AIR FORCE SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMANDAir Commandos

This briefing is: UNCLASSIFIED

Challenges Challenges for the Long Warfor the Long War

Maj Gen Donald WursterVice Commander

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AFSOC

America’s Specialized Airpower

Air Component to Special Operations

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AFSOC Weapons Systems OverviewOverview

MQ-1AAC-130U

1717

AC-130H

88

EC-130J

77

MC-130H

2020

MC-130P

2323

MH-53M/J

2727

MC-130W

22

U-28A

66

MC-130E

1010

CV-22

55

17

20*

39 19

9

38*

37

New

To be delivered

Awaiting IOC

43

AF DCGS

Awaiting IOC

4

Gunship Operations Weapon Systems

AC-130H/U

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Precision requires Training

““You can runYou can run……but youbut you’’ll only die tiredll only die tired””

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2525 ACAC--130H130H & U& U

Change in Paradigm• Variable effects (non-lethal to lethal)

• Higher threat areas• Multiple, simultaneous targets

• All-weather, day/night• Directed energy

Near Term Upgrades:• 30mm replacing 25mm & 40mm• Replace ALLTV with GMS2• Improve UAV collaboration

NGG

Cooperate w/ Cooperate w/ ACC/AMCACC/AMC

Precision Fire Support Way Ahead

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Mobility – Infil / Exfil / Resupply Weapon Systems

MC-130E/H/W

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MC-130W

Fixed Wing Mobility Way Ahead

Increase CommonalityCenter Wing Box IssuesMC-130WSOF Tanker Recap

Center Wing Box

Recapitalization Requirement23 X MC-130P Replacements14 X MC-130E Replacements12 X SOF Tanker QDR Augments12 X MC-130W Replacements61 SOF Tankers

SOF Tanker

37

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Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance

3rd SOSTactical ISR support of

Special Operations Forces

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Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance

Providing Near RealProviding Near Real--Time Intelligence Time Intelligence directly to Operatorsdirectly to Operators

““Specialized Specialized Intel for Intel for Special Special

OperationsOperations””

11th Intelligence Squadron SOF Dedicated

Distributed Ground System

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CVCV--22 Osprey22 OspreyFarther and faster in one period of darkness1st CV-22 delivered toHurlburt in Nov 06

8 SOS is 1st Operational CV-22 Sq

Transformational Mobility

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319th SOSTactical in-theater support of

Special Operations Forces

Theater Mobility Weapon Systems

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Battlefield Airmen OverviewOverview

•• Enable Air Power Enable Air Power •• Advanced Skills TrainingAdvanced Skills Training

• BAO KitBAO Kit

Family of AirmenFamily of AirmenCombat ControllersCombat Controllers

Combat WeathermenCombat WeathermenPararescuemenPararescuemen

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Highly Trained Personnel Why We Succeed

Highly skilled, mature operatorsRegional orientation, cultural sensitivity, language skillsCreative and AdaptableSmall, flexible, joint teams

““The nation that will insist on drawing a broad line of demarcatiThe nation that will insist on drawing a broad line of demarcation on between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to have between the fighting man and the thinking man is liable to have its its

fighting done by fools and its thinking done by cowards.fighting done by fools and its thinking done by cowards.””Sir William Francis ButlerSir William Francis Butler

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Aviation Foreign Internal Defense OverviewOverview

6 SOS6 SOSAssessTrain

AdviseAssist

Integrate

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Current Operations

Our Special Operations Forces are Our Special Operations Forces are the worst nightmare of America's the worst nightmare of America's

worst enemiesworst enemies……President George Bush, June 2004

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A Bad Day to be a Terrorist…

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…Joint, Integrated, and Relevant to GWOT

“…Our Special Ops, The Worst Nightmare of America’s Worst Enemies” President Bush

AFSOC Transformed