Given the strategic nature of airbases and the vulnerability of most, if not all of the assets grouped on them, it is apparent that the methods of protecting them will have to become much better. As a key component, this process will require dedicated, air-minded Force Protection (FP) forces that are specifically trained and organised for the task.
One method of quickly employing ground forces is through airmobile operations. When airmobile forces are employed by helicopter, part of their equipment is transported as an Underslung Load (USL) underneath the helicopter. For NATO forces to operate in a combined manner, it is essential that the equipment of one nation be transportable by the helicopters of another nation. Although Helicopter Underslung Load Equipment (HUSLE) and helicopter USL standards are available and approved in NATO, interoperability appears to be limited.
As a vital component in the projection of Air Power, Cyberspace has surpassed its mark as an enabler, now recognized as not only critical to mission assurance but a Domain of operations in itself. Consequently, it is critical that the systems operating in Cyberspace be secure, reliable and available and establishing these criteria by employing defensive measures alone may be insufficient.
Network technology is expanding at an exponential rate. As technology improves, effectively unlimited connectivity is no longer strictly a future concept; however, combined decision-making and data sharing processes (or maybe ‘protocols’) are not evolving at the same speed as technology. Machines will boost communication in a networked environment to levels yet to be determined. This will require nations and the Alliance to alter current communication patterns.
In military operations over the last twenty years, air power has repeatedly proven to be NATO’s great asymmetric advantage. Air power’s ability to accurately strike targets, support troops on the ground, provide accurate and timely intelligence, and transport troops, equipment and supplies over vast distances give NATO an incomparable advantage against its enemies. Moreover, in a crisis, it is air power that is the first responder due to its ability to react quickly and with precision. Yet, it is air power’s very success that makes it the main target for information warfare waged against NATO. In this information battle waged by NATO’s opponents, disinformation is a primary weapon and air power is a primary target.
This JAPCC study examines the current status of interoperability and the multinational training opportunities across Europe. Our intent in this update is to provide a comprehensive reference manual for basic and advanced training opportunities available to Alliance mobility forces. Interoperability is the name of the game with regard to global operations and this certainly applies to Air Transport within NATO. From local exercises to sustained expeditionary operations, the ability of nations to work with each other with minimal or even no barriers is paramount. While being constantly sought after, interoperability is still not a standard and the nations must continue to work to make it so.
The level of automation built into unmanned systems has not only increased significantly, but has also reached a level of sophistication at which they are seemingly capable of performing many tasks ‘autonomously’ and with no necessity for direct human supervision. The study provides a brief overview of the current state of technology in the field of system automation and looks at possible future developments. The study outlines the legal requirements a highly automated unmanned system has to meet if NATO nations seeks to introduce this kind of technology and wants to comply with International Humanitarian Law.
Following a Request for Support from Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), the JAPCC completed this study to investigate the current Maritime Air support capability for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW). The aim of this project is to define the current challenges experienced by ASW-capable air platforms in both today’s operational environment and in a range of possible future environments assessing whether the Alliance has a capability shortfall in the ASW mission area. This will involve a review of environmental challenges, oceanography and NATO’s Maritime Air history with this mission to set the stage for detailed discussions about the current and future challenges in the ASW domain.
This study provides an assessment of the challenges and benefits of creating a Joint ISR Unit, either as a multinational arrangement or as a NATO-procured and owned capability. It determines if the creation of such a unit would be justifiable and feasible, and how it would complement NATO’s existing and planned ISR capabilities such as the NATO Airborne Early Warning or the NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance force to meet the Wales Summit objectives and mitigate NATO’s ISR shortfall.
There are a variety of helicopter crew qualifications across the Alliance and a multitude of helicopter roles and missions. This fact makes it difficult for commanders from NATO helicopter units to select the best qualified crews to execute a mission. The aim of this document is to provide information regarding qualification standardization for deploying NATO helicopter crews in support of land operations.