Article by Raymond Shulstad
Blogged by Doug Raymond
In this article by Ray Shulstad, I read about how technology impacts the ability of Air Force Command in making efficient and direct operational calls for their commanders. The innovation to revolutionize Air Force Command and Control has lead to the solution of creating a simple “cursor on target” principle developed by engineers, the industry, and operators alike. This five year innovation would prove that a vision of one person can be researched and developed into something so beneficial to air combat. Technology has a major impact on the communication process within locating enemy targets in a wide spread area then relaying that information back to the control base before ultimately firing the missiles.
After reading this
article I found out that this “cursor on target” principle would be used for
fighter pilots, like the F-15. In April 2002, at the Command, Control, Intelligence,
Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C2ISR) Summit, General Jumper and his 12
four-star commanders made a plea in order to integrate the machinery system
within the C2ISR machines, working on the target systems, sensors, air and
space operation center, and shooters. This integration will also have a system
visual and audio command on when to fire. This communication is essential to
the Air Force Command in order to eliminate enemy targets. General Jumper would
eventually end his presentation upon saying, “the sum of all wisdom is a cursor
over the target.” (Shulstad)
The little steps that
the Air Force took in order to piece this entire system together would consist
in this: Combining the Global Positioning System (GPS), and a compass to obtain
the target coordinates and send them over the PRC-117 radio to the Joint
Special Operations Task Force (JSOTF), which would manually send the target and
its coordinates over the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNET) into
the AOC. After all this happens, the AOC would transmit the target coordinates
using Link 16 to the Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), and F-15,
which would then attack the target. (Shulstad: Innovation)
As talked about in
Chapter 1 of our book, communication within the work teams are essential to
organizational success. For these fighter pilots, their communicational skills
are within a work group as well with a visual of the machines operator always ready
to signal and confirm when the pilot is locked on to an enemy target. If the
fighter pilot is given invalid coordinates on an enemy then that could result
in a failure of a direct hit.
The different strengths
and usefulness of this article can be looked at in many ways. One strength
about this article is how inspiring innovation like the “cursor on target” can
allow for extraordinary benefits and results at little cost. With an expert in
air attack like General Jumper, his insight and demand on his organization for
innovation can help his work team in coming up with innovative solutions. The usefulness
of the article can hopefully inspire those organizations like the Air Force in
having the vision to benefit their research and development within a certain
area of the group.
Success can also come
with failure as well, and that is true for all organizations willing to take the
risk for their ultimate achievement. In creating a new system like General Jumper,
the thought of failure is always a thought. One wrong systematical failure can
result possibly in the loss of life of a pilot. The other innovations within
the firing system for the F-15 can all relate to one thing and that is to get
the job done correctly. Everything that happens before the missile is even
fired depends on communication with the pilot and the control base. This
communication can relate well to what we have learned in class so far about how
decision making is a process that is taken sometimes by more than one person.
Yes decision making is done much faster within air attack but the whole process
is similar to how it’s used in everyday business organizations today.
This article definitely
made me realize how technology is always improving year after year. The Air
Force continually uses the best technology in order to protect their men and
women that go into battle. It amazes me how someone can vision these things
with their minds and then research and development it. The technological
advancement within the armed forces reminds us how powerful America is when it
comes to creating and developing the best for its personnel. The Air Force and its new communication
scheme with their fighter pilots and control base has other organizations now
finding more ways in order to be more innovative within their companies
research and development as well.
Cites
Raymond Shulstad, A. (n.d.). Cursor
on target: inspiring innovation to revolutionize air force command and control.
Article. December 2011. <http://ezproxy.adrian.edu:2063/ps/retrieve.do?sgHitCountType=None&sort=DA-SORT&prodId=ITOF&tabID=T002&subjectParam=Q1&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchId=R2&displaySubject=Technology&searchType=SubjectGuideForm&contentSegment=¤tPosition=3&subjectAction=VIEW_SUBDIVISIONS&searchQueryId=Q1&inPS=true&userGroupName=lom_adriancollg&contentSet=GALE|A274409646&&docId=GALE|A274409646&docType=GALE&role=
>
No comments:
Post a Comment