Airpower Today: The Global War On Terrorism

1. Airpower Today: The Global War On Terrorism

2. “Almost every captain in the Air Force who flies airplanes has combat experience… virtually every engineer, security forces troop and medic in the Air Force has deployed…This is a veteran, hardened combat force…They have been shot at. They know what it’s like. When we go, wherever we go, we’re going to be at the peak of our game.” General John P. Jumper CSAF, 2001 - 2005

3. Overview • The Global War on Terror • Background • Launching a War on terrorism • The Military Campaign • Operation ENDURING FREEDOM • Background • Lessons Learned

4. Overview • Operation IRAQI FREEDOM • Background • Emerging Lessons Learned • USAF GWOT Lessons Learned • USAF CONOPS • US National Lessons Learned • CFD Review

5. OIF Background • After major combat ops in Afghanistan ended, the U.S. shifted focus to Saddam Hussein’s regime. • The Cease Fire Agreement for the Gulf War was codified in UN Resolution 687. Iraq was testing/breaking these agreements

6. OIF Background • Paragraph #8 stated that Iraq must “…unconditionally accept the destruction, removal, or rendering harmless, under international supervision of:” • All chemical/biological weapons • All ballistic missiles with range greater than 150 Km

7. OIF Background • Paragraph #12 addressed nuclear capabilities, stating that Iraq must “…agree not to acquire or develop nuclear weapons or nuclear-weapon-usable material • Paragraph #32, with regards to terrorism, stated that “…it [Iraq] will not commit or support any act of international terrorism

8. OIF Background • 12 September 2002: President Bush addressed the UN General Assembly to highlight observed violations and attempt to gather further international support for action against Iraq. • 16 Oct 2002: President Bush signed the Iraq War Resolution   • 8 Nov 2002: The U.N. Security Council passes Resolution 1441

9. OIF Background • Dr. Blix (chief UN investigator) report • February 2003, Secretary Powell addressed the UN Security Council

10. OIF Background • 16 Mar 2003: President Bush demands senior leaders leave Iraq within 48 hours • 19 Mar 2003: President Bush addressed the nation stating that military operations had begun in Iraq

11. OIF Campaign • OIF Air Campaign = Operations NORTHERN and SOUTHERN WATCH • OIF = Not a single Iraqi Combat Sortie

12. OIF Campaign • ISR: Of the 1,801 aircraft used during OIF, 80 aircraft were dedicated to the ISR mission • 1,000 sorties collected 3,200 hours of streaming video, 2,400 hours of SIGINT, and 42,000 battlefield images • ISR managed from the CAOC located at PSAB, under the command of the (CFACC), Lt. General Moseley

13. OIF Campaign • Strategic Attack: On 5 Apr 2003 coalition forces attacked General Ali Hassan Majid’s (“Chemical Ali”) home  • 7 Apr 2003: Strategic Attack operations continue as U.S. planes attack a building targeting Saddam & sons

14. OIF Timeline • Counterair: 21 Mar 2003: Special Ops Forces took control of two airfields • Numerous Counterair and Interdiction missions were conducted throughout OIF  

15. OIF Timeline • Counterland: 24 Mar 2003: B-52 aircraft interdict Republican Guard positions South of Baghdad • Counterland Historical Perspective • Battle of the Bulge • Battle of Baghdad

16. OIF Timeline • Counterspace • SCA • OIF Roles • Weather • ISR • GPS

17. OIF Timeline • Airlift/Refueling: 24,196 sorties during initial phase of OIF • 6,193 refueling sorties--376.4 million pounds of fuel • OIF/OEF airlift one of the most extensive in history • Airlift Shortfall Issues • 10 million ton miles per day short

18. OIF Lessons Learned • Joint Operations have matured!!! • Conventional forces and Special Ops forces integrated well • Precision munitions continuing to improve • Fratricide prevention and combat identification systems need attention  

19. OIF Lessons Learned • Improve cumbersome deployment planning and execution processes • Improve information sharing at all levels • Need more bandwidth • HUMINT capabilities must be improved to meet new GWOT challenges

20. USAF GWOT Lessons Learned • USAF strategic planners must develop new concepts of deterrence to counter a wide range of non-traditional adversaries and asymmetric threats • New technologies are now widely available to potential adversaries • USAF first line of homeland defense • Continue to refine its expeditionary culture and strategic agility

21. USAF GWOT Lessons Learned • Joint, allied and coalition operations require precise real-time command and control • USAF must achieve decision cycle dominance to strike adversaries before they can mount an effective defense • There will be an increased demand for precision in warfare • Air Force will require robust, effects-based information operations capabilities that can deny, manipulate, or significantly degrade adversary C4ISR.

22. USAF CONOPS • “Our goal is to make warfighting effects, and the capabilities we need to achieve them, the drivers for everything we do. The centerpiece of this effort is the development of new Task Force CONOPS that will guide our planning and programming, requirements reform, and acquisition.” General John P. Jumper CSAF, 2001 - 2005

23. USAF CONOPS • Homeland Security CONOPS • Space and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance CONOPS • Global Mobility CONOPS • Global Strike CONOPS • Global Persistent Attack CONOPS • Nuclear Response CONOPS • The Agile Combat Support CONOPS

24. U.S. National Lessons Learned from GWOT • Wars in the 21st century will increasingly require use of all elements of national power • The ability of forces to communicate and operate seamlessly on the battlefield will be critical to our success in future wars • Wars are best fought by coalitions of the willing—but they should not be fought by committee • Defending the United States requires prevention and sometimes preemption

25. U.S. National Lessons Learned from GWOT • The United States must rule nothing out in advance • Victory in the war against terrorism requires steady pressure on the enemy, leaving him no time to rest and nowhere to hide • The new and the high-tech have not totally replaced the old and conventional

26. U.S. National Lessons Learned from GWOT • The United States must link military operations directly with humanitarian assistance, radio broadcasts, rewards, and other efforts • American leaders must be straight with the American people

27. U.S. National Lessons Learned from GWOT • The United States must not make the mistake of believing that terrorism is the only threat of the 21st century. Terrorism is a deadly asymmetric threat but not the only possible one. India – Pakistan dispute Chinese Forces on parade

28. Review of CFD Model • Distinctive Capabilities: Air and space expertise, capabilities and technological know-how that produces superior military capabilities • Functions: Broad, fundamental and continuing activities of air and space power • Doctrine: fundamental principles which military forces guide their actions in support of national objectives

30. Summary Expeditionary Medal • The Global War on Terror • Background • Launching a War on terrorism • The Military Campaign • Operation ENDURING FREEDOM • Background • Lessons Learned Service Medal Highly recommended reading for all AF officers and a CSAF reading selection: “TheCrisis of Islam”

31. Summary Expeditionary Medal • Operation IRAQI FREEDOM • Background • Emerging Lessons Learned • USAF GWOT Lessons Learned • USAF CONOPS • US National Lessons Learned • CFD Review Service Medal

32. Final thought for you as future leaders of the USAF: • The GWOT is still very much a current event and a conflict we must win! • How long will it take… • How vigilant do we need to be… • Are you ready???

33. Airpower Today: The Global War On Terrorism