Tactical Air Operations Center Handbook - GlobalSecurity.org

Chapter 4
Operations
The MAGTF commander uses Marine aviation to assist MAGTF efforts in
support of the commander, amphibious task force (CATF), the naval expeditionary
force (NEF) commander, the joint task force (JTF) commander, or
the joint force commander (JFC) in preparing and defending the battlefield.
In its most common employments, the TAOC will operate in support of amphibious
or joint force operations. Through its support of these operations,
the TAOC will manage the MAGTF’s integrated air defense system (IADS).
EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS
The MACS’s TAOC detachment will task-organize a system to meet the required
capabilities needed to support its designated mission. This task organization
may be as small as a single gap filler radar detachment or as large
as the entire TAOC. Examples of TAOC employment options are described
below.
TAOC Site
As the MAGTF’s AAW facility, this configuration provides the operational
capability to perform all air C 2 tasks associated with the TAOC as outlined
in chapter 1. The TAOC site is normally employed for operations requiring
high intensity levels of AAW and airspace management activities.
Early Warning and Control Site
An operational site capable of performing the majority of TAOC tasks, the
EW/C site is primarily designed to perform air surveillance and aircraft and
missile control. This site is not configured to perform the senior supervisory
and coordination functions provided by a TAOC site. The EW/C site is employed
for operations requiring medium intensity levels of airspace