Discussion: Command & Control "C2" Aircraft

[MattWales 10]

Just wondering what peoples thoughts are on this;

I notice on a lot of videos on MP gameplay (Be it co-op or other) that there is a lot of coordination done by assets that normally wouldnt, and shouldnt be tasked with it.

Heres what I mean;

Lets say you are planning a coordinated raid on an HVT. You have multiple air assets, multiple ground assets, and many people doing many things at the same time. For a guy on the ground to fight, coordinate both air and ground forces, and move, is doable, but bloody difficult. Especially when you are flipping between your map, your first-person view, using teamspeak and switching between channels, you cant perform your most basic task - that of an infantryman. Aside of a Forward Air Controller, most guys on the ground will be involved in directly fighting the enemy. Yes, FACs are responsible for deconflicting air assets, and integrating precision fires with ground forces movements.

But when you might have 3-4 helicopters, fast jets, multiple ground callsigns, vehicles, etc etc.

Most Direct-Action operations have some form Command & Control (C2) element, whos task is to make sure that there is coordination between the air and ground assets. Usually, they comprise of an air element commander and a ground element commander, sat side-by-side, making the liason between the two much easier. They have FLIR cameras that allow them to watch in real-time what is going on on the ground, and a plethora of maps, radios, and communications gear.

Example: See 'Spoiler'

Say you have 2 teams of SF being inserted by Littlebirds, followed by 2 infantry units providing a cordon and overwatch of the position, being inserted by MH-60s. 2 AH-6s will provide an initial sweep of the target, then any CAS as required. Whilst the units are in the air, the ground forces dont have much to coordinate - they cant move far because they are 50ft up, strapped onto the sides of a Littlebird or inside a Blackhawk. However, the air assets have to coordinate their movements - the AH-6 need to hit the target a few seconds before, then inform them that they are clear and going into the holding pattern, so that the MH-6s dropping of the SF can go in without the risk of blue-on-blue, followed by the Blackhawks on the outer cordon.

The air asset commander coordinates the insertion, makes sure all the units get in, are deployed, and that the air assets then leave and go into the holding pattern. He can then assign air assets to specific taskings throughout the operation.

The ground commander in the C2 aircraft then coordinates the assault on the target; which units go where, when, and how. If you need two go into two seperate buildings simultaneously, the units on the ground only have to radio in to say when they are ready to attack (say, stacked up on a door). The ground commander, watching with the FLIR camera, can then coordinate the assault, using the normal "Standby...Standby...Go" commands.

The assault complete, the HVT captured, the SF commander radios the ground element commander (sat in the C2 bird, who, having watched the operation, knows roughly what is going on) to say that the target has been secured, and that they are ready for extraction.

The C2 ground element commander then tells all the ground units to procede to the extract point. He coordinates the movement of the cordon teams, followed by the SF teams. He marks the Pick-up-point on the map. He then speaks directly to the air element commander, informing him that the ground element will be ready for extraction in approximately 5 minutes.

Rather than the ground commander ON THE GROUND having to radio through to the aircraft (switching frequencies sometimes), open up his map, create a marker, then move (and perhaps fight) through urban terrain, the ground element commander in the C2 aircraft does this for him. The ground element quickly checks their map, sees the marker, and procedes to move to it, allowing them to perform their main job of fighting and moving. The only radio calls he has to make are ones to confirm what he is doing and perhaps to call in assistance

Meanwhile, the air element commander has got on the radio net, informed the Littlebirds and MH-60s that the ground element are almost ready for extraction, and prepares them to begin the extract process. He also coordinates the AH-6s to sweep the pick-up-point (PUP), then circle the area, providing overwatch.

The ground element arrive at the pick-up-point, and radio the ground commander that the area is secure. The ground commander in the C2 bird informs the air commander (who is 'sat next to him') who then coordinates the extraction - the SF are picked up first by the Littlebirds, who, once clear of the PUP, go back into the holding pattern, whilst the MH-60s go in, pick up the infantry callsigns (the 'cordon' teams) and then lift. The whole air element then departs the area.

The point is that the actual liasing between the two forces, coordinating movements etc, is all done from one aircraft orbiting above the battlefield. The specific units that are actually conducting the assault only have to move, shoot, and communicate amongst themselves and to the ground element commander. They dont have to find LZs, switch radio frequencies to the air net back and forth. Things move smoothly, as they should.

For an example of what I mean, watch the initial moments of the assault in Black Hawk Down - the C2 aircraft flies around above the attack, coordinating the assault and the later movements of the ground forces when something goes wrong. Granted, they dont always get it right, but they make the movements and coordination of the teams a damnsight easier. They also provide the extra ability to see "the bigger picture" - by watching the raid through the FLIR (using PIP that is now present in ArmA3, the C2 aircraft might see that ambush being set up that nobody else has noticed. They can plot it straight to their own maps, directing CAS aircraft to attack it. They can lase targets themselves, should the ground forces be completely pinned down and unable to deploy a SOFLAM.

That said, having not played a large-scale game where this might be applicable, I am wondering whether or not this would actually be of use?

It might provide some nice depth, and a novel new position to play in, especially when you arent on a server where everyone wants to be General Patton.

So, as per the title...discuss!

Matt.

[kremator 1065]

That's the beauty of Arma ... you can make ANYTHING. Just need to do it!

[chortles 263]

The thing is that while the principle is sound, seeing as the general idea of "eye in the sky" can already be done from a Ka-60 or even a MH-9, it seems that you're inquiring about the idea of having a dedicated C2 aircraft in Arma 3, "dedicated" in the sense of having specific built-in capabilities such as a crew station from which an aircraft-mounted laser designator can be operated or each crew station having a FLIR camera?

Unfortunately the "infantry focus" seems to not only be from the devs' end but also addon makers' end -- the aerial simulation is clearly underdeveloped, what with literally only two "BI-made, no mods required" CAS options and two air transport options, but even looking at Armaholic I found a grand total of two Arma 3 vehicular addons: one the Volvo C303 and the other a Cessna C185 pack, albeit with a rocket-armed variant.

As such, in lieu of or in addition to requesting a specific mod for such an aircraft, my personal suggestion is that you should encourage mission makers to "set aside" or add a Ka-60 or MH-9 for the described purpose. No need to modify or script the aircraft (though that won't be precluded if someone has an idea for how to improvise the capabilities that you mentioned), it can simply be that if the player count is high enough this Ka-60 or MH-9 can be specifically for use by whoever fills the air element and ground element commanders roles.