text: FM 7-100.1________________________________________________________________________________
  • The capabilities of enemy aircraft.
  • The enemy’s basic methods for operational and tactical employment of
  air power.
  • The locations of enemy airfields, C2 centers, resupply bases, and pro-
  duction facilities.
  • Avenues of low-level flight.
  • Locations of FARPs.
  • Locations of ground stations for UAVs.
  9-126. The second category includes data from which the OPFOR can develop
  a clear picture of the air situation as it unfolds. This information is necessary
  to determine the enemy’s plans, air order of battle, and air attack objectives.
  The OPFOR can then assign targets to fire units or redeploy resources.
  Necessary data also include the positions, types, numbers, direction, speed,
  and altitude of aircraft in flight. Radio intercept provides some data, but
  most comes from air defense radars.
  MISSIONS AND EMPLOYMENT
  9-127. Whatever the nature of combat being conducted by maneuver
  forcesoffense or defense, most actions of supporting air defense units are,
  as the term implies, inherently defensive. The essence of an air defense unit’s
  combat mission is to provide area coverage and/or point protection. However, air
  defense missions can also have an offensive nature, with the purpose of destroy-
  ing certain enemy air platforms or denying or disrupting their employment.
  9-128. The OPFOR recognizes that it may be unable to defend its entire
  airspace adequately. Therefore, it must establish priorities to ensure denser
  coverage in certain areas or increased protection for key assets. Priorities
  include airfields, SSMs, artillery, maneuver units, headquarters and
  communications centers, and critical logistics units and LOCs. The priority
  assigned to a particular area, entity, or site may change during the course
  of operations, as the tactical, operational, or strategic situation changes.
  NATIONAL-LEVEL
  9-129. National-level Air Defense Forces use their own air defense weapons
  for various missions, depending on the situation. Some of these assets might
  cover the air defense weapons of subordinate commands. Others might fill
  gaps between operational-level commands. They usually are somewhere to
  the rear of operational-level air defense weapons in order to engage aircraft
  that penetrate forward air defenses. Some national assets might provide
  general air defense coverage of the State and nearby airspace. In any event,
  the intent is for Air Defense Forces to ensure continuous coverage in both
  detection and engagement capabilities.
  OPERATIONAL-LEVEL
  9-130. Operational-level commands (primarily OSCs) can use their air de-
  fense units in many ways. Some medium-range SAM units may augment
  tactical-level assets. Others provide cover for gaps between tactical units or