JP 3-01 Countering Air and Missile Threats - Defense Innovation ...

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
COMMANDER’S OVERVIEW
• Covers the Fundamentals for Countering Air and Missile Threats
• Addresses Command and Control Relationships and Responsibilities, including
those for the Area Air Defense Commander and the Airspace Control Authority
• Describes Counterair Planning and the Airspace Control Plan
• Discusses Offensive Counterair Planning and Operations and Offensive Counterair
as part of the Joint Air Operations Plan
• Explains Defensive Counterair Planning and Operations and the Area Air Defense
Plan
Introduction
The joint force
commander (JFC)
counters air and missile
threats to ensure friendly
freedom of action, provide
protection, and deny
enemy freedom of action.
Counterair Framework
The counterair framework
is based on integrating
offensive and defensive
operations against both
aircraft and missile
threats.
Countering Air and
Missile Threat Integration
and Synchronization
Counterair integrates offensive and defensive operations
to attain and maintain a desired degree of air superiority
and protection by neutralizing or destroying enemy aircraft
and missiles, both before and after launch. Integrated air
and missile defense (IAMD) is an evolving approach that
uses the counterair framework at the theater level. IAMD
emphasizes the integration of offensive counterair (OCA)
attack operations, defensive counterair (DCA) operations,
and other capabilities as required to create the joint force
commander’s (JFC’s) desired effects. The IAMD approach
also encompasses global strike and global missile defense
beyond the theater level.
The counterair mission integrates both offensive and
defensive operations, by all capable joint force
components, and counters the air and missile threat by
attaining and maintaining the degree of air superiority and
protection desired by the JFC. Generally, OCA operations
seek to dominate enemy airspace and prevent the launch of
threats, while DCA operations defeat enemy air and
missile threats attempting to penetrate or attack through
friendly airspace.
Although OCA and DCA are considered separate
operations, they must facilitate unity of effort through
integration and synchronization. Integrating a mixture of
capabilities from components bolsters the friendly force
potential and likely will frustrate the enemy’s ability to
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