618th Air Operations Center

618th Air Operations Center
en:United States Army Institute of Heraldry · Public domain · source
Unit name	618th Air Operations Center
Dates	2013–present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Type	Air Operations Center
Role	Command and Control
Command structure	United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa
Garrison	Scott Air Force Base

618th Air Operations Center is a United States Air Force command and control organization assigned to United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa and headquartered at Scott Air Force Base. The center provides planning, execution, and assessment for air operations tied to theater campaigns, coordinating with allied formations such as North Atlantic Treaty Organization, United States European Command, United States Africa Command, and partner air forces across NATO and the African Union. It integrates with assets including Air Mobility Command, United States Strategic Command, U.S. Special Operations Command, and coalition headquarters to synchronize air, space, and cyber effects.

Overview

The center functions as a theater-level air operational hub linking United States European Command, United States Africa Command, and joint task forces to component commands like Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber), Twenty-Second Air Force, Third Air Force, and expeditionary wings. It fuses intelligence from agencies such as National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Agency with targeting from units including Air Combat Command, United States Air Force Special Operations Command, and NATO Combined Air Operations Centres. The center also liaises with regional partners including Royal Air Force, Luftwaffe, Armée de l'Air et de l'Espace, and Italian Air Force.

History

Activated in the 21st century amid reorganizations of NATO and U.S. force posture, the center emerged from restructuring tied to operations in Operation Enduring Freedom (2001–2021), Operation Iraqi Freedom, and evolving missions in Operation Odyssey Dawn. Its establishment reflects doctrinal shifts influenced by campaigns such as the Kosovo War, Libya intervention (2011), and counterterrorism operations across the Sahel. The unit’s lineage is shaped by precedents including the AOC models used during Operation Allied Force and reforms following the Goldwater–Nichols Act. Over time, the center expanded cooperative ties with commands involved in Resolute Support Mission, Operation Inherent Resolve, and multinational exercises like Red Flag, Saber Guardian, and African Lion.

Mission and Roles

The primary mission centers on planning, directing, and assessing air operations to achieve theater objectives set by United States European Command and United States Africa Command. Responsibilities include campaign planning, dynamic targeting, airspace management, and logistics coordination with Air Mobility Command, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force, and coalition air operations centers. The center supports contingency operations, humanitarian responses tied to events like the 2010 Haiti earthquake and 2015 European migrant crisis, and deterrence efforts alongside allies such as Poland, Romania, Greece, and Turkey. It also integrates cyber effects from United States Cyber Command and space capabilities from United States Space Command and United States Space Force components.

Organization and Structure

Organizationally the center comprises divisions for plans, current operations, intelligence, targeting, air mobility, and communications, aligned with joint constructs like the Joint Chiefs of Staff directives and Air Force Doctrine Publication. Key elements include planning cells that coordinate with Combined Joint Task Force staffs, liaison officers to NATO commands including Allied Air Command, and coordination nodes with combatant commands. The staff interfaces with numbered air forces such as Third Air Force and functional commands like Air Combat Command and Air Mobility Command, and embeds personnel from partner nations including United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Italy.

Operations and Deployments

The center has directed and supported operations across Europe and Africa, including air interdiction, close air support coordination, ISR taskings, and strategic airlift for exercises and real-world contingencies. It has contributed to sorties flown by platforms such as Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, Boeing F-15 Eagle, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, and tankers like the Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker during operations tied to crises in the Black Sea region, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Sahel region. The center coordinated multinational responses during NATO exercises including Trident Juncture and supported evacuation and relief missions linked to events such as the Libyan Civil War (2011) and regional instability in the Horn of Africa.

Equipment and Capabilities

The center employs advanced command-and-control systems, secure networks, and collaboration tools interoperable with NATO and partner platforms. Capabilities include battle rhythm management, joint targeting tools integrated with Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System, ISR feeds from assets like RQ-4 Global Hawk and MQ-9 Reaper, and airspace deconfliction using systems interoperable with Alliance Ground Surveillance. Communications and data links include connectivity with Link 16, satellite communications via providers such as Defense Satellite Communications System, and integration with theater logistics systems used by U.S. Transportation Command and Military Sealift Command.

Honors and Awards

The center and its personnel have received recognition through unit and individual awards tied to joint operations and coalition campaigns, reflecting contributions to multinational exercises and contingency responses coordinated with partners including NATO, European Union, and various African defense forces. Honors align with broader award frameworks including the Meritorious Unit Award, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, and campaign-specific commendations issued in connection with operations like Operation Unified Protector and multinational support missions.

Category:United States Air Force