Detailed analysis of the coordination between fighter pilots and military units, including communication systems and joint exercises.

Coordination between fighter pilots and other military units is an essential pillar of modern joint operations. In an increasingly complex operational environment, this synergy optimizes the effectiveness of missions, whether air, land or naval. Fighter pilots, thanks to their specific training and the use of advanced technologies, play a central role in this coordination. They interact closely with ground forces, naval units and command centers to ensure the success of operations.

This collaboration is based on rigorous communication protocols, regular joint training and a mutual understanding of the capabilities and needs of each component. The objective is to guarantee a rapid and coherent response to threats, by maximizing the use of available resources. In this article, we will examine in detail the mechanisms of this coordination, highlighting the challenges encountered and the solutions put in place to overcome them.

Coordination with ground forces

Collaboration between fighter pilots and ground units relies on precise communication and a mutual understanding of tactical objectives. Pilots must be able to provide effective close air support, in synchronization with the movements of troops on the ground. This requires careful planning and an in-depth knowledge of the terrain. Joint exercises, such as the “Volfa” exercise led by the French Air Force, help to strengthen this coordination by simulating realistic scenarios.

During these training sessions, fighter pilots work closely with ground forces to plan and execute complex missions, including air strikes and ground maneuvers. The success of these operations depends on the pilots’ ability to adapt quickly to changing situations and to communicate effectively with ground units. Data link systems, such as Link 16, are used to transmit crucial information in real time, enabling optimal coordination. These advanced technologies facilitate the integration of fighter pilots into the command and control network, ensuring a coherent and rapid response to threats.

Coordination with naval forces

Coordination between fighter pilots and naval forces is essential to ensure maritime superiority and the protection of strategic interests. Naval aviation pilots, operating from aircraft carriers such as the Charles de Gaulle, must be capable of carrying out a variety of missions, ranging from air defense to power projection. This versatility requires rigorous training and familiarity with naval procedures. Joint exercises, such as the “Carrier Weeks” organized by the French Navy, allow fighter pilots to train in maneuvers specific to embarked operations, including landing and take-off from the flight deck.

Coordination with naval units also involves the use of secure communication systems and standardized protocols to ensure effective interoperability. Pilots must be able to receive and execute orders in real time, while maintaining a high level of situational awareness. The success of naval operations depends on this synergy between fighter pilots and maritime forces, enabling a rapid and coordinated response to threats at sea.

Communication and liaison systems

Communication and liaison systems are at the heart of coordination between fighter pilots and other military units. Liaison 16, for example, is a tactical communication protocol that enables secure real-time data exchange between different platforms. This system facilitates the transmission of critical information, such as enemy positions, flight plans and mission orders, ensuring effective coordination. Fighter pilots also use secure radios and advanced navigation systems to maintain contact with command centers and units on land or at sea.

The reliability of these systems is crucial, as any interruption in communication can compromise the success of the mission. Redundancies are often put in place to guarantee the continuity of exchanges, even in the event of a system failure. Pilot training includes in-depth familiarization with these technologies, enabling them to use them effectively in complex operational environments. The integration of these communication systems into operational procedures standardizes exchanges and strengthens joint coordination.

Joint exercises and training

Joint exercises and training are key elements in strengthening coordination between fighter pilots and other military units. These training sessions make it possible to simulate realistic scenarios and test coordination procedures in conditions close to those of combat. The “Volfa” exercise, for example, mobilizes nearly 1,000 airmen and some sixty aircraft to simulate complex joint operations. These exercises include missions to protect high-value areas, the management of land movements in the face of air threats, and the integration of ground-to-air defense systems such as the Mamba.

The participation of several allied countries in these exercises reinforces interoperability and mutual understanding of procedures. Fighter pilot training also includes specific modules on joint coordination, enabling them to understand the capabilities and needs of other forces. This holistic approach to training prepares pilots to work effectively as a team and adapt to the demands of combined operations. Regular repetition of these exercises and updating of procedures ensure continuous improvement in coordination and efficiency.

Integration of drones and ISR resources

Military coordination between fighter pilots and ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) units is becoming a determining factor in modern operations. Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) drones such as the MQ-9 Reaper or the Safran Patroller offer extended battlefield coverage, providing real-time intelligence that is essential for planning strikes or identifying targets. This information is transmitted via secure links to command centers and fighter cockpits. The pilots can thus adapt their trajectory, anticipate enemy movements and refine their use of guided weapons.

The French SCORPION doctrine and the American JADC2 (Joint All-Domain Command and Control) doctrine illustrate this desire for advanced integration between the different components, with systems capable of interfacing fighter planes, drones, satellites and ground forces on the same network. This close coordination allows a Rafale or an F-35 to receive data from a drone operating at an altitude of 10,000 meters and 1,000 kilometers away, with a latency of less than two seconds.

The division of roles is also evolving. Drones can designate targets while fighter planes carry out strikes. In some cases, such as the French operation “Barkhane”, the Reapers detected and tracked armed groups for several hours before the Rafales carried out a strike, validated by the radio transmissions of the JTACs (Joint Terminal Attack Controllers).

This operational cooperation nevertheless poses technical challenges, particularly in terms of deconflicting airspace, radio bandwidth and interoperability between NATO and national protocols. Constant efforts to standardize and update software are required.

Tactical coordination in contested environments

Fighter pilots are required to operate in highly contested airspace, particularly when faced with A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area Denial) threats. In this context, military coordination with electronic warfare units, friendly anti-aircraft systems and special forces becomes critical. Tactical control cannot be carried out in isolation: each action must be synchronized to avoid interference or fratricidal fire.

Fighter planes such as the Rafale, the F-16 or the Typhoon are equipped with passive sensors, radar signal detectors (RWR), and on-board jammers. But these devices are insufficient without coordination with land-based or airborne electronic warfare centers, such as the French ASTAC system or the American Rivet Joint aircraft. During a SEAD (Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses) mission, real-time sharing of hostile radar locations allows fighter pilots to avoid high-risk areas and prioritize their strikes.

In addition, coordination with ground units, particularly JTACs or special operators, is essential to identify threats, designate targets and validate firing authorization. The role of JTACs, present as close to the front as possible, is decisive in avoiding errors: their designation is done via NATO patent codes (for example 9-Line Brief), compatible with the aircraft systems.

The contested environment also requires the use of very short coordination tactics (Time On Target, TOT) to saturate the opposing defense. Several fighter planes, drones and ground units must intervene in a window of 10 to 30 seconds, which requires meticulous preparation. A 5-second error in this type of engagement can compromise the entire mission.

Current limitations and prospects for development

Despite technological progress, coordination between fighter pilots and other military units continues to face structural and human limitations. Joint information systems remain heterogeneous from country to country, operational doctrines differ, and language problems sometimes slow down communication between multinational units. During NATO exercises such as “Trident Juncture”, feedback regularly highlights the differences in doctrine between Nordic countries, Southern European countries and Anglo-Saxon forces.

The issue of interoperability is therefore central. France has invested more than 700 million euros in modernizing its command networks to integrate fighter planes into a unified C2 (Command and Control) network. The SICS (Scorpion Combat Information System) program aims to make these networks compatible with the Rafale and the future NGF (Next Generation Fighter) of the SCAF program.

Furthermore, the human factor remains a significant variable. Pilots must assimilate a considerable volume of information in a few seconds, under physical (negative G, violent maneuvers) and psychological (stress, fatigue, radio interference) stress. Training is adapting, with interconnected simulators making it possible to recreate joint operations with real units.

In the medium term, artificial intelligence could play a facilitating role in military coordination. On-board mission assistants such as those being developed for the Loyal Wingman project or the SCAF’s Remote Carrier could filter the flow of information and suggest decision options. But this raises issues of control, ethics and responsibility in the event of an incorrectly targeted strike.

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