fm 44-100 us army air and missile defense operations

FM 44-100
4-12
air operations, the theater commander may designate a joint force air
component commander (JFACC). The JFACC is responsible for air operations
planning, coordination, allocation, tasking, and execution of air operations.
Joint Air Operations
4-65. Normally, the forces under the JFACC's control perform the air
operations combat missions concurrently. The missions are mutually
supporting and include, but are not limited to, air interdiction (AI), close air
support (CAS), counterair (CA), strategic attack, tactical surveillance and
reconnaissance, tactical airlift, and support of maritime operations. Air
operations influence all other combat operations. Air operations may be
independent of land and sea activities and can achieve certain independent
results. However, they normally combine with other combat operations to
produce interrelated results that support the theater commander's objectives.
Each element of the air operation is important to the successful completion of
the theater campaign; but strategic attack, AI, CAS, and counterair
components are the primary contributors to land operations. TMD attack
operations do not ordinarily receive their own air apportionment category.
Rather, TMD attack operations are a part of strategic attack and offensive
counterair.
COUNTERAIR AND THEATER MISSILE DEFENSE OPERATIONS
4-66. Airspace provides an added dimension to maneuver. Forces use the air
environment for maneuver, delivery of fires, surveillance, reconnaissance,
electronic warfare, battle command, and transportation. The commander who
best exploits the full potential of airspace will more effectively exercise
freedom to maneuver forces at the right place and time. Air superiority
enables commanders to better optimize their tactical flexibility and their
freedom to execute attacks to neutralize or destroy an enemy's potential to
wage war. Counterair and theater missile defense operations protect friendly
forces, enable friendly forces to use airspace, and deny use of airspace to the
enemy. Thus, counterair and theater missile defense operations are an
integral part of planning, fighting, and winning the campaign.
Operational Elements of Counterair and Theater Missile Defense
4-67. The operational elements of counterair operations are offensive
counterair (OCA), and defensive counterair (DCA). The four operational
elements of theater missile defense (TMD) are active missile defense, passive
missile defense, attack operations, and TMD C4I.
General Requirements of Counterair and Defense Operations
4-68. Operations require coordination of each service's capabilities. A fully
coordinated battle command system facilitates inter-service synchronization
of activities. The proper mix and synchronization of surface-based and aerial
platforms provide the commander with flexible and agile forces that
complement each other and deny the enemy a preferred attack option.
Similarly, flexible offensive forces must simultaneously engage the threat by
performing attack, OCA, AI, SEAD, and CAS operations to degrade the