The Kuwait Air Operation
Center (C3)
SUBJECT AREA - Aviation
CSC 95
TABLE OF CONTENTS
page
Executive summary 1
KUWAIT (AOC) introduction 2
How to build the (C3) to KAF 3
Phase one for KAF (C3) 4
Phase two for KAF (C3I) 6
The main features for phase two (C3I) 7
The KAF (C3I) system over view 7
Low altitude detection main features 8
Communication main features 8
AOC consoles 10
Air base operation center 10
AOC general rules 11
Air operation groups 11
Conclusion 13
End note's 14
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE : THE KUWAIT AIR OPERATION CENTER (C3)
AUTHOR: LIEUTENANT COLONEL AHMAD A. A. AL- TAWEEL (KAF)
THESIS : The KUWAIT air force is aiming to define the (C3) & (C3I) requirements after the
IRAQI occupation on 2 August 1990 tell 26 Feb.199l.
background: This paper will discuss the plan for the KUWAIT air force to rebuild the air
operation center (C3) after the IRAQI occupation to KUWAIT on August 1990.
On summer of 1991 the KUWAIT air force commander give an order to the (C3) committee to
made a study for providing the KUWAIT air operation center with the latest equipment to
control the KUWAIT air space, and that will be on two phases.
The (C3) committee began there study by contacting the concerned company's and they made
there study to select the best equipment for phase one, and the KUWAIT air force (C3)
committee signed the contract with the AMERICAN (HUGHES) company for phase one, and for
phase two there is on going study for the new system for the (C3I).
Because of the limited budget for the KUWAIT air force the requirement from the equipment for
phase one was limited but cover our needs for the time been, even the phase one was crash
program, and short term, and minimum manning, and of the shelf equipment it take two years to
be installed.
RECOMMENDATION : The KUWAIT AIR FORCE (C3) committee have the time know to
made there study carefully for next project (phase two) and to improve there equipment by the
lesson's learned from the GULF war and the IRAQI occupation.
INTRODUCTION:
On 2 August 1990, the Iraqi is invaded KUWAIT for a seven month period, during this
occupation the IRAQI FORCES stole most of the valuable equipment in KUWAIT and damaged
many other systems.
The KUWAIT AIR FORCE suffered from this disaster, especially the valuable and
expensive equipment the air force uses for ( air craft, ammunition, air defense patris, radar,
communication equipment, the building in the air bases, the command control and
communication center (C3) and all the spare parts for all the equipment).
The KUWAIT air operation center (C3) used to have the latest equipment required for the
command & control and air defense net from different countries (FRANCE, USA, USSR, UK,
ITALY, AND GERMANY). After liberation on FEB.26 1991 none of the KUWAIT AIR
OPERATION CENTER (KAOC) equipment (radar, computers, Sam's patris, communications
radios, remote consoles, peripherals) were there. In APRIL. 1991 KUWAIT air force commander
commenced study to a rebuild the KUWAIT air force. After liberation they put priority on
starting with a limited budget received from the MINISTRY OF DEFENSE to establish a plan
to re-equip the air defense and the air forces, KUWAIT air operation center (KAOC). From this
plan the commander of the KUWAIT air force ordered the (C3) committee to make a study from
different companies in order to rebuild the air operation center (AOC) as first stage as
preliminary early warning system (PEWS), and the (C3) committee to be concern the budget
available for this project, specially the KUWAIT air force need this system to control the
KUWAIT air space on minimum time.
HOW TO BUILD THE (C3) TO K.A.F
1. THE REBUILDING EFFECTIVENESS
a. The budget on 1991 for the (C3) was limited.
b. The time was not agreed by most of the company because the system take years for
studying the requirement and desiccation the system equipment, and fabricate them.
c. The time for training for the operation staff on the new system.
d. The (C3) committee they cant description all the system specially there is a new
generation of the (C3) equipment and need a time to study about the latest equipment.
2. THE CONTENTS OF THE (C3) & DECISION
The KUWAIT air force committee decided to make this program on two phases and that
give the committee and the international company the time to provide the requirement of the
KUWAIT air force committee needs.
a. FIRST PHASE (1)
-The crash program.
- Short term.
- Minimum manning.
- Off the shelf equipment.
b. SECOND PHASE (2) ThE C3I
-Definition of requirement.
-Priority of requirement & request for proposal (RFP)
- The buildings.
- Testing the equipment.
- The training & operation.
PHASE ONE FOR THE KUWAIT AIR OPERATION CENTER (C3)
On summer of 1992 the (K A F C3) committee began there study to provides the phase
(1) to KUWAIT air force (AOC), by calling the concern and leading companies on (C3)
equipment, the (C3) committee briefed all the companies on our needs by providing:
- Number of tow long range radar with (3D) capability.
- Air borne radar balloon low altitude surveillance system (LASS).
- Control consols for (KAOC & ATC & JOC & NOC & AIR BASES OP's).
- Communication's network ( G/A & G/G).
- Simulation and recording equipment.
- Logistics, including training, spare parts, tools, test equipment and documentation.
- Operation and maintenance support.
- Technical and operational assistance.
And the contractor will provide the project management, engineering, hardware,
computer programs, installation and testing the equipment after installation.
After the (C3) committee received the request for proposals from the concerned
companies the (C3) committee decide to go with first phase as:
Crash program, short term, minimum manning, off the shelf equipment's, because most of the
companies need years for studying the requirement and desiccation the system equipment and
fabricate them.
The (C3) committee came to final decision and have to select one of the companies how can
cover our phase one by:
1. Which companies can provide all this equipment?
2. Which companies can integrate all the equipment together?
3. When this system will be ready and how long the installation will take?
4. Is our budget cover our requirement or to reduce our order?
5. Is the equipment off the shelf, or do we have to wait to be built?
6. Do we need to have a consultant for this project?
The C3 committee made all the comparative study and contractor's determination for the
different company from there proposals, by selecting what each company cover on there request
for proposal same as time, the coast of the system, our requirements from equipment's, the
training, technical assistance, logistics, operation and maintenance support.
On DECEMBER. 1992 the KUWAIT ministry of defense signed the contract with the
(AMERICAN HUGHES) company, because this company made on there proposal the
combination with the equipment's which suits our need's and will cover the KUWAIT air force
phase one needs for next ten years.
Under this contract, the contractor (HUGHES), will provide the project management,
engineering, hardware, computer programs, installation and test of the preliminary early warning
system (PEWS) for KUWAIT air force.
The phase one for our C3 system, will be ready as schedule on the first quarter of 1995,
and this system a crash, and of the shelf it take that long time. The KUWAIT force decided after
The (C3) committee came to final decision and have to select one of the companies how can
cover our phase one by:
1. Which companies can provide all this equipment?
2. Which companies can integrate all the equipment together?
3. When this system will be ready and how long the installation will take?
4. Is our budget cover our requirement or to reduce our order?
5. Is the equipment off the shelf, or do we have to wait to be built?
6. Do we need to have a consultant for this project?
The C3 committee made all the comparative study and contractor's determination for the
different company from there proposals, by selecting what each company cover on there request
for proposal same as time, the coast of the system, our requirements from equipment's, the
training, technical assistance, logistics, operation and maintenance support.
On DECEMBER. 1992 the KUWAIT ministry of defense signed the contract with the
(AMERICAN HUGHES) company, because this company made on there proposal the
combination with the equipment's which suits our need's and will cover the KUWAIT air force
phase one needs for next ten years.
Under this contract, the contractor (HUGHES), will provide the project management,
engineering, hardware, computer programs, installation and test of the preliminary early warning
system (PEWS) for KUWAIT air force.
The phase one for our C3 system, will be ready as schedule on the first quarter of 1995,
and this system a crash, and of the shelf it take that long time. The KUWAIT force decided after
completed the first phase will go for long study and get the (C3I) system by continue the build up
for our air force.
PHASE TWO(C3I)
On DEC.1994 KUWAIT air force began there next phase of the command, control,
communication, and intelligent, by calling the interested firms (company) and give them (K A F)
main ideas in brief and than each firm will make study, by visit some location, do internal
calculations and researches. Thc KUWAIT (C3I) committee but there future plan for phase two
as:
1. Definition of requirement: to connect phase one with phase two is one of the (C3I) committee
requirement and to use all the system KUWAIT air force they have or to improve them. The
requirement priorities cover the (hard ware wise, soft ware wise) and that should connected with
the (money wise, operation requirements) and we should go with consultant firm for this project.
2. Priority of requirement: the (C3I) committee request for proposals (RFP) from all the company
and to cover all the KUWAIT air force ideas. And than the committee will compeer all the (RFP)
from the different company's to select the (KAF) needs.
3. Comparative study and contractor's determination: on this part the committee and the
consultant firm take the company's ideas and study each system and select the company after
discussion with all separately to take the combination which suits our needs and select the
company, there will be (KAF) C3I requirements.
4. Buildings: the committee have to make good study on the buildings to match all the company
requirements, and if the old buildings capable to takes all the new system?
5. Testing & training: the committee should but schedule for the testing (installation test,
technical test, operational test, flight test) and should be approved by the contractor, specially the
equipment will be from deferent country and for integration all the systems together it needs
time. The training for the (AOC) staff should be scheduled after receiving the equipment and
testing.
6. The operation for the system: the system during the operation some time they have defect and
it take time to defined the problem, some time the defect not show during the testing program
and the (C3I) committee but this in evolution period tests for 6 month to the final operation
acceptant and than declaration from the contractor.
THE MAIN FEATURES FOR PHASE TWO (C3I)
1. THE KAF C3I SYSTEM OVER VIEW
The KAF requirement for this phase, 2 high /medium reconnaissance radar, long-range
low altitude (LASS) radar, 6-8 low altitude ground based detection radar. one main air operation
center (AOC), backup air operation center (BAOC), three air bases operation center (AB/OC).
Integration of 5 patriot SAM batteries, 3 medium range SAM batteries, 6 ski guard batteries shot
range, 9 mobile / re-locatable vital object command post (VOCPS). Integration of the following
formation simultaneously (DATA LINK) 6 formation of(F/A-18), 6 formation of (BLACK
HAWK / APACHE) helo. The system should interaction with the operation center of (JOC,
NOC, ATC civil authorities radar & tower, and 2 of the GCC operation center), area of
responsibility (identification zone, threat evaluation zone, engagement zone for the territories &
safety area), and should comply with KAF command structure and KAF operation SOP's.
And this system will connected to gather with ground to ground communications links,
and ground to air communications (voice / the link with fighters / choppers), 4'th level logistic
support.
2.LOW ALTITUDE DETECTION MAIN FEATURES
A. Main features: by ground based gab fillers, and should cover all the STATE OF
KUWAIT territories on (150 ft) height, depth of detection (20 km) beyond boarders at (150 ft),
double / triple over lapping (on bottom level) over vital areas and in main approach direction,
height measurement capabilities at low altitudes inside fighter interception zone.
b. Radar configuration: built in clutter mapper, tracker, IFF (mode 4 compatibility), local
consoles (displaying, video, plots, tracks), local / remote control over radar head, local control
over air situation, remoting plots, tracks, status, and optionally videos.
c. Reliability: to define minimum requirement for each radar (ECCM) capabilities, the
(ECCM) capability of radar field and frequency management, mutual interference study between
(C3I) system radar, matching with KUWAIT environment (heat / humidity / sand storms),
matching with the GULF area abnormal propagation, ducting and high clutters, survival against
air attack (radar wise Isite wise).
d. Other features: alternate sites study and its feasibility with automatic air situation
establishment, transportability / mobility of gab fillers, performance and acceptance criteria in
KUWAIT.
3. COMMUNICATION MAIN FEATURES
a. Main communication system:
-The main communication system for the KUWAIT (AOC), the radio links are to be of
the latest design and incorporate up to date technology in terms of modulation (digital),
bandwidth efficiency, and they are to be capable of being encrypted.
-The multiplex equipment are to be of the latest design and incorporate up to date
technology and be capable of the following:
1. Handling of T1 or E1 data streams.
2. Fully redundant (processors and powers).
3. Redundant T1 / E1 data streams for alternate route switching.
4. Supporting all voice modes (FXO, FXS, E&M).
5. Supporting all data speeds and formats.
6. Voice / data channel compression (32 kbs, 24 kbs, 16 kbs).
7.T1 / E1 data stream compression with the multiplex.
8. Intelligent re-routing.
9. Addressable from a central maintenance location.
- Primary radio links should be integrated into the nearest KAF microwave backbone
mode.
- Primary links should be of a fixed strategic type system, and alternate likes could be a
tactical type system, however all radios should be capable of utilizing the same multiplexes.
-All radio links should be capable of carrying multiple T1 / E1 data streams.
-All radio links must be capable of integrating into the existing KAF microwave
network, without the need to have customer built interfaces.
b. Tactical FM network:
These radio links must be fully ECCM compatible and capable of being part of a net
work that can be controlled from a master source. They will be VHF/FM and will have a voice
and a data channel. The data channel must be capable of carrying the remote radar data to the
AOC / BACK UP AOC, and all links must be capable of being encrypted to be controlled by
AOC / BAOC operators.
c. Ground to air communications:
Some of the remote radar sites will be equipped with VHF / UHF ground to air system,
and this will alleviate the problems associated with controlling low flying missions. The ground
to air systems will be encrypted in accordance with current KAF procedures, and will be
compatible with the existing KAF equipment to be controlled by AOC / BAOC operators.
4. AOC CONSOLES
The air operation (AOC / BAOC) will be equipped with multi-screens consols with full
color display capabilities and high resolution screens capable of displaying all kinds of
information's including raw video.
5. AIR BASE OPERATION CENTER
The 3 air bases will have air operation centers connected with the main AOC & BAOC to
control status of the air base, follow up air missions, control take off/landing services, control
local air defense means, and de centralized mode & full control.
The air bases operation center will link with the operational group in the main AOC as
follow:
-with air movement control section (for flight plan organization and execution).
-with air situation establishment (air picture with I.D).
-with GCI / ATC section follow up of air missions).
-integration with Sam's controllers.
-direct access to nearest radar information.
6. AOC GENERAL RULES
Survival against the air attack, survival against chemical attack, storage of water / food
(duration). The system of the (C3I) requirements of security for ( computer, communication,
information, documentation, personal). The growth potential (space, electric power & A/C,
computer capacity).
7. AIR OPERATION GROUPS
The KUWAIT air operation center (AOC) have six operational groups and each group
have connection with the other group and another connection with other agency for operational
requirements as follow:
a. AIR MOVEMENT CONTROL GROUP:
The air movement control group are responsible to receipt of civil flight plans, receipt of
mission planning, contact the air bases to receive the air craft statues, and the weather statues
and installed in the system computer, receipt of mission requests, coordinate with air bases the
military flight plan detail and preparation after receiving the flight plan from all the squadrons,
and they made the preparation and coordination for the training area and make the approval and
install it in the system computers and sent a copy to the air bases, updating with actual take off,
landing times and save it for the record.
b. AIR SITUATION ESTABLISHMENT GROUP
The air situation establishment group is maintaining correlation / deceleration of real
tracks with the flight plan, and watch and control the radar link management, and they follow the
radar status and remote control and disconnect the radar from the system if there is any effect on
air situation and coordinate with the radar site to solve the radar link problem, and they made
identification for all the air craft in the area by installing the identification number to display the
track as friendly or foe in the system after the coordination with other agency's, and they
exchanging the air situation with (SAM's, F-18, NAVY, GCC, ALLIED FORCES, THE HQ's) to
completion of the AOC air picture.
c. GROUND AIR DEFENSE CONTROL
The air defense controller they link with the (SAM /VOCP) and they made the
management and control on them, there job to install the ground air defense means status in the
system, and to give the engagement orders to the SAM batteries for the a sign hostile, and they
supervision the engagement.
d. GROUND CONTROL INTERCEPTION (GCI) GROUP
The (GCI) group linked with alert air craft in the air bases and they have the status for
each base, and the air base weather condition, the have the immediate take-off order to scramble
the duty fighter's to engage with the hostile object, by coordination with ground air defense
means group.
e. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL (ATC) GROUP
The (ATC) group responsible for supervision and control over all the air craft's in training
area, and control the strike / support mission, and search and rescue and transport air craft by
coordination with the SAM controller and the GCI controller's.
f. THE TECHNICAL GROUP
The technical group they are responsible to maintain all the (AOC) equipment's and
maintenance and repair all the fault occur same as (computer's, console's, data link's with radar's,
communication's, the electricity in the operation room's, order the assigned spear's parts for the
system from the work shop.
The senior director (S.D) controls all the group's, and supervise all action, and he take the
supreme decision for target engagement orders, and he coordinate with the group leaders to
maintain the operation in AOC and make sure that all the staff in the operation room working on
the operation (SOP), and to keep briefing the air force commander about the situation when any
problem occur.
CONCLUSION
As a KUWAIT air force (C3) committee they expected study results for phase two (C3I)
from the assigned company's during there study to reach the goal by, visiting some location,
doing internal calculations/ research to have the high level system function document as follow:
-Radar/ communication coverage diagrams.
-Sub system functional description.
-Security system functional description.
-Operator position functional description.
-Functional inter relationships and workload computation result's.
-System capacities and growth potential, system performance in KUWAIT environment
END Note's
- KUWAIT air operation (C3) committee first phase (PEWS) program study.
- KUWAIT air operation (C3) committee second phase (C3I) study.
- HUGHES air craft system international, (PEWS) program STUDY for KAF air operation (first
phase).
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