Coalition Airspace Management and Deconfliction

• Main Authors: Griffith, David, Wilson-Smith, Geoffrey K, Ohmer, Mark, Seifert, Michael, DiLego, Jr , Francis, Hitchings, John, Sterling, Josh, Simmons, Henry
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• Subjects: AIR SPACE; AIR SPACE MANAGEMENT; AIR SPACE PLANNING; AUTOMATION; AWARENESS; CIVIL AVIATION; COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS; DETECTORS; FRATRICIDE; GROUND LEVEL; INFANTRY; INFORMATION EXCHANGE; JASMAD(JOINT AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT AND DECONFLICTION); JOINT MILITARY ACTIVITIES; LESSONS LEARNED; MANAGEMENT; Military Aircraft Operations; Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics; MILITARY PLANNING; PE62702F; POLITICAL ALLIANCES; RISK; WUAFRL558SIHJM

The risk of fratricide is a constant problem in all military engagements, a problem that is exacerbated in coalition operations where military forces from many allied nations operate in close proximity. Despite considerable efforts to mitigate this risk friendly fire engagements between air and ground units resulted in 13 deaths during Operation Iraqi Freedom. These incidents resulted, in part, from poor situation awareness and failures in the air command and control process. The movement of ground forces was swift and in many cases exceeded the ability of airspace management capabilities to keep up with the evolving situation. Lessons learned indicate that collaborative airspace planning dynamic replanning operational deconfliction and information sharing all needed to be significantly improved. The emergence of unmanned aerial systems stand-off weapons loitering munitions and sensors platforms necessitate their incorporation into disciplined airspace management while the coordination of operations in both combat and civil airspace further exacerbates the planning process. As a result AFRL is developing the Joint Airspace Management and Deconfliction (JASMAD) automated planning systems. The original document contains color images. Presented at the International Command and Control Research and Technology Symposium (11th) Held 26-28 Sep 2006 in Cambridge, United Kingdom.