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

Counterair Planning
Combatant Commander's Critical Asset List
Examples of Critical Theater Assets by Phase
Phase I
Deter
Phase II
Seize Initiative
Phase III
Dominate
• Seaports
• Air bases
• Population centers
• Fleet operating areas
• Command and control
(C2) nodes
• Air bases
• Fleet operating areas
• Population centers
• Maneuver forces
• C2 nodes
• Air bases
• Seaports
• Maneuver forces
• Fleet operating areas
• Population centers
• C2 nodes
Figure III-3. Combatant Commander’s Critical Asset List
their CONOPS (e.g., phase I, deploy; phase II, forcible entry; phase III, defense; phase IV,
offense) for which there may be separate CALs. The task CAL maintained by a GCC’s
Defense Critical Infrastructure Program office may be useful in providing a preliminary
baseline for JFCs for various operational scenarios within a JOA. The CAL should include
designated assets and areas within the joint security areas (JSAs) of the JOA. Protection for
JSAs outside the JOA, but within the AOR, normally remains the responsibility of the
supported GCC. Protection of the lines of communication outside the AOR and vulnerable
to enemy (or their ally’s) air and missile attack must be coordinated with the responsible
CCDRs by the supported GCC. For DCA protection, the joint security coordinator
designated by the JFC normally coordinates with the AADC to ensure the JSAs are
appropriately covered by the AADP. Usually the number of assets requiring some level of
AMD will be greater than the resources available to defend them. Also, due to the dynamics
of joint operations, priorities may change over the course of the operation or campaign.
b. The completed CAL is forwarded to AADC, who will allocate available active AMD
forces to defend the prioritized assets listed. The product of this effort is the DAL. The
DAL is a list of those assets on the CAL that can be covered by JFC AMD forces and
capabilities. Each defended asset on the DAL should be prioritized as requiring active AD
or appropriate passive measures if that is all that is available. After initial active AD
allocation, commanders should consider “clustering” to conserve AMD forces and assess if
passive measures alone satisfy an assets’ required defensive posture. If passive measures
alone are insufficient to defend an asset on the DAL, the issue should be resolved by the
JFC. Once completed, the DAL is approved by the JFC.
See JP 5-0, Joint Operation Planning, for additional details regarding plan phases.
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