THE AIR WARFARE CENTRE (AWC)

The AWC's motto is: "ARMA JUDICARE CONSILIUM DARE", which means: "To test the weaponry and give advice".

Established in October 1993, the AWC serves RAF Air Command (Air Comd) by developing and implementing operational-level and tactical-level air doctrine. Additionally, the AWC is home to the tri-service Defence Electronic Warfare Centre (DEWC) which contributes to the operational capability of the three British armed forces by providing Electronic Warfare (EW) support directly to the Permanent Joint Headquarters (PJHQ) in Northwood and to various operational units.

The AWC Mission is to contribute to the military capability of Air Comd by developing and implementing operational and tactical doctrine and providing essential and timely integrated mission support to RAF operational units in peace and in war. Additionally, the AWC, as host to the collocated DEWC, contributes to the military capability of all 3 Services by providing EW support direct to PJHQ and all operational units.

Based at RAF Waddington, and 11 other locations throughout the UK, the primary mission of the Air Warfare Centre is the provision of timely integrated mission support to the front line. The DEWC is an integral part and is jointly staffed by Royal Navy, Army, RAF and civilian personnel.

Operational level Doctrine and Development (D&D) issues are addressed as part of the remit of the Doctrine and Collective Training staff of the Operations Division, in addition to their responsibilities for providing (in conjunction with the Liaison Officers from the Royal Navy, Army and USAF) operational support to air and joint headquarters and training tasks. Scientific support to all Air Warfare Centre activities is provided by the Operational Analysis staff.

The great majority of the remainder of Air Warfare Centre personnel provide: tactical level mission support in the form of production and maintenance of the Defence Electronic Warfare Database (DEWDB); Electronic Warfare Operational Support (EWOS) for all aircraft, ships and some Army units; operational evaluation of all aircraft types, associated equipment and weapons through the various Test and Evaluation Squadrons; and administration and instruction of all joint air warfare courses.

There are 6 separate, albeit integrated, areas of responsibility as follows:

DEVELOPMENT DIVISION

Development Division is responsible for de-risking the future of airpower, both in conceptual terms and in practical terms. It is also responsible for shaping, and preparing for, the Test and Evaluation (T&E) of new capabilities to the Air environment, such as Joint Combat Aircraft, and the development, and testing, of aircraft protection measures. To undertake these tasks Development Division consists of:

• The Air Platform and Protection Test and Evaluation Squadron;
• The United States Special Projects Team;
• The Joint Strike Fighter/Joint Combat Aircraft Team;
• The Air Warfare Group (Futures).

OPERATIONS DIVISION

Operations Division provides support to standing and contingent operations with accurate, timely, and coherent contextual advice in order to assist Commanders in maintaining operational tempo, flexibility, and decisive advantage. The Division comprises 4 key elements:

• The Air Warfare Group - a ‘think tank’ that analyses current operations, providing Air advice to commanders;

• 92(R) Sqn Tactics and Training Wing - provides subject matter expertise for all Air platforms (from all 3 Services) on roles, tactics, techniques and procedures, and provides Air collective training through the Tactical Leadership Training Exercise and the Combines Qualified Weapons Instructors Course;

• The Information Operations Group - provides OPSEC training within collective exercises and facilitates computer network operations (CNO) training for national CNO forces;

• The Air Warfare Centre Cranwell is the teaching arm of the Air Warfare Centre. Its primary mission is to develop Air Power doctrine; arm the warrior by providing progressive air warfare training and specific training in battle management; weapons employment and targeting, electronic warfare and the use of military space; and to create intelligent customers by providing aerosystems training and expertise. It does this through a variety of courses specializing in Battle Space Management, Weapons, Targeting, EW and generic Air Power Training.

OPERATIONS SUPPORT DIVISION

Operations Support Division provides timely, fused, all-source operational air intelligence support and intelligence planning. It acts as the focus for targeting issues and supports the AWC's Integrated Mission Support responsibilities. It is responsible for the management of the Defence Electronic Warfare Database (DEWDB) and specifically for the maintenance and segmental development of the database, as well as the provision of associated data and information to all 3 Services, including the provision of the national Electronic Order of Battle. The Division encompasses:

· 591 Signals Unit;

· 7006(VR) Squadron;

· 7010(VR) Squadron;

· 7630(VR) Squadron RauxAF;

· Operational Sponsor for the Operations Support (Intelligence) Specialisation and Intelligence Analyst (Intelligence) Trade.

OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS (OA) ELEMENT

The Operational Analysis Element supports all the divisions of the AWC. It conducts studies and provides scientific and technical advice on any issues that affect the conduct of air operations. It plans, directs and manages activities to meet the scientific studies and advice requirements of Air Command. The work includes the support of test and evaluation of aircraft, weapons (air-to-air, air-to-surface and surface-to-air), countermeasures and associated systems involving the design, management, analysis and reporting of flight and ground trials. Direct support of front line operations comprises advice to HQs and tactical advice to squadrons including targeting (weapon to target matching and collateral damage modelling) and threat assessment. Higher-level analysis tasks include information and influence operations, psychological effects studies and campaign effectiveness assessment.

FLYING DIVISION

Flying Division is responsible for integrating air power expertise with test, evaluation, tactical-development and operational-employment activities, in order to deliver capability in support of current operations, while developing capabilities to meet requirements of the future. To achieve this, it conducts flight and ground tests to assess, develop, evaluate, and clear aircraft for the front line, together with airborne weapons and sensors. As well as trialling new or modified systems and software in order to ensure they are safe and effective, Flying Division also ensures they are delivered with mature tactics ready for operational deployment. It also conducts developmental and research flying. Flying Division is supported by, and delivers its activities through:

· 206 (R) Sqn;

· The tri-service Rotary Wing Test and Evaluation Squadron (RWTES);

· The Empire Test Pilot School (ETPS) at MOD Boscombe Down;

· 17 (R) Sqn & 41 (R) Sqn at RAF Conningsby.

Much of its activity at Boscombe Down is conducted in partnership with the defence science and technology company, QinetiQ, as part of the Aircraft Test & Evaluation Collaboration (ATEC).

TEST & EVALUATION DIVISION

The Test & Evaluation (T&E) Division is commanded by the AWC’s Principal Engineer and is responsible to the Commandant AWC for all professional engineering matters. T&E is supported by, and delivers its activities through:

· The Joint Airborne Delivery T&E Unit, whose mission is:

o "To enable the delivery by air of manpower, machines and materiel through development, trials and training, in order to enhance Defence Capability.”;

· Number 56(Reserve) Squadron;

· The Unmanned Aerial Systems T&E Squadron;

· The Trials Coordination Cell;

· Fixed/rotary-wing mission systems / air launched munitions specialists who directly support Air T&E activity.

This Division is also the prime interface between the AWC, QinetiQ and the MOD T&E Simulation and Training Project Team, providing a focus for MOD programmes at Boscombe Down supported under the Long Term Partnering Agreement.

CONCLUSION

The Air Warfare Centre has given the RAF a coherent mission support organisation for the first time in its history. However, the application of air power is an evolving science and in a similar way the Unit continues to evolve to meet any future challenges.

Its guiding principle may be aptly summarised in the quotation from Lord Trenchard at the opening of the RAF Staff College, Andover in 1922:

"Remember that the one thing to which you should at all times apply your thoughts and brains is the expansion of the power of material and personnel without increasing either".