A top NATO commander stated that the alliance must move away from large, centralized air operations centers due to increasing threats from adversaries like Russia and China. These large command posts are vulnerable targets, necessitating a shift towards mobile, redundant, and survivable command and control systems. This strategic change is seen as essential for future warfare.
The vulnerability of large, centralized command centers to modern missile and drone threats necessitates a fundamental shift in NATO's operational strategy, potentially impacting military readiness, resource allocation, and the effectiveness of air operations in future conflicts.
NATO allies have long relied on centralized air operations centers to manage air warfare, a model that a top NATO commander believes is no longer sustainable. Air Chief Marshal Sir John Stringer, NATO's Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, told Business Insider that the "easy era" of operating from large, fixed command posts is over due to the growing number and sophistication of air threats from adversaries like Russia and China. These large centers, which have been the standard for decades, are now seen as vulnerable targets for missile and drone attacks. Stringer emphasized the need for mobility, redundancy, and survivability in command and control systems, stating that these are "essential now." He noted that NATO is playing "catch-up" in this area. The current model, exemplified by centers like the Combined Air Operations Center at Uedem, Germany, and one in northern Norway, effectively coordinates aircraft sorties, missile strikes, and air defense. However, adversaries' advancements in missile arsenals and drone technology mean these fixed locations are at significant risk. The shift will make NATO's operations more challenging, requiring investment in modern communication and information systems to coordinate distributed command cells. This strategic shift echoes a wider trend, as large air bases themselves are also seen as potential targets. NATO has been testing ways to distribute command functions across multiple sites, including different headquarters, ships, and aircraft, rather than concentrating them in a single location. The conflict in Ukraine has highlighted the effectiveness of dispersal and mobility, as Ukraine's air force has survived by frequently changing airfields, while Russia's more clustered aircraft were vulnerable to Ukrainian strikes. Western officials and analysts suggest that Western militaries need to adopt similar dispersal strategies quickly.