UK AIR SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL SYSTEM (ASACS)

One of Strike Command's main responsibilities is the UK Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS). AOC Strike Command is tasked with providing early warning of air attack against the UK air defence region; to provide fighter and missile defences and the associated ground control system; fighter co ordination with Royal Naval ships operating in adjacent waters and to maintain the integrity of UK air space in war.

ASACS comprises a number of individual static and mobile units that provide the minute-to-minute information on air activity required to defend the UK and NATO partners. Manned by officers of Fighter Control under the Operations Support Branch with the support of airmen Aerospace Systems Operators, ASACS is a computer-based system which gathers and disseminates information on all aircraft flying in and around the UK Air Defence Region. The information within is used by the Air Defence Commander when deciding whether to investigate or perhaps even destroy an aircraft flying in an area without permission. Information comes from the RAF's ground-based radars and from the air defence systems of neighbouring NATO partners. ASACS can also receive information via digital data-links from other ground, air or sea-based units including No 1 Air Control Centre, which is part of the UK's Rapid Reaction Force.

A new digital data-linked Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) was opened at RAF Scampton in January 2006. The CRC at Scampton, together with a similar installation at RAF Boulmer, (operational since July 2004) replaces obsolete equipment with an up to date digital capability. These two CRCs should provide state-of-the-art air defence cover until a definitive, fully integrated NATO air defence system comes on line from around 2012.

Each CRC has geographical areas of responsibility and within their own areas, the CRCs receive and process information provided round-the-clock by military and civilian radars. In addition to this radar data, the CRCs also exchange information using digital data-links with neighbouring NATO partners, AEW aircraft and ships.

The second ASACS function is the control of air defence aircraft. Fighter Controllers provide the tactical control required for Air Defence aircraft to police the UK's airspace in peace and war, and they are also involved in the peacetime training of the RAF Air Defence assets. Fighter Controllers also provide support to Ground Attack forces when undertaking training with their Air Defence counterparts.

The CRCs are supported by a number of Reporting Posts (RPs) across the UK. In addition to those found at the CRCs, the locations of the RPs reflect the locations of the main RAF Air Defence radars that feed information into the UK ASACS. In addition to the radars, units have varying capabilities for the exchange of data-link information. The RPs are found at. RAF Benbecula in the Hebrides; RAF Staxton Wold near Scarborough and RP Portreath which is a satellite of RAF St Mawgan on the north coast of Cornwall.

The future location of some ASACS units, especially those currently at RAF Scampton, RAF Kirton-in-Lindsey and RAF Boulmer is under review and we would expect an announgement regarding future intentions towards the end of 2006/early 2007.

ASACS - Mobile Elements

No 1 Air Control Centre (1 ACC) provides the RAF with a mobile command and control capability able to deploy within the UK or anywhere in the world at short notice. The unit has recently been transformed into a fully capable Tactical Air Command and Control System (TACCS) following delivery of state-of-the-art communications and data-link equipment to supplement the two new mobile radars recently delivered into its inventory. No 1 ACC is based at RAF Boulmer when in the UK.

Sentry AEW

The Sentry AEW1 makes a large contribution to ASACS using digital datalinks. The Sentry can deploy rapidly in response to crisis or conflict to provide Air Defence Commander with information on potential aggressors. The roles within the Mission Crew of the Sentry mirror those within the UK ASACS CRCs, the posts being filled again with Fighter Controllers and Aerospace Systems Operators.

United Kingdom Combined Air Operations Centre

The nerve centre of ASACS is the United Kingdom Combined Air Operations Centre (UKCAOC) at Headquarters Strike Command at RAF High Wycombe. The UKCAOC is responsible for the overall coordination of the Air Defence, Ground Attack and Maritime Air elements of the RAF together with the air forces and navies of our NATO partners. ASACS information is monitored and controlled 24 hours a day. Within the UKCAOC, control and reporting centres are linked with other elements of the NATO Air Defence Ground Environment (NADGE) and with the Ballistic Missile Early Warning Systems (BMEWS) station at RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire. The latter is networked with the US operated BMEWS at Thule (Greenland) and Clear (Alaska). By extending high level radar cover some 3,000 miles across Eastern Europe, Fylingdales would give advance warning of intermediate range ballistic missiles launched against the UK and Western Europe, and of inter continental ballistic missiles against the North American continent. Fylingdales also tracks satellites and space debris.
 

UK Air Surveillance and Control System (ASACS)

* Operated by the Royal Danish Air Force

RAF Saxa Vord (RP) closed on 1 March 2006

Key:

SOC - Sector Operations Centre

CRC - Control Reporting Centre

RP -    Reporting Post

In the Falkland Islands there are Reporting Posts at Mount Kent, Mount Alice and Byron Heights.

From late 2003 the majority of UK ASACS units are under the command of 3 Group.

I-UKADGE  

(Improved UK Air Defence Ground Environment) is the communications system upon which the air defences depend for their operational effectiveness. The system is fully automated and integrated with the NATO Air Defence Ground Environment (NADGE), which includes sites stretching from Northern Norway to Eastern Turkey, and the Portuguese Air Command and Control System (POACCS). 

These systems integrate the various sites which are equipped with modern radars, data processing and display systems and are linked by modern digital communications. Computerised data exchange and information from a number of sources such as radars, ships and aircraft is moved around the system on a number of routes to minimise the disruptive effects of enemy action. ICCS (Integrated Command and Control System) provides to the commanders and air defence staff the information gathered in the system and UNITER brings together all the nodes on a digital network.

JTIDS  

(Joint Tactical Information Distribution/Display System) is a secure tactical datalink network to enable the UK armed forces to participate in Allied operations. JTIDS is now in service throughout the UK armed Forces. The RAF is believed to operate some 60 terminals and the majority of these equip 2 x Tornado F3 squadrons and the AEW1 Sentry aircraft.

BACCS

The Backbone Air Command & Control System (BACCS) will replace ASACS as a component of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Integrated Air Defence System (NATINADS) around 2009. The programme will be based on NATO ACCS requirements with additional UK requirements being nationally funded.  BACCS will provide computer-based static capability covering early warning, air policing and operational training using the existing ASACS radar sensors and communications infrastructure.