Page 3 - Desert Lightning News Nellis AFB | Creech AFB – May 2023

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Using Exercise Black Flag to validate Tactical C2 capabilities for ground, air forces
by 1st Lt. Lindsey Heflin
Eglin AFB, Fla.
The 422nd Test and Evalu- ation Squadron Command and Control Division at Nel- lis Air Force Base, Nev., built upon their previous work by expanding the use of a mobile C2 concept to include simul- taneous operations from an airborne C-17 and a Mobile Tactical C2 vehicle during exercise Black Flag 23-1 in late February, 2023.
The 422nd TES C2 Division worked in conjunction with the 62nd Airlift Wing and Joint Communication Support Element to execute synchro- nized Tactical C2 operations between a ground team operat- ing “on the move” and an air team on board a C-17 during the missions.
The ground team was in- tegrated with Tactical Air Control Party and Pararescue Jumper forces to execute non- traditional Reconnaissance
and Personnel Recovery op- erations while the air team on the C-17 employed Weapons Directors and an Air Battle Manager, typically found in a ground-based Control and Reporting Center or Airborne Warning and Control System, to manage the air war with multiple Joint fighter aircraft.
“The current entities that perform these responsibili- ties were born from a Cold War mindset and use archaic technology, resulting in large footprints of people and equip- ment that are more of a liabil- ity than a force multiplier,” said Maj. Paden Allen, 422nd TES C2 Division commander. “We’re testing options to pro- vide a Combatant Commander increased maneuver f lexibil- ity and communications re- siliency without sacrificing Command and Control capa- bilities.”
Access to real-time data and resources is critical to making timely and accurate decisions
Air Force photographs by Airman 1st Class Josey Blades
Staff Sgt. Hannah Fisk, left and Tech. Sgt. Megan Wolfe, Weapons Directors with the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, Command and Control (C2) Division, operate inside the cockpit of a C-17 Globemaster III during Black Flag 23-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 23, 2023. This operation was accomplished by the combined effort between the C2 teams both on the ground and on the C-17 as they shared data real time to facilitate live operations.
The 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron Command and Control Division integrated with Tactical Air Control Party and Pararescue Jumper forces to execute non-traditional Reconnaissance and Personnel Recovery operations during Black Flag 23-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 23, 2023. The air team on the C-17 employed Weapons Directors and an Air Battle Manager, typically found in a ground-based Control and Reporting Center or Airborne Warning and Control System, to manage the air war with multiple Joint fighter aircraft.
in combat. As the force contin- ues advancing Agile Combat Employment training and tactics development, the abil- ity to perform Tactical C2 in any environment is paramount to the success of the mission.
In the near term, Allen and his team are focusing on en- suring they capture informa- tion gained from this test event and share the results with the U.S. Air Force C2 community as well as Joint and Coalition partners. Future experimenta-
tion will continue to focus on the ability to resiliently com- municate and synchronize effects between aircraft and other friendly forces as well as inform the next generation of Tactical C2 and Battle Man- agement.
“We’re already seeing a few changes occur in these lines of effort, all moving in the direc- tion of multiple SecAF Opera- tional Imperatives,” said Allen. “Our efforts inform what can be done to mitigate the delay
between retiring legacy air- borne C2 and the arrival of the next generation platforms.”
This test event provided a unique opportunity to explore Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command inte- gration in an environment that yields increased capability for both major commands. The goal is to continue expanding that relationship and improve on what the team learned and demonstrated during Black Flag 23-1.
U.S. Air Force and Army service members prepare for the Command and Control Element during Black Flag 23-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 23, 2023. Airmen and Soldiers executed mission sets that demonstrated the ability to provide integral communication through accessing Department of Defense computer networks, employing multiple tactical data links, and communicating with aircraft.
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