Maritime Patrol Aircraft in MOOTW: Battlespace Awareness for the Operational Commander.

Abstract

Abstract : Traditional warfare between large armies and navies are perhaps a thing of the past. The battles that the new joint doctrine envisions, fall within a broad spectrum of warfare classed as military operations other than war, or MOOTW. The 'clash of cultures,' democratic political stability, environmental and human crises, and terrorism are among the new enemies that the Joint Force Commander (JFC) will have to decisively defeat. The expansive desert and ocean battlespace was then. Battlespace that is mountainous, urban, and deep within the continents is now. Where once we fought a danger that was 'clear and present,' the new and present dangers are anything but clear. Managing risk and synchronization of military and civilian humanitarian/relief organization efforts in his theater requires the JFC to achieve a near-omniscient battlespace awareness. But, the CINC/JFC have a real dilemma. Most imagery assets are dedicated to national-strategic support, not to the operational level where the JFC conducts his art. Is there an asset that meets the JFCs need? The answer is yes...MPA. The maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) (P-3 'Orion'), is a proven maritime performer that was modified in support of a CINC to fill his needs for real-time, flexible, imagery in MOOTW. Its stand-off weaponry and imagery system enhancements make this Cold War workhorse a littoral/overland, precision force multiplier for the JFC engaging in MOOTW. Its dwell time over target, dynamic ability to be retasked in-flight, robust imagery downlinking capability, and ability to get under the weather to achieve optimal look angles all combine to provide today's JFC with the tool he needs to achieve battlespace awareness in MOOTW and, thus, raise this new operational art to a higher form.