WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Power launched a program it says will sharpen its command and management and battle administration talents because it prepares for potential struggle in opposition to a significant adversary.
The weapons system analysis program, dubbed Fight Axe, is designed give leaders a take a look at how the Air Power’s command and management methods carry out in opposition to technologically savvy opponents and real-world threats, together with contested or degraded communications and radar.
This state of affairs is changing into more and more essential because the U.S. army pivots away from counterinsurgency and smaller-scale operations towards preparations for a bigger struggle in opposition to a world energy, reminiscent of China or Russia.
The Air Power rolled out the predecessor to Fight Axe, then often known as Fight Sentry, in July 2020.
Fight Axe coaching and evaluation was performed throughout the Fight Archer 22.08 and Checkered Flag 22-2 workouts, among the many largest mixed air-to-air checks within the U.S. Squadrons from the Air Power, Navy and Royal Australian Air Power participated.
RELATED
The Air Power on June 22 mentioned “varied distinctive sensors from every weapon system,” information hyperlinks and features of communication meshed throughout the drills to create a typical operational image, growing confidence in menace identification and dashing the distribution of data to fighter plane.
Lt. Col. Steve Wyatt, 81st Air Management Squadron commander, in an announcement mentioned such coaching is crucial to “countering strategic rivals” and likewise supplies a possibility to gather information that may inform the modernization of weapons and ways.
“To be able to struggle as joint and coalition forces,” he mentioned, “we have to perceive one another’s capabilities and limitations, and the way every entity operates and communicates.”
Seamless data sharing — no matter service or nationwide affiliation — is without doubt one of the Division of Protection’s marquee efforts. The Air Power’s preeminent contribution is named the Superior Battle Administration System, a next-generation type of command and management.
The 53rd Wing at Tyndall Air Power Base, Florida, repeatedly holds weapons system analysis program occasions to check plane, weapons and different methods. For instance, the F-15EX Eagle II fired a weapon for the primary time in January at Fight Archer, an air-to-air analysis program, when it tracked a drone after which launched a missile at it.
That check verified the brand new fighter’s weapons system labored, the Air Power mentioned, permitting it to maneuver to extra advanced missile photographs at future checks.
Colin Demarest is a reporter at C4ISRNET, the place he covers army networks, cyber and IT. Colin beforehand lined the Division of Vitality and its NNSA — specifically Chilly Warfare cleanup and nuclear weapons growth — for a each day newspaper in South Carolina. Colin can be an award-winning photographer.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter at Protection News. He beforehand reported for Army.com, protecting the Pentagon, particular operations and air warfare. Earlier than that, he lined U.S. Air Power management, personnel and operations for Air Power Occasions.
