Chapter 9: Air Defense Support

The OPFOR system of air defense includes assets and actions at the strategic (national), operational, and tactical levels. The focus in this chapter is on air defense of maneuver forces at the operational level. However, op- erational-level air defense does not exist in isolation from the overall system of OPFOR air defense. For more information on tactical-level air defense, see FM 7-100.2.

All-Arms Air Defense

The main objective of air defense is to prevent enemy air action from in- terfering with mission accomplishment of the entire force. For the OPFOR, air defense is not just a particular organization or branch of service. It is a mission.

To do this, the OPFOR uses a combined arms and joint approach, involv- ing not only air defense units, but also other forces such as--

• Aviation.
• Special-purpose forces (SPF).
• Rockets and surface-to-surface missiles (SSMs).
• Artillery and mortars.
• Infantry.
• Engineers.
• Affiliated forces.

These forces are often used in combination or participate separately in attacking targets, which in effect achieves a combined result.

Against a sophisticated enemy, the OPFOR recognizes that it will have to adapt the operations and tactics employed by air defense units to improve their chances of success. It also views the creative and adaptive use of other arms to accomplish air defense objectives as part and parcel of the overall air defense effort. This practical application of the combined arms concept calls for the simultaneous employment of several arms, in some cases including air defense systems, to achieve an effect against the enemy air threat that will render greater results than the use of air defense assets and systems alone.

The extent to which the concept of all-arms air defense can be applied is limited only by the commander’s and staff’s knowledge of the enemy air threat, capabilities of their own systems, and their ability to apply that knowledge to come up with innovative solutions. The air defense-related activities of all arms are part of an overall campaign to defeat or at least degrade enemy air capabilities. The results may produce effects at the strategic, operational, or tactical levels.

Goals

Air defense forces and other arms work together to protect ground units and other potential targets from attacks by fixed-wing ground-attack aircraft, cruise missiles, and armed helicopters. They also try to deny aerial reconnaissance platforms, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). A secondary mission is to protect OPFOR air and airborne or heliborne mis- sions over enemy-held territory. OPFOR air defense focuses on destroying or disrupting the activities of not only enemy aircraft, but also the command and control (C2) systems associated with enemy air operations.

Concepts

The OPFOR’s concept of air defense is not purely defensive in nature. Destruction of enemy aircraft is not always linked to military objectives. The destruction of high-visibility or unique systems employed by enemy forces offers exponential value in terms of increasing the relative combat power of the OPFOR. However, it also has possibly decisive effects in the information and psychological arenas. Losses among these premier systems demonstrate the vulnerability of even a technologically superior enemy and may undermine enemy morale, degrade operational capability, and inhibit employment of other enemy weapon systems. High-visibility (flagship) systems that could be identified for destruction could include stealth aircraft, attack helicopters, or aerial reconnaissance and surveillance platforms. The OPFOR can also attack high-payoff targets such as high-technology communications nodes and other information systems that support enemy air operations.

The OPFOR emphasizes that air defense does not necessarily have to destroy aircraft to accomplish the mission, although that is obviously desirable. The mission is accomplished if air defense prevents enemy aircraft from conducting successful air activities. For example, air defense units can force enemy aircraft to break off their attacks or to expend their ordnance inaccurately without having to destroy the aircraft. In fact, the mere presence of active and effective air defense weapon systems can reduce the effectiveness of enemy air activities by forcing aircraft to avoid the systems or otherwise use less than optimum procedures. The OPFOR can also use air defense jammers, GPS jammers, and other electronic warfare (EW) methods to disrupt the enemy’s air capability.

The role of air defense can be to create opportunity for fire and maneuver by clearing or minimizing the air threat in the airspace above friendly forces. This is especially important when the OPFOR lacks the air power or air superiority necessary to create opportunity with air attacks. The OPFOR can concentrate the fires of its air defense assets to create a window of opportunity for a limited-duration and limited-objective offensive action (such as a spoiling attack, counterattack, raid, or ambush). Likewise, air defense can enhance the ability to defend or transition from defense to offense. Air defense can also mass fires to protect the key reconnaissance and fire assets that perform reconnaissance fires.

Another important OPFOR concept is that air defense is an integral part of combined arms combat. The maneuver unit commander who disregards the enemy air threat or fails to properly plan for defending against it risks mission failure.

A closely related concept is that air defense weapons, radars, and associated equipment cannot be regarded as single pieces of equipment or even units engaged in combat actions but as parts of an integrated air defense system (IADS). Proper integration of these assets in mission planning and execution is the only way the commander can effectively deal with the enemy air threat.

Principles

In pursuit of these goals and concepts, the OPFOR follows several basic principles when conducting air defense: surprise, firepower, mobility, continuity, initiative, coordination, and security. Of these, the element of surprise is the most critical.

Surprise

Achieving surprise is fundamental to successful air defense. Surprise can be achieved by--

• Positioning air defense systems in unexpected locations.
• Using other arms for air defense.
• Using camouflage, concealment, cover, and deception (C3D).

The OPFOR is aware of the potential physical destruction it can achieve by attacking an unsuspecting and unprepared enemy. It is also aware of the psychological effects of violent and unexpected fires on aviation crews. These effects are often only temporary, but at critical moments they can reduce the effectiveness of aircrews preparing to attack.

The element of surprise is also increasingly important because of modern technological advances. The speed and evasiveness of modern aircraft reduce engagement times. Modern aircraft also have a great amount of firepower with which to suppress air defenses. These two factors make it necessary for units to achieve some degree of surprise. Of course, the air enemy also is trying to achieve surprise, and the OPFOR must consider how enemy aircraft might exploit the terrain in making a concealed approach.

The principle of surprise is also important in the wider context of denying the enemy's intelligence organization an accurate and comprehensive picture of the deployment of air defense weapons and radars. Otherwise, the enemy also can use air defense formations as a principal means of determining the organization for combat and organization of forces of supported maneuver units.

Firepower

The OPFOR force structure includes a wide variety of air defense weapons (both missiles and guns). This mix of capabilities gives ground force commanders outstanding firepower for air defense. It is important that air defense planning consider and employ all assets available, across all arms, to achieve maximum firepower.

Mobility

Air defense assets must have mobility comparable to the ground forces for which they provide cover. When planning air defense, the commander must always consider the mobility of air defense weapons and the time required for their deployment. The ground forces, for which air defenses provide cover, are quite mobile and frequently change formation as they deploy. The air enemy is mobile and can attack from many directions or altitudes. Therefore, the commander must use to the maximum the mobility and firepower of his assets, creating optimum groupings and fire plans.

Continuity

Air defense forces must provide continuous protection of critical organizations and assets. Only constantly-moving air defense units that have adequate logistics support can ensure comprehensive air coverage. They must provide air defense day or night in all weather conditions. Mobility contributes directly to continuity.

Initiative

The modern battlefield is a fluid and volatile environment. Air defense unit commanders must respond to constant changes in the situation with initiative and aggressive action. Units must continue to operate efficiently even when communications with other air defense units fail. For example, if the supported unit receives a modified mission, the air defense commander must reevaluate his own unit’s deployment in light of the new requirements. He also must be aware of changes in the tactics that enemy air forces are employing.

Coordination

The OPFOR stresses coordination between air defense units and supported maneuver units, other air defense units, and units of other arms performing air defense functions. It views air defense as a single, integrated system composed of various parts. Air defense is an integral element of the air and ground battle.

All tactical-level air defense weapons must coordinate precisely with flanking units, with operational-level air defense units, and with aviation units. Failure to coordinate can result in gaps in the air defense umbrella, excessive ammunition expenditure, and casualties to friendly air forces. To achieve efficient coordination, the OPFOR stresses centralization of control, with operational-level headquarters playing a key role as a land-air interface.

Security

The OPFOR recognizes that enemy air assets can attack from any quarter. Therefore, it must provide security for units anywhere on the battlefield or in sanctuary areas against air attack from any direction. Air defense must function with unremitting reliability and overall security. This requires careful deployment, uninterrupted ammunition supply, and a comprehensive early- warning system. Commanders must factor security into air defense planning.