Command and Control of Distributed Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Operations

Advances in technology have brought about many changes to the employment of Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) systems of all types. The 2006 QDR states that the US Air Force will be organized "with emphasis on leveraging reach-back to minimize forward footprints and expedite force deployments, while reducing Air Force end strength by approximately 40,000 full-time equivalent personnel with balanced cuts across the Total Force."1 As technology continues to lead the US military into new and untested ways to collect information, many of the doctrinal underpinnings that have served well since the time of Clausewitz require review and perhaps, modification, primarily in the areas of command and control and force apportionment. The goal of the Defense Community should be clear control and apportionment of weapon systems that rely on network-centric and distributed operations without losing the flexibility and efficiency inherent in their design. A hard look at doctrine and current tactics, techniques and procedures associated with these new systems will shed light on the most efficient design of future airborne ISR systems and the guidelines governing their apportionment and employment.