Allied Air Command conducted its second symposium in 2023 for NATO’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) model, bringing together multinational stakeholders to discuss lessons learned, evolution and way head of the concept that hones NATO air force expeditionary capability, readiness and resilience. ACE is an operational scheme of manoeuvre designed to improve resilience and survivability while generating air combat power from both home bases and geographically dispersed locations. The Deputy Commander of Allied Air Command, Air Marshal Johnny Stringer, convened the multinational symposium on December 4 to 7, which was co-chaired by French Air and Space Force Brigadier General Gilles Juventin, who leads the Support Directorate at Headquarters Allied Air Command and oversees the areas of infrastructure, supply, logistics and CIS. These domains are key to successfully implementing ACE deployments.
“ACE is an operational scheme of manoeuvre designed to improve resilience and survivability while generating air combat power from both home bases and geographically dispersed locations. ACE can be conducted from Main or Deployed Operating Bases and Contingency Locations – this requires a flexible, well prepared and coordinated approach by the deploying force and the receiving bases. As one of AIRCOM’s five priorities contributing to NATO Air Power, we are establishing an operational concept to ensure Allies will regain their agility and interoperability in how aircraft are maintained, supported and operated under the full spectrum of joint operations. This also means it must be trained and exercised during peacetime. Several NATO Allies and Partners have already conducted ACE deployments and exercises,” said General Juventin.
During the symposium, representatives from NATO and Partner air forces reviewed and refined an operational concept for ACE and reported about their practical experiences with a view to further operationalizing ACE. The ACE concept is a true force multiplier for NATO’s Air Forces, provided five overarching principles are adhered to: agility – the ability to move and react quickly; interoperability – the ability to effectively cooperate with other Allies and Partners including equipment, weapons and systems; survivability – basically to survive an adversary attack through dynamic basing and physical protection of air bases; continuity of air operations – which is the capacity to generate air activity and conduct the air campaign in a dynamic operational environment ; and last, but by no means least, operational readiness – being ready to conduct ACE operations to respond to all enemy threats with little or no notice.
When applied correctly, Agile Combat Employment (ACE) complicates the enemy’s targeting process, creates political and operational dilemmas for the enemy, and creates flexibility for friendly forces. To effectively accomplish joint force commander objectives, ACE requires reexamining a wide variety of enabling systems, to include: command and control (C2), logistics under attack, counter-small unmanned aircraft systems, air and missile defense, and offensive and defensive space and cyber capabilities. ACE is an operational concept that supports joint all-domain operations (JADO). Joint force operations are increasingly interconnected, interdependent, and challenged. Antiaccess and area denial threats, reduced freedom of maneuver, and rapid proliferation of advanced technologies challenge the Air Force’s ability to operate. The successful employment of ACE positions the force to observe, orient, decide, and act in concert across all domains.
