The Relevance of Air Defense and the Basis of Organization

Abstract

In the present article, the air defense planning process, its stages, the composition of the planning group, principles, activities, and a brief outline of the air defense plan will be discussed. “Properly planned and executed air defense operations constitute an important element of the fire and defense system, which enables the command to achieve the assigned objectives through unified efforts.”

“As with other air operations, air defense is primarily based on effects. This means that air defense operations are planned, developed, and conducted in a way that imposes effects on the functioning of the system or changes it in order to achieve the desired outcomes.

 Effective air defense operations must be part of a broader plan that logically connects the final results of the entire operation with all objectives and tasks. The plan must serve as a guide for accomplishing the assigned tasks, with mechanisms for receiving feedback.” Conducting air defense is one of the most complex components of modern combat operations.

The complexity is determined by both technical and other factors: limited time, spatial constraints, complex algorithms, complicated radio-technical conditions, geophysical factors, and more. Accordingly, air defense planning requires maximum detailing of its elements, including command and control, intelligence, fire system development, interoperability, logistics, and other components. Subordinate headquarters and commanders, in turn, further elaborate the plans issued by higher headquarters.

During the planning process, headquarters develop various combat documents of different purposes, forms, and contents: orders, directives, tables, and reports. The article will discuss their classification and provide a brief overview.