Improving Air Land Integration( ALI) within the Enhanced NATO Response Force( ENRF)
27 fence( AOAD) and Aviation. The Commando Helicopter Force Merlin helicopters that deployed with the ARRC to provide COM ARRC with a Command Support Flight found utility by interacting with the DARS; the unit was able to provide overwatch for the helicopters throughout the 3 Baltic States whilst they carried out their tasks.
Control of the Air +?
Throughout the Exercise, the DARS staff had the opportunity to control the Baltic Air Policing( BAP) assets from Sialuai Airbase in Lithuania and Amari Airbase in Estonia. Normally controlled by the NATO Control and Reporting Centre at Karmelava in Lithuania, BAP aircraft exercised daily with the DARS personnel with practice Quick Reaction Alert scrambles and practice interceptions. HQ ARRC Air, Air Defence and BSM staff took the opportunity to observe the DARs in action and think through the implications on the Land Component interactions from an Air Defence perspective; the Force Air Defence Cell, responsible for Command and Control of AOAD was particularly interested, as the DARS would likely be a key player in providing the FADC with SA and relaying orders from the Air Component Air Defence Commander.
But the most exciting discussions took place over the potential for the DARS to provide some of the capability for an Air Support Operations Cell( ASOC). HQ AIRCOM at the request of, and in conjunction with, HQ ARRC, is examining the ASOC concept as a way of improving the support given to the Land Component, especially in the role of Air Power Contribution to Land Operations( APCLO). It has examined existing UK and US ASOCs to understand the utility and resourcing of the capability.
Already possessing the skills to dynamically manage air assets and manage complex airspace to provide control of the air, there may be some scope for the DARS to provide those skills for APCLO. Collocating alongside the ARRC, DARS could offer the opportunity to advance the integration of air in the support of the Land Component. With the greater SA afforded by understanding more intimately the demands of the Ground Commander, there is an opportunity to optimise the use of aircraft already apportioned to APCLO, and to provide more effective airspace management to integrate, rather than deconflict, air and surface fires. Managing the Execution of the Air plan will free up the AOCC to focus more effort in the PLAN and REFINE areas, thereby improving ALI in the round.
Looking to take things forward, HQ AIRCOM is seeking to generate an ASOC capability within the NATO Command Structure( NCS) for the ARRC. There are opportunities for Ex AR- RCADE FUSION 17 to fully utilise the capability of an ASOC. As a Corps warfighting exercise, integrating joint fires and managing airspace will be tested fully. The intent is to integrate the UK ASOC within our HQ to prove the capability at corps level; there is an opportunity for AIRCOM to use this exercise as a testbed for developing the NCS capability.
Plenty of Promise
EX ARRCADE FUSION 15 and EX RAMSTEIN DUST II both achieved their separate training objectives, in allowing the ARRC to contribute to the development of the VJTF( L) and DARS to achieve FOC as part of the VJTF( A). But the synergy of collocation, in the finest traditions of ALI has proven that the sum can be greater than the parts. Airmen and soldiers understanding each other’ s issues can only lead to more efficient use of resources and better delivery of joint effect. The brief insight provided in Lielvarde has developed already strong relationships, and formed the basis of the ongoing promising AIRCOM and ARRC work to improve ALI in the round.
About the author:
Group Captain Rob Norris, Royal Air Force, is a helicopter pilot by trade. He has operational experience on the Wessex, Chinook and Sea King, and completed staff tours in the UK MOD, Permanent Joint Headquarters and Air Command. He has also completed a tour with 6( UK) Division between 2007 and 2008 as the Divisional Air Staff Officer, during which he deployed to Regional Command( South), Kandahar, as Chief Air and Aviation; he was awarded the Queen’ s Commendation for Valuable Service for his efforts in Air Land Integration. He has been Chief AOCC and Avn at HQ ARRC since Oct 2014.
Both EX ARRCADE FUSION 2015 and EX RAMSTEIN DUST II personnel lived and worked side-by-side at Lielvarde Air Base in Latvia.( NATO Photo / WO2 Dan Harmer British Army / Released)