Airbosses at the Joint Force Air Component Headquarters: The tactical brains of the mission

Red versus blue – the defence of NATO territory is practiced for two weeks within the scope of Air Defender 23. More than 70 aircraft per day are airborne at the same time as part of several composite air operations. The airbosses at the tactical air operations centre ensure that the mission and training objectives will be achieved and flight safety remains top priority.

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An airfield located near the front within exercise airspace East – it is planned that blue forces land here, only a few kilometres north of the enemy red forces. The problem is: strong air defence units in the red area directly behind the front line are threatening the success of the mission. At the same time, the red party – it represents a fictitious aggressor attacking NATO territory – plans to launch combat aircraft attacks on the airfield of the blue party, the defenders within the exercise scenario, and capture it afterwards.

Directors of a complex scenario

“The tactical contents of each mission are determined by the airboss”, explains Lieutenant Colonel Christoph T. while he observes red and blue air defence sites on the screen at the tactical air operations centre, the Joint Force Air Component Headquarters (JFACJoint Forces Air Component HQHeadquarters). “He determines how the commander’s mission objective will be achieved with the aircraft available.” The airboss is the tactical brain of the mission. He ensures that each aircrew is optimally trained during the extremely demanding missions of more than 70 aircraft. “The airboss is my direct access to any cockpit during Air Defender 23”, explains Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Chief of the German Air Force.

In airspace East, complex combat will break out in a few hours: Transport aircraft and various combat aircraft from the 25 participating nations – split up into red and blue teams – will go into battle against one another. “With our planning, we ensure that flight safety is always given top priority, for example by temporary separation of times of entry into the airspace”, explains the 57-year-old. As officer with primary responsibility (OPR), as the role is called, the staff officer is virtually the boss of bosses during Air Defender 23, the exercise with more than 10,000 participants. “We provide the crews at the airfields throughout the exercise area with details about their mission objectives and the rules of the scenario. During the mission, we are coordinating the cooperation between all those involved: wings, air defence units, and national command.”  

Evaluation, assessment, and learning effects

The blue party was successful. After several hours of air combat and attacks against the red sites, the enemy air defence has been neutralised. Blue air superiority ensures that no combat aircraft from the south are posing a threat to the airfield anymore. Christoph T. explains: “After each mission, the airboss responsible for the airspace evaluates the missions flown.” Positive and negative aspects of the individual mission are discussed with the aircrews in a transparent manner. “The complex Air Defender 23 scenarios with up to 25 garrisons involved and different wings and types of aircraft from NATO and partner nations are extremely challenging for all participants”, summarises Lieutenant Colonel T., “For this reason, this exercise contributes to the best possible preparation for any scenario.”