text: _________________________________________________________________________________Chapter 9
  cut off from communications with other air defense units. In general, the
  OPFOR imposes enough centralization to optimize efficiency while allowing
  sufficient decentralization for effectiveness.
  AIRSPACE MANAGEMENT
  9-36. When the OPFOR Air Force is able to fly, airspace management is the
  most complex aspect of air defense operations. Commanders must divide the
  airspace among ground-based air defense systems and aviation.
  Staff Responsibility
  9-37. A single operational-level commander must control the full scope of
  combined arms and/or joint activity, including air defense within his AOR. It
  is the combined arms or joint commander who is ultimately responsible for
  the success or failure of air defense in his AOR. He approves the overall
  operation plan prepared by his staff. The operation plan includes the air
  defense plan and coordinating instructions.
  9-38. The OSC is the lowest level of joint command with control of both Army
  and Air Force units. On the staff of an OSC, under the operations officer, the
  chief of airspace operations (CAO) is responsible for airspace management is-
  sues and procedures. The CAO maintains the airspace control net for control-
  ling the command’s airspace. OSC headquarters typically receive liaison
  teams from all constituent, dedicated, and supporting Air Force, army avia-
  tion, and air defense units associated with the command. All these units and
  their liaison teams are on the airspace control net.
  Zones of Responsibility
  9-39. The OPFOR establishes zones of responsibility in order to minimize
  mutual interference between its fighter aircraft and ground-based air defense
  weapons. Zones of responsibility could also be used to determine areas or
  altitudes to be covered by national-level Air Defense Forces, as opposed to
  operational- or tactical-level air defense assets. However, the use of such
  zones does not preclude engagement of high-priority targets by more than
  one type of weapon system if there is centralized control of all weapon
  systems involved.
  9-40. The OPFOR may assign zones of responsibility in the vertical dimen-
  sion. Thus, fighter aviation would engage enemy aircraft at certain altitudes,
  while ground-based air defense assets would be responsible for engagement
  at other altitudes. See example A in Figure 9-1.
  9-41. In the horizontal dimension, zones of responsibility may be in terms of
  the direction from which target aircraft are approaching (example B). The
  OPFOR may also choose to delineate responsibility according to the type of
  target (example C). For instance, fighter aircraft might engage manned
  aircraft, while ground-based air defense might be responsible for engaging
  enemy missiles or UAVs. Sometimes, specific targets are assigned to specific
  systems. However, the latter is likely only in a very low air threat environment.