Airpower Today: The Global War On Terrorism

2 “Almost every captain in the Air Force who flies airplanes has combat experience… virtually every engineer, security forces troop and medic in the Air Force has deployed…This is a veteran, hardened combat force…They have been shot at. They know what it’s like. When we go, wherever we go, we’re going to be at the peak of our game.” General John P. Jumper CSAF,

3Overview The Global War on Terror Background Launching a War on terrorism The Military Campaign Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Background Lessons Learned

4Overview Operation IRAQI FREEDOMOperation IRAQI FREEDOM Background Emerging Lessons Learned USAF GWOT Lessons Learned USAF CONOPS US National Lessons Learned CFD Review

5 OEF marked the beginning of a broader U.S., and international, global war on terrorism but our enemies actually declared war on us through acts and words years earlier The Global War on Terror Background Sheik Rahman Osama bin Laden

6 The 1983 suicide bomb attack against U.S. Marines in Lebanon was our first introduction to this war—220 Marines were killed in the attack The first World Trade Center bombing in Feb 1993 killed six and injured over 1,000 people World Trade Center Parking Garage Parking Garage The Global War on Terror Background

7 In 1996, Osama bin Laden issued his fatwa or “Declaration of War Against the Americans Occupying the Land of the Two Holy Places.” The Global War on Terror Background

8  In 1996 the USAF facility at Khobar Towers was attacked with a truck bomb. 19 USAF Airmen were killed in the attack The Global War on Terror Background

9 U.S. Embassy bombings in Nairobi, Kenya and Dar el Salaam, Tanzania in The U.S. retaliated with strikes against Sudan and Afghanistan. The USS Cole was attacked in Yemen killing 17 Americans US Embassy Nairobi USS Cole

10 On September 11, 2001 an attack was launched on the U.S. using airliners as piloted missiles to kill Americans Two airliners crashed into the World Trade Center twin towers (3K dead, towers destroyed) A third airliner crashed into the Pentagon The fourth airliner crashed into a field in western PA The Global War on Terror Background

11 The attacks on 11 September motivated the U.S. to initiate the Global War on Terrorism The first battle zone…Afghanistan and the Taliban The Global War on Terror Background

12 Launching The War on Terror  U.S, Announces two pronged approach First, we would go after the terrorists "Our war on terror begins with al Qaeda, but it does not end there. It will not end until every terrorist group of global reach has been found, stopped and defeated." Next, we would go after their supporters "Every nation, in every region, now has a decision to make. From this day forward, any nation that continues to harbor or support terrorism will be regarded by the United States as a hostile regime."

13  Establishment of the Department of Homeland Security  American diplomats forged different coalitions of nations willing to engage in the war on terrorism in a variety of ways  Law enforcement agencies, at home and abroad, would work around the clock to uproot terror networks and disrupt potential attacks Launching The War on Terror

14 Launching The War on Terror  Financial regulators and law enforcement would combine forces to deprive terrorists of sources of financial support  Reserves and the National Guard would patrol U.S. skies and bolster the security of airports and other public places  U.S. intelligence community redoubled efforts to gain needed intelligence and prepare for a series of covert actions

15 Launching The War on Terror  Global Perspective  Broader than just Afghanistan The Philippines Bosnia Africa  Introduction to the Doctrine of Preemption

16 OEF Military Operations The US began military operations in Afghanistan on 7 Oct 2001 The US began military operations in Afghanistan on 7 Oct 2001 U.S. air assets achieved air superiority within 3 days U.S. air assets achieved air superiority within 3 days Taliban government fell within two months Taliban government fell within two months

17 OEF Military Operations  U.S. Objectives for OEF To make clear to the Taliban leaders and their supporters that harboring terrorists is unacceptable and carried a price; To acquire intelligence to facilitate future operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban regime that harbored the terrorists; To develop relationships with groups in Afghanistan that oppose the Taliban regime and the foreign terrorists that they support;

18 OEF Military Operations  U.S. Objectives for OEF (continued) To make it increasingly difficult for the terrorists to use Afghanistan freely as a base of operation; To alter the military balance over time by denying to the Taliban the offensive systems that hamper the progress of the various opposition forces; and To provide humanitarian relief to Afghans suffering truly oppressive living conditions under the Taliban regime.

19 OEF Military Operations  A new style of warfare. Special Operations Forces + anti-Taliban Afghan forces + long-range air power ISR assets provided U.S. forces with persistent surveillance Special Op Forces provided indispensable HUMINT while manned and unmanned surveillance aircraft patrolled the skies Radar systems, electro-optical and infrared cameras, and signals intelligence systems guided attacks against al Qaeda and Taliban targets.

20 Air and Space Power and OEF  Strategic Attack: Taliban headquarters and leadership, Al Qaeda training camps, and electrical power systems were targeted  Counterair: Airfields, air defense nodes, comm nodes were also targeted

21 Air and Space Power and OEF  Information Operations: C-130 “Commando Solo” aircraft transmitted radio broadcasts to the Afghani people assuring them that coalition forces were there to help. This was a key effort to ensure the support of the populace.

22 After approximately 2 weeks of bombing, application shifted from air supremacy to supporting surface forces. After approximately 2 weeks of bombing, application shifted from air supremacy to supporting surface forces. Air and Space Power and OEF

23 Air and Space Power and OEF  Airlift: Special operations forces were delivered to remote areas via C-130s and re-supplied by C-17 and C-130 airdrops  Special Ops Employment: USAF Special Ops troops traversed the backcountry on horseback to locate enemy forces and send recon info to command centers by satellite link and also to loitering aircraft

24 Air and Space Power and OEF  Counterland: Bomber aircraft like the B- 52 and B-1 assumed evolved interdiction and close air support (CAS) roles. Also: AC-130 Gunships F-15/16 strafing runs CAS was deciding factor in several later battles including “Roberts Ridge”

25  Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance:  Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) technology saw increased employment Global Hawk, Predator, and Shadow UAVs Predator drones equipped with Hellfire missiles and laser target designators Air and Space Power and OEF

26 Airpower used across the entire spectrum, in conjunction with ground forces, allowed the Taliban to be removed from power and forced al Qaeda to flee. Airpower used across the entire spectrum, in conjunction with ground forces, allowed the Taliban to be removed from power and forced al Qaeda to flee. Air and Space Power and OEF

27 OEF Lessons Learned  Lessons about warfare in the new age The potential of highly networked joint operations The Lethality of Special Ops Forces on the ground when combined with sophisticated overhead reconnaissance systems Modern communications systems dramatically shortened the kill chain time

28 Joint and Combined Operations Technology worked well Combined forces interaction with Afghani forces was positive Joint Command structure took too long to establish Once established Command and Control (net-centric warfare) highly successful OEF Lessons Learned

29 OEF Lessons Learned  UAV ability to operate and provide real time intel in any weather was a plus  New ordinance developed specifically for Afghanistan worked well  Strategic Airlift and Air Refueling worked exceptionally well but were stretched too thin  ISR in all aspects worked well, but more bandwidth is needed for communications  HUMINT was still essential - mountainous

30 OEF Lessons Learned  Strategic airlift, supported by Air Refueling, allows the U.S. to conduct expeditionary operations in the most remote areas of the world  More Intratheater airlift needed  Aircraft range/endurance capabilities must be improved to ease the strain on limited refueling assets and crews  Advances in ISR and communications technology afforded the U.S. military the ability to link ground and air forces to ISR information

31 OEF Lessons Learned  The combination of technologies and advancements above provided unprecedented C4I capabilities  Integrated Common Operating Picture allowed commanders to view battlefield developments and direct operations from 7,000 miles away  Advancements in communications networks improved interoperability between the services by allowing information sharing

32  Video – Operation Anaconda: The Battle of Robert’s Ridge OEF Lessons Learned

33Overview The Global War on Terror Background Launching a War on terrorism The Military Campaign Operation ENDURING FREEDOM Background Lessons Learned

34Overview Operation IRAQI FREEDOMOperation IRAQI FREEDOM Background Emerging Lessons Learned USAF GWOT Lessons Learned USAF CONOPS US National Lessons Learned CFD Review

Airpower Today: The Global War On Terrorism