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

CHAPTER IV
OFFENSIVE COUNTERAIR PLANNING AND OPERATIONS
“After all, the great defense against aerial menace is to attack the enemy’s aircraft
as near as possible to their point of departure.”
1. General
OCA operations normally have a high priority as long as the enemy has the air and
missile capability to threaten friendly forces and the JFC does not have the degree of air
superiority desired to accomplish the objectives required for the end state. OCA operations
reduce the risk of air and missile attacks, allowing friendly forces to focus on their mission
objectives. The preferred method of countering air and missile threats is to destroy or disrupt
them prior to launch using OCA operations.
2. General
Winston Churchill
Memo of 5 September 1914
SECTION A. OFFENSIVE COUNTERAIR PLANNING
a. OCA planning begins with JIPOE and IPB and considers the JFC’s assessment of the
overall air and missile threat, the predicted effectiveness of the defense design, target
database, ROE, objectives, priorities, missions, available friendly capabilities, and the weight
of effort or force apportionment decision. IPB enhances the commanders’ ability to find
targets, task attack forces, and assess their effectiveness. Considerations include the enemy’s
air and missile operating areas, signatures, capabilities, and deployment and employment
procedures. IPB attempts to provide a comprehensive picture of the enemy activity, terrain,
and weather within the theater/JOA and generally requires planning for surveillance and
reconnaissance in support of intelligence collection.
b. Through centralized planning and direction, the JFACC synchronizes OCA
operations with DCA and other joint operations and relies on robust C2 systems for
decentralized execution. Decentralized execution allows components and units to exercise
initiative, responsiveness, and flexibility within their command authorities to accomplish
their tasks. Operations against fixed targets require emphasis on preplanning, accurate and
timely intelligence, target selection, time over target, and published ROE. OCA operations
against mobile targets or TSTs (e.g., SAMs, BM or CM launchers) also require preplanned
procedures that can be implemented or modified quickly to assign the optimum weapon
system relying on integrated C2 systems for as close to real time control as possible. This
emphasis on planning enhances mission effectiveness while minimizing potential for
fratricide and interference with other operations.
c. Reliable and secure C2 systems are needed to ensure timely and accurate integration,
planning, responsiveness, and close coordination. These systems represent the collective
IV-1