Setting the scene - Williams Foundation - Home...A FAC(A) is a specially trained and qualified aviation officer who exercises control, from the air, of aircraft and indirect fires

FORWARD AIR CONTROL (AIRBORNE)

Setting the scene

What is FAC(A)?

FAC(A) Evolution in the ADF

Joint & Coalition Interoperability

FAC(A) in the Future


What is a FAC(A)?

A FAC(A) is a specially trained and qualified aviation officer who exercises

control, from the air, of aircraft and indirect fires engaged in Close Air Support

(CAS) of ground troops

CAS - Action by fixed and rotary wing aircraft against hostile targets that are in close

proximity to friendly forces that requires detailed integration of each air mission with the

fire and movement of those Forces.

FAC(A)s can integrate Air, Land and Maritime Fires in support of the Ground

Commander’s Scheme of Manoeuvre – facilitating the execution of Commander

Joint Task Force’s (CJTF) objectives.


The Air Power Pyramid

Strike Air Mobility ISRControl of the Air

Command & Control Force Protection Force Generation & Sustainment

ENABLING AIR POWER ROLES

CORE AIR POWER ROLES

AIR POWER EFFECTS

JOINT CAMPAIGN

NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY

NATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Air

Campaigning

Battlespace

Management

Air Base

Protection

Defensive

Cyber Operations

Electronic

Warfare

Information

Operations

Joint Personnel

Recovery

Information

Operations

Force Generation &

Capability Development

Force Preparation

& Sustainment

Operational

Support

Combat

Support

International

EngagementAir & Space

Systems Support

Air Logistic

Support

Air to air

Refuelling

Aeromedical

Evacuation

Airborne

Operations Intelligence,

Surveillance &

ReconnaissanceAnti-submarine

Warfare

Strategic

AttackClose Air

Support

Defensive

Counter Air

Offensive

Counter AirAnti-Surface

Warfare

Air

Interdiction


Air Surface Integration (ASI) Joint Fires Facilitators

FAC(A)

JFO/JFTJTAC

Ground Commander’s

Intent

JTAC = Joint Terminal Attack Controller

JFO = Joint Fires Observer JFT = Joint Fires Team




FAC(A) Concept

Extend the reach of the TACP (Tactical Air Control Party)

Force Projection

Force Protection

May work alone or in conjunction with a JTAC or JFO, in support of the Ground

Commander.

Augmenting each others strengths and weaknesses.

Tasking

Specifically tasked on Air Task Order in support of the mission - briefed into Ground

Scheme of Manoeuvre (GSOM) and Objectives, or

Airborne reassignment

Enhance Army’s Joint Fires Teams (JFT)

Force multiplier for achievement of relative superiority

Multiple supported Commanders

Finite airpower resources

Kinetic and non-kinetic effects

Multiple AOs


FAC(A) Primary Objectives

Support the Ground Commander’s Intent

Integrate Fires within the Battlespace

Mitigate Fratricide and Collateral Damage


FAC(A) Tasks

Intelligence, Surveillance and Reporting

Produce high quality target coordinates

Mark Targets

Rockets/smoke

Coordination artillery/mortars

Non-Kinetic Target Marking e.g. laser, IR Pointer, Link-16

Target Talk-on/Correlation (Visual or VDL FMV)

Destroy Targets (can be CAS asset)

Call-for-Fire/Airborne Observer (Arty/Mortars/NSFS)

Terminal Attack Control

Battle Damage Assessment

Communications/Relay (for JTAC/TACP)

Airspace Deconfliction


FAC(A) Force Enablers

Extensive comms suite

3 x Secure radios, SATCOM (direct to TACP/AOC/HQ)

Need to talk to/co-ord with many agencies:

TAD JTAC/JFO, Manoeuvre/GC Net, Fires Net, JFECC, SACC, AEWACs, Higher HQ, UAS

Good resolution sensor: target recce/PID/coord generation/BDA

Kinetic & Non-kinetic target marking means: day/night

Helmet Mounted Cueing System

Endurance/Time-on-Station

Means for friendly force tracking

Interoperable Datalinks: Video down/up-link, Link 16, DACAS etc


RAAF FAC(A) Evolution in the ADF


4 FAC Flight 1970 FAC Development Unit 1991

4 Squadron Reformation 2009


Army Aviation FAC(A)

1 Aviation Regiment


Current ADF FAC(A) Capability

Air Force Legacy System (PC-9/A(F))

Training only

Vietnam era tactics, aircraft and equipment

Not representative of any current operational capability

Army System (Tiger ARH)

Only current operational capability



Coalition

FAC(A)

Platforms

USSOCOM MD500 USN F/A-18F USMC F/A-18D

USMC AH-1 Cobra USMC AV-8B USMC UH-1Y

USAF A-10C USAF F-16

http://theaviationist.com/2014/08/28/f-16-and-fac-a-mix/

http://theaviationist.com/2014/08/28/f-16-and-fac-a-mix/

http://www.thisdayinaviation.com/17-october-1922/super-hornet/

http://www.thisdayinaviation.com/17-october-1922/super-hornet/


Joint Fires Interoperability Within a Coalition

Governed by Joint Fires Memoranda of Agreement

MOAs ensure that Services are trained to the right standards and operate off

common Doctrine and TTPs to ensure interoperability in the battlespace.

JTAC MOA – joined 2005 (CAF ADF Signatory)

JFO MOA – joined 2010 (CA ADF Signatory)

FAC(A) MOA – joined 2015 (CAF ADF Signatory)

AUST was first US Partner Nation to have a training system accredited for each

individual MOA

Only US Partner Nation to be accredited in all 3


FAC(A) in the Future


Australian Operational Context

FAC(A) likely operational environment:

Regional

Littoral (including jungle)

Low-medium intensity, non-linear conflict

Extended mission duration

Dislocated from large airbases?

Hybrid warfare


LGB

JDAM

JTAC / CCT

HQJOCAOC / ASOC

TACP

FAC(A) Integration within the Joint Force4th & 5th Gen Network-centric Connectivity

Air Mobile Operations

LINK-16

FAC(A) NSFS / NGSSpotter

JFT / JFO(DTCS Integration)

FW CASCAS

FW FAC(A)

AWD

LHD

RW FAC(A)

UAS

F2T2EA / PID / BDA

RW CAS

AEW&C TAC(A)

LGB LST Handoff


Amphibious Task Group

FAC(A) in Support of Littoral Ops


Joint Integration Challenges

Supporting key decision makers:

Multiple decision nodes (surface and airborne)

Rapidly changing situations

Complex ROE/CDE considerations

Rapid and agile massing of combat power requires suitable C2

Non kinetic capabilities:

Sensor fusion and management

Data connectivity

Surface forces, aircraft, HQs

Carriers/bearers – VMF, Link, VDL, duplex and retrans capability

Network vulnerability/redundancy

‘No comm’ capability

Kinetic marking redundancy

Technology retrograde options


Future Capability Opportunities

Fast FAC

Super Hornet option

Digital connectivity, good weapon loadout

Limitations for long duration, low-med intensity support

Slow FAC

Continued development of ARH/armed helicopter capability

4SQN FAC(A) Fixed Wing Capability

Training or Operational

Synthetic training

No 4SQN aircraft simulator – JAWBL replication of FAC(A)?

JTAC simulation – connectivity with JAWBL/aircraft trainers/Army trainers


Future 4SQN Flightline?


Questions and Discussion

Documents

Setting the scene - Williams Foundation - Home...A FAC(A) is a specially trained and qualified aviation officer who exercises control, from the air, of aircraft and indirect fires