Dispersed operations: strategy for air power survival and flexibility
Ministry of Defence & Armed Forces of the Czech Republic
3.12.2024
Author: by Major Zuzana Sekaninová
The present security environment evolves quickly, bringing about new challenges for the Czech Armed Forces. One of the pivotal concepts, which comes to the fore, is the dispersed operations capability. This approach embraces expanding the operational air forces capability and other military assets outside their bases to diminish their vulnerability in the first attacks. On November 25-29, 2024, the Czech Air Force Commander ordered the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base to perform unscheduled training exercise "airfield manoeuvre" to verify the ability of quickly abandoning their home station.
Principle of dispersed operations
The dispersed operations are designed to minimise vulnerability of key military assets by avoiding centralised, easily targetable bases. Instead, combat aircraft, in this case rotary wing assets, and other equipment, move to smaller, improvised and temporary bases such as alternate airfields, roads, field expedient areas or military areas.
"This approach increases resilience to attacks, flexibility and mobility of our forces. Moreover, it minimises the risk of having the enemy's eliminating air forces by attacking several key bases in the initial stage of the conflict. The Swedish Air Force, for example, was one of the first ones to start using this strategy intensively already in the time of the Cold War. They realised that central bases represent an easy target for missile attacks," said Czech Air Force Commander Major General Petr Čepelka. He also underscored the need for the Czech Air Force service personnel to train for operations from alternate airfields and emergency areas. "But that is not limited to air bases only, but also to ground based air defence, command and control systems and radars," he added.
Dispersed operations in the Czech Air Force
The dispersed operations concept has been a high priority training activity this year. "The capability is key to the air forces of all NATO nations. NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) therefore assigned the highest priority to training dispersed operations - and the Czech Air Force performed them perfectly," Major General Čepelka highlighted. It also benefits the processes the Czech Armed Forces is having underway to deliver one of the highest political-military ambitions: the building of brigade equivalent task force. The helicopter units play an essential role in supporting the ground forces, logistic support and evacuation. That is why we decided to prioritize our training in 2024 accordingly. Thanks to vertical take-off and landing, rotary wing aircraft may operate from unpaved areas, which is ideal for decentralised employment. In addition, mobile bases enable faster helicopter operations in proximity of hotspots or force staging areas, which increases the effectiveness of resupply, evacuation of casualties or close air support.
Implementation of this strategy into training involves the movement of air assets and necessitates development of mobile maintenance, refuelling and arming infrastructure. "Although we had minimum time to prepare, we handled the task well and accomplished the mission without problems," explained a pilot from the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base, who had trained in the exercise.
Helicopter units are now in the process of modernisation while the Czech Air Force in its entirety prepares for the introduction of F-35 Lightning II multirole stealth fifth-generation fighters. While the F-35 is primarily designed for operations from state-of-the-art air bases, its ability to perform dispersed operations develops continuously in training and doctrine. Dispersed operations provide better survival of present as well as future air assets.
Key advantages of dispersed operations
1. Increased resilience to attacks: in case of a large conflict, the opponent can target known and stationary bases. The dispersal of aircraft and other assets into smaller and unpredictable locations significantly reduces the probability of hitting them.
2. Flexibility and mobility: dispersed forces can operate closer to areas of interest, which enables a faster response to the emerging threats or to requests for close air support.
3. Minimum dependence on infrastructure: the ability to operate from provisional areas reduces dependence on complex infrastructure and enables continuous operations when main operation bases sustain damage.
Preparation and logistic support to dispersed operations
The transition to dispersed operations calls for certain changes in training, logistic support and infrastructure. In the Czech Air Force, that entails increasing the capability using provisional airfields, reserve helicopters in military training areas or any paved areas and road sections for aircraft landing and take-off. That involves the development of mobile units for refuelling, maintenance and quick replenishment of the aircraft outside standard bases. "This training exercise is also designed to identify shortfalls and generate recommendations for the provision of effective communication and coordination among individual dispersed units," said Colonel Michal Vecheta, who was the exercise director. In the same vein, the Czech Air Force supports investments into state-of-the-art communication systems and digital transformation enabling operations in decentralised environments, Colonel Vecheta added.
Conclusion
Dispersed operations capability represents a critical element for ensuring operational readiness of helicopter, supersonic and transport air units, especially when faced with a technologically advanced opponent. Inspiration by the Swedish doctrine shows that such air forces are in good position to increase their survival and flexibility in operations. For the Czech Armed Forces, which is in the process of modernisation, embracing this strategy represents a considerable leap forward in security and defence posture.
"Dispersed operations involve changes in tactics as well as a shift in how air operations are planned and conducted. I am confident this approach will play a key role in the Czech defence capabilities in the decades to come and it is therefore necessary to repeat and enhance this type of training on regular basis," Colonel Vecheta summed up.
22 HAFB received Mirage aircraft
As part of the exercise, the 22nd Helicopter Air Force Base hosted an Aircraft Cross Servicing (ACS) training event, which is critical for interoperability and the ability of national armed forces to receive and handle other NATO nations' aircraft. This training builds on the Host Nation Support (HNS) and Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts. While Host Nation Support ensures the provision of logistic, technical and operational support to international forces operating in the Czech territory, ACE emphasises flexibility and quick transfer of units among individual bases, including improvised ones. The visit by French Dassault Mirage fighters in Náměšť verified the readiness of Czech ground specialists to service other nations' aircraft and indeed increased readiness of the Czech Air Force to support Allied operations including from unplanned locations, which is essential in the context of current security challenges in Europe.
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