Evolution of the air campaign planning process and the contingency theater automated planning system (CTAPS)

This report summarizes an examination of the air campaign planning process, including observation of how the process was conducted in recent exercises and a review of how the process was performed during the Gulf War. A number of suggested changes to the process are recommended that, in conjunction with changes to the Contingency Theater Automated Planning System (CTAPS), could improve the process significantly and reduce the time needed for production of the Air Tasking Order from 48 to 24 hours. CTAPS capabilities were examined as a part of this study. The CTAPS 5.0x and planned 6.0 architectures were reviewed and suggestions presented that could enhance the operational capabilities of the system. This report should be of interest to project managers and monitors of CTAPS and related programs, to those interested in the air campaign planning process, and to those responsible for developing Department of Defense or Air Force information system architectures.