Measuring the Effectiveness of the Conus Air and Missile Defense C2 System.

摘要

The air and missile threat posed by hostile states and terrorist organizations to the continental United States is a reality. Violent extremist organizations such as al-Qaida, as well as rogue nations, such as Iran and North Korea, are actively pursuing air and missile weapon systems to attack the United States. The United States has established organizations and developed capable air and missile defense (AMD) weapon systems to defeat these types of threats. However, an effective C2 system is essential to integrating these technologically advanced AMD weapon systems into an efficient fighting force. This thesis quantitatively measured the effectiveness of the CONUS AMD C2 system by analyzing the performance of five distinct and objective variables: people/authorities, facilities, communications equipment, unity of command/effort, and levels of control. This analysis successfully produced a numerical result for the system's effectiveness, but more importantly, it identified five deficiency areas in which the CONUS AMD C2 system effectiveness can be improved. The research concludes by shaping three overall recommendations to improve system effectiveness: delegate the doctrinal AMD roles and responsibilities to the RADC/SADC, lower the overall authority for engaging air and missile threats to the homeland, and establish a redundant common operating picture.