Better command and control - AWACS, ABCCC, (A)FAC, etc.

[Biggus]

One thing that I consider more important than improvements to the ATC interaction is a revision and expansion of the AWACS interaction system.

AWACS should be providing picture information as it currently does (but should be provided simultaneously on VHF and UHF) to everyone on it's advisory frequency.  This is working reasonably well for the most part.  But this is quite rudimentary and doesn't provide adequate situational awareness for pilots in platforms lacking modern datalinks.

Players intending to perform air-to-air roles should be able to check in with the AWACS similar to a JTAC check in, and then be passed onto another frequency for specific tasking by an AI controller in the E-3/E-2/A-50/etc.  Players should then receive more detailed information relating to their tasking, with greater frequency.  If there are multiple tasks that may be available, perhaps the controller can prioritise threats or even leave it up to the player choose the tasking they wish to commit to.  Unfulfilled tasks might prompt the AWACS to request the assistance of other players on the main AWACS frequency (and possibly on a designated common frequency, or on guard if the threat is serious enough).

GCI stations should be able to provide similar tasking.

 

But this only addresses airborne threats.  So I propose something akin to the Hillsboro Airborne Battlefield Command and Control Centre EC-130s in Vietnam.  An entity where strike/recon/logistics pilots can check in and request taskings.  Where do these taskings come from?  You could keep it very simple and have it do the ground equivalent of the current airborne early warning system where this entity just provides bullseye references for known ground targets

Better though would be if you could have ground forces report to the ABCCC when they are in contact with the enemy.  If the unit in contact lacks a JTAC/TACP capability, the ABCCC creates an AFAC task to support the ground unit and assigns a radio frequency to the AFAC.  This AFAC could be human or AI.  Ideally, the AFAC would be in a plaform that is able to talk to the ground unit for greater detail about where the enemy is, but that might not always be possible due to radio incompatibility.  Given that we have some great AFAC platforms coming to the sim, I think some investment in the AFAC experience is warranted.

Strike pilots could now check in with the ABCCC, be tasked with providing CAS and be referred to a frequency and location where they can be briefed and directed by the JTAC/AFAC.  If a CAS tasking isn't being taken by anyone currently checked in, the ABCCC could ask over a common frequency for any available strikers to come to the rescue.

Logistics pilots may also be tasked to perform dustoffs, resupply missions, etc.

 

Then you could tie it all together.  Have the AWACS and ABCCC communicate with each other.  AWACS detects a SAM launch from somewhere it hasn't seen them before, so it tells the ABCCC and ABCCC creates a recon/SEAD/DEAD tasking.  A JTAC sees previously undetected aircraft and relays this to ABCCC, who in turn tells AWACS, and AWACS creates a new tasking in response.  A friendly CAP flight dies, AWACS asks ABCCC to create an SAR tasking, which in turn creates a new AFAC task.

There would need to be a way to handle cases where players disconnect mid-task or accept a task and then don't attempt to fulfill it, cases where tasks are generated but there are not enough assets available to perform the task, or cases where current tasks are suddenly made lesser priority by the appearance of a new threat or situation, but I'm sure these would be surmountable.

This is all pretty huge.  It would certainly add a bit of dynamism to missions, and it leaves players with the option to either ignore it outright or continue using AWACS much the same as it is today if they were conducting their own self-directed missions.

 

There are probably huge holes in this, but it was something I've been thinking about for a few weeks now.