Air and Space Power Today
The Global War on Terrorism
1
“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.”
Gen. John P. Jumper
CSAF, 2001 - 2005
2
Overview
• The Global War on Terror
– Background
– Launching a War on Terrorism
• The Military Campaign
– Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF)
– OEF Emerging Lessons Learned
• Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
– Background
– The Military Campaign
– OIF Emerging Lessons Learned
• USAF GWOT Lessons Learned
• US National Lessons Learned from GWOT
• CFD Review
3
The Global War on Terror Background
OEF marked the beginning of a broader
US and international global war on
terrorism, but our enemies actually
declared war on us through acts and
words years earlier.
Sheik Rahman
Osama bin Laden
4
The Global War on Terror Background
The 1983 suicide bomb attack against US
Marines in Lebanon was our first introduction to
this war—220 Marines were killed
in the attack.
The first World Trade Center bombing
in Feb 1993 killed six and injured
over 1,000 people.
5
The Global War on Terror Background
In 1996, Osama bin Laden issued his
fatwa: a “Declaration of War Against the
Americans Occupying the Land of the
Two Holy Places.”
6
The Global War on Terror Background
In 1996, the USAF facility at Khobar
Towers was attacked with a truck bomb.
That attack killed 19 USAF Airmen.
7
The Global War on Terror Background
• US Embassy bombings in
Nairobi, Kenya, and Dar
el Salaam,
Tanzania, in 1998
US Embassy Nairobi
• US retaliated with
strikes against Sudan
and Afghanistan
• USS Cole attacked
in Yemen, killing
17 Americans
Damaged USS Cole
8
The Global War on Terror Background
• September 11, 2001 attack launched on
the US using airliners as piloted
missiles to kill Americans
– Two airliners crashed into the
World Trade Center twin towers
(3,000 dead, towers destroyed).
– Third airliner crashed into the
Pentagon
– Fourth airliner crashed into a
field in western PA
9
The Global War on Terror Background
• Attacks on September 11,
2001 motivated the United
States to initiate the Global
War on Terrorism
• The first battle zone:
Afghanistan and the Taliban
10
Launching The War on Terror
• US announces two-pronged approach
1. Go after the terrorists
“Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end
there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global
reach has been found, stopped, and defeated.”
2. Go after their supporters
“Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make.
From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or
support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a
hostile regime.”
11
Launching The War on Terror
• Department of Homeland Security
is established
• American diplomats forge different
coalitions of nations willing to engage
in the war on terrorism in a variety of
ways
• Law enforcement agencies, at home
and abroad, work around the clock to
uproot terror networks and disrupt
potential attacks
12
Launching The War on Terror
• Financial regulators and law
enforcement combine forces to
deprive terrorists of sources of
financial support
• Reserves and the National
Guard patrol US skies and
bolster the security of airports
and other public places
• US intelligence community
redoubles efforts to gain needed
intelligence and prepare for a series
of covert actions
13
Launching The War on Terror
• Global Perspective
• Broader than just
Afghanistan
– The Philippines
– Bosnia
– Africa
• Introduction of
Doctrine of
Preemption
14
OEF Military Operations
• US began military operations in
Afghanistan on 7 Oct 2001
– US air assets achieved air superiority within
3 days
– Taliban government fell within two months
15
OEF Military Operations
• US Objectives for OEF
– Make clear to the Taliban leaders and their
supporters that harboring terrorists is
unacceptable and carried a price
– Acquire intelligence to facilitate future
operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban
regime that harbored the terrorists
– Develop relationships with groups in
Afghanistan that oppose the Taliban regime
and the foreign terrorists that they support
16
OEF Military Operations
• US Objectives for OEF (cont’d)
– Make it increasingly difficult for terrorists to
use Afghanistan freely as a base of operation
– Alter the military balance over time by denying
the Taliban the offensive systems that hamper
the progress of the various opposition forces
– Provide humanitarian relief to Afghans
suffering truly oppressive living conditions
under the Taliban regime
17
OEF Military Operations
• A new style of warfare
– Special Operations Forces + anti-Taliban Afghani
forces + long-range airpower
– ISR assets provided US forces with
persistent surveillance
– Special Op Forces provided
indispensable HUMINT while manned
and unmanned surveillance
aircraft patrolled the skies
– Radar systems, electro-optical and infrared
cameras, and signals intelligence systems guided
attacks against al Qaeda and Taliban targets
18
Air and Space Power and OEF
• Strategic Attack Targets:
– Taliban headquarters and
leadership
– Al Qaeda training camps
– Electrical power systems
• Counterair Targets:
– Airfields
– Air defense nodes
– Communication nodes
19
Air and Space Power and OEF
• Information Operations
by C-130 “Commando
Solo” aircraft
– Transmitted radio
broadcasts
– Assured Afghani people
that coalition forces there
to help
– Key effort to ensure
support of the populace
20
Air and Space Power and OEF
After approximately two weeks of bombing, application
shifted from air supremacy to supporting surface forces.
21
Air and Space Power and OEF
• Airlift:
– C-130s delivered Special Ops forces
to remote areas
– C-17 and C-130 airdrops
resupplied them
• Special Ops Employment:
– USAF Special Ops troops traversed
the backcountry on horseback
• Located enemy forces
• Sent recon information to command
centers by satellite link and to loitering
aircraft
22
Air and Space Power and OEF
• Counterland: Bomber
aircraft like the B-52
and B-1 realized evolved
interdiction and close
air support (CAS) roles
– AC-130 Gunships
– F-15/16 strafing runs
– CAS was deciding factor
in several later battles
including “Roberts
Ridge”
23
Air and Space Power and OEF
• Intelligence, Surveillance,
and Reconnaissance—
Remotely piloted vehicles
(RPV) technology saw
increased employment
– Global Hawk, Predator,
and Shadow RPV
– Predator drones equipped
with Hellfire missiles and
laser target
designators
24
Air and Space Power and OEF
Airpower used across the
entire spectrum, in
conjunction with ground
forces, enabled the Taliban
to be removed from power
and forced al Qaeda to
flee.
25
OEF Lessons Learned
• Lessons about warfare
in the new age
– The potential of highly
networked joint operations
– The lethality of Special Ops
forces on the ground when
combined with sophisticated
overhead reconnaissance
systems
– Modern communications
systems dramatically
shortened the kill chain time
26
OEF Lessons Learned
• Joint and Combined Operations
Technology worked well
• Combined forces interaction with
Afghani forces was positive
• Joint Command structure took too long
to establish
– Once established, Command and Control
(net-centric warfare) was highly successful
27
OEF Lessons Learned
• RPV capability to operate and provide real time
intel in any weather was a plus
• New ordinance developed specifically for
Afghanistan worked well
• Strategic Airlift and
Air Refueling worked
exceptionally well but
were stretched too thin
• ISR in all aspects worked well, but more
bandwidth was needed for communications
• HUMINT was very weak
28
OEF Lessons Learned
• Strategic airlift, supported by Air Refueling,
enabled the United States to conduct
expeditionary operations in the most remote
areas of the world
• More intratheater airlift was needed
• Aircraft range and endurance capabilities
improved to ease the strain on limited
refueling assets and crews
• Advances in ISR and communications
technology afforded the US military the
capability to link ground and air forces to
ISR information
29
OEF Lessons Learned
• The combination of technologies and
advancements applied in OEF provided
unprecedented C4ISR capabilities
• Integrated Common Operating Picture enabled
commanders to view battlefield developments
and direct operations from 7,000 miles away
• Advancements in communications networks
improved interoperability between the services
by allowing information sharing
• Additionally, increased bandwidth required to
reduce “sensor to shooter” time
30
Video
Operation Anaconda: The Battle of Roberts Ridge
31
OIF Background
• After major combat operations
in Afghanistan ended, the US
shifted focus to Saddam
Hussein’s regime
• UN Resolution 687 codified
Cease Fire Agreement for the
Gulf War
• Iraq was testing and breaking
these agreements
32
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
33
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 “…[Iraq] will not commit or
support any act of
international terrorism”
34
OIF Background
• 12 Sept 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 UN Security Council passed
Resolution 1441
35
OIF Background
• Dr. Blix (chief UN investigator)
reported non-cooperation to the
UN Security Council multiple
times
• In February 2003, Secretary
Powell addressed the UN Security
Council
36
OIF Background
• 16 Mar 2003: President Bush demanded senior
leaders leave Iraq within 48 hours
• 19 Mar 2003: President Bush addressed the nation
stating that military operations had begun in Iraq
37
OIF Campaign
• OIF Air Campaign = Operations NORTHERN
WATCH and SOUTHERN WATCH
• Not a single Iraqi Combat Sortie during OIF
38
OIF Campaign
• ISR: Of the 1,801 aircraft used during OIF,
80 aircraft were dedicated to the ISR mission
• 1,000 ISR sorties collected:
– 3,200 hours of streaming video
– 2,400 hours of SIGINT
– 42,000 battlefield images
• ISR managed from the CAOC located at
PSAB; under the command of the CFACC, Lt
Gen Moseley
39
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 continued
as US planes attacked a building, targeting Saddam
and sons
40
OIF Timeline
• Counterair: 21 Mar 2003, Special Ops Forces
took control of two airfields
• Numerous Counterair and Interdiction missions
were conducted throughout OIF
41
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
42
OIF Timeline
• Counterspace
– SCA
– OIF Roles
• Weather
• ISR
• GPS
43
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
– Short 10 million
ton miles per day
44
OIF Lessons Learned
• Joint Operations have matured
• Conventional forces/
Special Ops forces
integrated well
• Precision munitions
continued to improve
45
OIF Lessons Learned
• Areas for improvement
– Fratricide prevention and combat identification
systems
– Cumbersome deployment planning and execution
processes
– Information sharing at all levels
– More bandwidth
– HUMINT capabilities to meet new GWOT
challenges
46
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 is first line of homeland defense
• USAF should continue to refine its
expeditionary culture and strategic
agility
47
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
• Demand for precision in warfare will increase
• USAF will require robust, effects-based
information operations capabilities that can
deny, manipulate, or significantly degrade
adversary C4ISR
48
US National Lessons Learned from GWOT
• Wars in the twenty-first century
will increasingly require use of
all elements of national power
• Ability of forces to communicate and operate
seamlessly on the battlefield will be critical to
success in future wars
• Wars best fought by coalitions of the willing, but
should not be fought by committee.
• Defending the United States requires prevention
and sometimes preemption
49
US National Lessons Learned from GWOT
• The US must rule out nothing in advance
• Victory in the GWOT requires steady pressure on
the enemy, leaving them no time to rest and
nowhere to hide
• The new and the high-tech have not totally
replaced the old and conventional
50
US National Lessons Learned from GWOT
• The US must link military operations directly
with humanitarian assistance, radio broadcasts,
rewards, and other efforts
• American leaders must be honest with the
American people
51
US National Lessons Learned from GWOT
The United States must not make the mistake of
believing that terrorism is the only threat of the
twenty-first century. Terrorism is a deadly
asymmetric threat but not the only possible one.
Chinese Forces on parade
Iranian Uranium
Conversion Facility
52
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 that
guide the actions of military forces in
support of national objectives
53
Review of CFD Model
Time
Period
GWOT
Distinctive
Capabilities
Global Attack
Agile
Combat Support
Precision Engagement
Rapid Global Mobility
Air/Space Superiority
Information Superiority
Air
Force:
2025
The Future Air Force:
2025
(Students will fill in
this area.)
Functions
(missions)
Strategic Attack, Counterair,
Counterspace, Counterland,
Countersea, Information Ops,
Combat Support, Command
and Control, Airlift, Air
Refueling, Spacelift, Special
Ops, Intelligence, Surveillance
and Reconnaissance, Combat
Search and Rescue, Navigation
and Positioning, Weather
Services
Doctrinal Emphasis
CONOPS
Homeland Security
Space, C4, ISR
Global Mobility
Global Strike
Global Persistent
Attack
Nuclear Response
Agile Combat Support
Now and Beyond video
55
Summary
• The Global War on Terror
– Background
– Launching a War on Terrorism
• The Military Campaign
– Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (OEF)
– OEF Emerging Lessons Learned
• Operation IRAQI FREEDOM
– Background
– The Military Campaign
– OIF Emerging Lessons Learned
• USAF GWOT Lessons Learned
• US National Lessons Learned from GWOT
• CFD Review
Expeditionary
Medal
Service
Medal
56
Final Thoughts
• Final thoughts for you as future Air
Force leaders
• 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?
57