JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii –
Airmen from Pacific Air Forces Headquarters recently developed a new capability to improve Agile Combat Employment operations across the Indo-Pacific Area of Responsibility.
Members of the Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) Directorate created a highly mobile deployable Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System (JWICS) kit that PACAF and transient units can set up while deployed to austere locations across the Indo-Pacific. The kit allows Airmen to extend critical ISR data and applications on the most secure network at the tactical edge.
“In the past, deployed units would have limited, if any, down-range intel processing capabilities, and would have to call back to larger bases for support,” said Col. Aaron Cooper, PACAF Intelligence (A2) director. “These kits will allow for a mobile team to be at hub-and-spoke locations giving commanders immediate support.”
The portable JWICS kits is a latest innovation the command has created to navigate an increasingly complex and dynamic security environment, a key expectation of PACAF commander, Gen. Kevin Schneider.
“With the PACAF commander’s direction, we wanted to build readiness capabilities for units to use at their discretion, whether they are supporting hub or spoke locations,” said David Pena, PACAF ISR Systems Enterprise Division chief. “This will give tactical level Air Force Intelligence professionals connectivity they’ve never had to support their down-range commanders.”
PACAF’s deployable kits will contain Tactical Routers, Electro Magnetic Interference shielding, Encryption Encoders, Zero Clients, and other systems and equipment needed to provide intelligence information processing capabilities in a contested environment, while also maintaining agile maneuverability.
In October 2024, PACAF/A2 hosted professionals from across many Air Force major commands and subordinate units. They were able to tour a demonstrated set-up of the deployable JWICS kit. Feedback from the demonstration tours was very positive and will help further refine the kits’ usage, PACAF/A2 leadership said.
“These kits will enable Intelligence professionals to do their job from anywhere in the world safely and securely to keep their commanders informed,” said Maj. Richard Hassan, PACAF Intelligence Force and Capabilities Branch chief. “This is a holistic approach to command and control that directly moves forward our command priorities to improve warfighting capabilities, readiness, evolve battle management and expand the capacity and capabilities of ACE.”