Command and Control of Airpower in Irregular Warfare

Air Force plays a significant role in Air Force culture. This study examines the Air Force’s ability to apply the centralized control approach to irregular warfare. The growing focus and literature on the differences between traditional warfare and irregular warfare challenge the US Air Force’s adherence to centralized control. This study asks “Is the Air Force’s command and control structure able to integrate airpower effectively into Irregular Warfare operations?” This research question leads to a review of the irregular warfare theory, organizational theory, and application of these theories in the current context to determine the effectiveness of centralized control in irregular warfare. The study compares the requirements identified by theory against the Air Force’s command and control structure, the Theater Air Control System. Subsequent chapters discuss the TACS performance in contemporary IW environments. The discussion leads to limitations of the TACS in irregular warfare and potential improvements.