Combined Air Operations Center: Getting the Organization Right for Future Coalition Air Operations

摘要

The Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC), frequently organized on an ad hoc basis, will require a more effective organization in the future to overcome the challenges imposed by future coalition air operations. The CAOC is the tool that integrates and centralizes air command, control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (AC2ISR). Current doctrine provides for a notional CAOC force structure of four divisions and multiple specialty cells. The four divisions are Strategy, Combat Plans, Combat Operations, and Air Mobility. Cells are normally focused on specific areas of expertise, and are frequently manned by individuals outside of the CAOC. Since the CAOC has operational control of combat squadrons, aerospace thinkers now advocate the view that the CAOC is not just a headquarters, but also an overall 'weapon system.' This led to the next development, an experimental CAOC, known as CAOC- X, whose role is to standardize and integrate processes and systems. A review of past CAOCs reveals that decisions regarding CAOC force structure and responsibilities are vitally important. Rigorous aerospace planning by talented airmen, streamlined sensor-to-shooter links, and full integration of coalition partners have continually led to good results. Conversely, insufficient planning and lack of ISR integration have repeatedly led to problems. An understanding of past CAOCs and present conceptual thinking illuminate five challenges to future coalition air operations: Aerospace Strategy, Time Sensitive Targets, ISR Integration, the dynamics of Coalition Warfare, and the capability to expand to wartime conditions. A viable force structure, advocated in this paper, answers these challenges and is nearly identical to the current doctrinal notional structure with three differences: the Strategy Division has greater responsibilities, ISR personnel are dispersed throughout the divisions of the CAOC, and Coalition partners are fully integrated into the CAOC force structure.