joint force will forget important lessons learned, and that integration of organic and theater ISR capabilities will suffer. This monograph examines the utility of implementing the mission command philosophy in airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance ISR operations. This study begins by examining Helmuth Von Moltkes views on the exercise of disciplined initiative in battle. Brian Lawsons design problem model provides a framework for analyzing constraints as a source of friction. Confederate calvaryman J.E.B. Stuarts Gettysburg saga provides a vehicle for mission command analysis, given similarities between Civil War cavalry reconnaissance and modern airborne ISR operations. This monograph also highlights the experiences of World War I artillerymen and their pursuit of organic airborne reconnaissance support. The artillerymen echo current dialogue on UAS employment. This study concludes by assessing the impact of increased implementation of the mission command philosophy on theater airborne ISR effectiveness. Airborne Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance Mission command Control Moltke, Helmuth, Graf von, 1800-1891 Stuart, Jeb, 1833-1864 World War, 1914-1918 WWI Lawson, Brian