Air Commodore Roberton Looks Back at His Experience with the Australian Air Task Group Deployed to the Middle East

A I R T A S K G R O U P 6 3 0

Commander Air Task Group 630Sep 14 – Jan 15

AIRCDRE Steve Roberton


Scope

Stand-up of ATGRAAF relevanceClass ROE

• RAAF Context • Milestones• Deployment• Operations• Pers / Support• Lessons• Future challenges


Situation

Operation Okra is the ADF’s contribution to the international effort to combat the ISIL terrorist threat in Iraq. Australia’s contribution is

being closely coordinated with the Iraqi Government, Gulf Nations and a broad coalition of international partners.

Commander’s IntentCombat the ISIL threat to Iraq with the judicious use of Australian

airpower by contributing to CFACC’s Coalition tasking.


First few months: The big picture…..Self-deployed 12000km and ready for combat operations 19 days from Government Decision

~ 150 weapons employed:

•100% valid targets, •IAW Rules of Engagement •hit within weapon CEP

Zero Host Nation offences

No sig personnel issues


Iraq’s war – facilitated by Coalition airNo initial campaign planAir-Land coordination / integrationPace driven by Iraqi Security Forces


CFLCC TEAUAV video used for JTAC clearanceIraqi and US clearance in Baghdad and elsewhereCoord with CAOCStrike acft tasking


DEPLOYMENTBasing Move

C2 FWD Deploy – Base, CAOC

D-DAY NTM reduction (F18), RECCE, pre-deployment training, ROE and TD refined

CATG RCH in CAOC – Commence Familiarisation flights over Iraq

Commence Kinetic Operations

CAOC augmentation in place

ATG Main Contingent departs for Middle East

RECCE deploy (Log, CIS, infrastructure, Security, EO, FEG reps)

In-theatre RSO&I (4d)

Work upPM Commitment AnnouncementAdv PartyPM ApprovalFirst Op, First Bomb

21 SepD+7

28 SepD+14

8 OctD+24

First Kinetic Strike

NTM reduction (F18), HN engagement, USCENTCOM CENTAF engagement7 SepD - 7

5 OctD+21

14 SepGovt Decision

14-15 NovD+61


• Tasking

• Crew rotations

• 25% Fighter Force

• 50% Wedgetail Force

• ~30% KC-30 force.

Rate of Effort


• TUHQ

• MiRC Chat

• AAR Clearances

• ROE and Rate of Effort.

Airpower:Agility and Adaptation


Enablers• … adapting still …

• C2 Ratified in December … temporarily

• Supported – Supporting relationship

• Command vs Staff relationships

• Outstanding Support from ADO– JOC– DGAIR– HQAC


630.1.1 F/A-18F Strike


630.1.2 E-7 Wedgetail C2


630.1.3 KC-30A Air-Air Refueller


Milestones

• CTE630.1.1 (F/A-18F Strike)– F/A-18F longest mission 10.4 hours on 10Oct14

• CTE630.1.2 (C2ISR)– E-7A longest mission has been 16.2 hours.

• 737 record

• CTE630.1.3 (Air Mobility)– KC-30 biggest offload 220,000lbs (100tonne) offload in 1 day (2 sorties)– platforms

• FA-18F, Australia, USA• Rafale, France• AV-8 Harrier, USA• EA-6B, USA• F-18C,, USA• F-18A, Canada• GR-4 Tornado, UK.


• Rules of Engagement and Targeting Directive excellent – but took a lot of work. – Alignment with US … exception Self Defence: imminence and property– CDE v proportionality

• Requires operators to be part of the authorship.

• TDs are a command document– Not a legal document - enable the commander to be responsive; and – executable within clear Government guidance and CDF’s intent

• ROE-REQs responsively dealt with and well considered.

ROE and Targeting Directive


• NCV=0 Zero Civilian Casualties

• Target Engagement Authority

• Deliberate Strike approvals vs Dynamic strikes

• Legal support– Aircrew training in work-up

• Coalition C2– US JTACs– Task Force vs JOC-N

CATG: Red Card Holder

There is no target in Iraq worth losing a jet, killing a crew or unnecessarily damaging our reputation


Intel Support (First three months to early Jan 15)

• ‘Heavy’ - to support Deliberate strikes & targeting autonomy

• Completed Target Packs: 32– Total Completed BDA Products: 54

• Dynamic Strikes: 42Deliberate Strikes: 14

• Aim points Prosecuted (both Dynamic and Deliberate): 106

• Total Weapons Released: 142 – GBU12's: 33 – GBU38's: 109

• Note: 122 targets prosecuted during OP FALCONER in 2003, – four (4) were prosecuted deliberately by Australian Air assets.


Air Task Group 630 (to 01 Jan 15)

78 863 lbs / mission0.61 bombs / missionWPN/Fuel Rate

8,280,563lbs

103 x GBU3834 x GBU12154 x 20mm

Weapons / Fuel offload

96%98%87%97%Mission Success Rate

7.7hrs11.7hrs7.8hrsAv. duration

3190hrs814.3hrs635.5hrs1740.2hrsFlight Time

382105(2xCNX due DIP CLR)

54(1xCNX due to MNT)

(7xCNX due DIP CLR)

223(2 msn CNX - DIPCLR)

(2 msn CNX - no tanker support)(2 msn CNX – weather)

Missions Completed

TotalKC-30 TankerTE630.1.3

E-7 WedgetailTE630.1.2

F/A-18F Super HornetsTE630.1.1FACTOIDS




Risks• Strategic

• Coalition fractures• Iraq Govt Pesh

• Operational• Iraqi Security Forces

willingness• Loss of Host Nation

confidence• Tactical

• Unforeseen incident• Emergency diversion, loss of crew and aircraft



Lessons

• Pre-deployment• In-Theatre• Covering:

– C2– Personnel– Logistics– Public Affairs– Comms– Logistics– Operations


Pre-deployment

• Building Capabilities• Battle-worthiness assessments• Risk level guidance for operations

• C2• Air C2 DGAIR to CJOPS• Centralised command – decentralised execution

• Relationships• CJOPS• Capability Managers, FEGs, TECHCON? • JTF633 – NATCOMD?

– Command relationship – not staff relationship.


In-Theatre - 1

• Coalition• The strategic focus of effort

– at expense of operational effectiveness• Embedded staff into the CAOC machine

– as intermediaries

• Differing priorities • CENTCOM – CFLCC –

CFACC• Need for a CJTF?


In-Theatre - 2

• Build Battle Rhythm across joint forces• JOC / CDF +8hrs. • CENTCOM -8hrs.

• Handing off theatre responsibilities• JPR • Data-Links• Airspace

• Reporting• MISREPS – timeliness. Practice. WSVs. SITREPS • Commander summaries – to CJOPS – unfiltered• Measures of effectiveness – TTK, Timeliness reporting, Risks

accepted at right level.


Administration and Rotation Planning

• Personnel planning from DEM • Stove-piped planning• TUHQ

– On-the-job training

• Force preparation and RSO&I – a huge drain if not shaped according to the task.

• Visits.


Public Affairs • OIR – Information Operation

• Value of embedded team– Air Force message

• Media embeds on flights?– Imagery– Authorisation

• Sanitised WSV.


• Driven by Runway works, Refuelling

• Warfighter base

• US Base command relationship

• Deployed accommodation, Cadillac Ablutions

• Host Nation hospitality!

Basing Change

CAOC

• Weapon System• Embed vs LNO

– SODO– TET– MAAP

• Coalition SNR


• Australian comms

• Absolute C2 reliance for CAOC staff

• Bandwidth for Governance expectations SITREPs, Reporting

• Maintenance connectivity CAMM and S-CAMM

• Business tools– LOTUS Notes

Communications


Operational Issues

• Diplomatic Clearances– Getting into theatre– Overflight DipClr = Landing Dipclr for Aircraft rescues

• Weather– Long transits– Fatigue– Forecast reliability– Diverts – planned vs fuel diverts

• Iraq ATC– Restricted Operating Zones (ROZ)– AAR– Coordination

• ROC Drills– Diverts – Notifiable incidents


Lesson Summary

• Patience• Strategic – what losses / incidents is there political will to absorb?

– How long will public support be maintained? – How long can they wait for the first bomb?

• Operational – the Afghanistan legacy and use of air• Tactical – no single bomb will win this conflict.

• Initial Stand-up• Compartmented planning• Mitigate with quality people

• Risk• Low risk is not zero risk


Future Challenges

• Sustainment– Personnel– Aircraft– Weapons

• Quality leadership choices

• Weather!

• Diverts / ageing aircraft issues


Operational Summary

• 100% ROE Adherence

• 100% weapons < CEP

• >95% Mission success rate

Self-Deployed

View to sustaining


Questions

News & Politics

Air Commodore Roberton Looks Back at His Experience with the Australian Air Task Group Deployed to the Middle East