Air - to - Air Combat With and Without Link 16

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form by any electronic or mechanical means (including photocopying, recording, or information storage and retrieval) without permission in writing from RAND. Network-centric operations case study : air-to-air combat with and without Link 16 / Dan Gonzales ... [et al.]. p. cm. " MG-268. " Includes bibliographical references. Preface The Office of Force Transformation (OFT) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration (OASD [NII]) have developed a conceptual framework for conducting analyses and enhancing understanding of network-centric operations (NCO) capabilities. RAND is one of the supporting organizations that assisted the Office of the Secretary of Defense in developing the NCO Conceptual Framework (NCO CF). The NCO CF has several objectives: to provide a better understanding of key NCO attributes and their interrelationships; to provide metrics to measure progress in developing transformed, network-centric forces; and to help understand and articulate how NCO capabilities can be a source of combat power. RAND has applied the NCO CF to the air-to-air combat mission. We used the framework to examine the results of the Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS) Operational Special Project. This project examined the performance of tactical fighter aircraft (F-15s) equipped with Link 16 data communications terminals and found that F-15s equipped with Link 16 were significantly more effective in air combat than F-15s equipped with only voice communications. This report describes the results of the case study that involved analyzing the capabilities of Link 16 data and voice communications networks, conducting interviews with experienced fighter pilots, and iv NCO Case Study: Air-to-Air Combat With and Without Link 16 building a quantitative model to calculate NCO CF metrics for mission capability packages designed for the air-to-air combat mission. This case study provides useful insights into the application of the NCO CF and associated metrics. The report highlights the advantages NCO capabilities can potentially provide U.S. air forces in the air superiority mission. It also demonstrates the feasibility of applying the NCO CF in a quantitative fashion to the chain of inferences contained in the network-centric warfare hypothesis. This report should be …