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Air and Space Interoperability Council
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ASIC Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Introduction
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) is published on behalf of the ASIC member nations by the
Washington-based Management Committee of the Air and Space Interoperability Council (ASIC),
formerly the Air Standardization Co-ordination Committee (ASCC). The membership of ASIC
includes the following countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United
States of America. The purpose of ASIC FAQ is to assist all participants from member nations, and
other interested parties in developing an understanding and ready reference of the ASIC
organisation. All information contained within ASIC FAQ has been sourced from extant ASIC
documents.
FAQ Contents
What is ASIC?
What was the history and heritage of ASCC?
Why and when did ASCC become ASIC?
What is the composition of ASIC?
What is the ASIC Public Relations Message?
What is the ASIC Mission and Vision?
How does ASIC execute its mission?
What are the ASIC Values and key attributes?
How does ASIC add value?
What is the ASIC Capstone Concept?
What are the ASIC Functional Concepts?
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Agile Combat Support?
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Air Mobility?
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Command and Control,
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance?
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Force Application?
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Force Protection?
What is the ASIC Organisation Chart?
What is the ASIC Working Group (WG) and Project Group (PG) structure?
What is the responsibility of the Head of Delegation for each WG?
What is the purpose of the ASIC Working Group Project Directive?
What are ASIC Project Groups?
What is the ASIC Project System?
Are there any permanent Project Groups?
What is the ASIC Interoperability Framework?
What are the ASIC warfighting functions?
What are ASIC Capability Elements?
What is Military Capability Definition?
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Why does ASIC use the term ‘warfighting’?
What does ASIC mean by ‘Economic Use of Resources’?
What is the difference between integrated and interoperable?
What is the definition of Standardization?
What is the ASIC Interoperability Survey?
Why is a two year survey tasking cycle used?
What is the importance of the National Top 5 Interoperability issues?
What is the ASIC Task List process?
What are Measures of Interoperability?
What is the ASIC private website?
What is the ASIC public website?
What happened to the old ASCC documents?
What is an ASIC Air Standard?
What is an ASIC Advisory Publication?
What is an ASIC Information Publication?
What is the ASIC Test Project Agreement (TPA)?
What is the relationship between ASIC and NATO Standardization Agency?
What other multifora does ASIC interact with?
What is the ASIC Coalition Handbook?
Disclaimer
What is ASIC?
The Air and Space Interoperability Council (ASIC) evolved from the Air Standardization Coordinating
Committee (ASCC) that was first formed in 1948. ASIC is an active and productive international
organization that works for the air forces of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and
the United States of America. Its principal objective is to ensure member nations are able to fight side-
by-side as airmen in joint and combined operations.
What was the history and heritage of ASCC?
The Air Standardization Coordinating Committee was formed in 1948 to manage the Air
Standardization Agreement between Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States of
America. The ASCC was expanded to include the United States Navy in 1951, Australia in 1964 and
New Zealand in 1965. The Agreement was aimed at those nations being able to conduct combined
air operations and provide each other with certain essential services. In addition it was agreed that
the ASCC should promote the economies that would result from standardizing air materiel support
and also encourage the exchange of research and development information. Expressed in the
simplest terms, the ASCC sought to promote interoperability, through standardization, across the
spectrum of expeditionary warfare and share information and technology. This concept remains as valid
today as it was in 1948. Details on the changing strategic environment post cold war, the changing
nature of coalition operations and interoperability priorities etc are contained within the Capstone
Concept on the ASIC website. More details on the history is contained within Annex A to Chapter 1
of the ASIC Instructions 18th Edition.
Why and when did ASCC become ASIC?
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By the time of the 55th ASCC National Directors meeting in 2003, ASCC was suffering from systemic
problems. These problems included: inconsistent national implementation, slowing of ASCC Working
Party productivity, ASCC Management Committee staffing not matching required workloads and
absence of routine validation of agreed Air Standards. Most importantly, ASCC was unable to embrace
a ‘forward looking focus’ and the ASCC tasking of projects wasn’t particularly robust and analytically
sound. Hence, it was agreed at the 57th National Directors Meeting of ASCC on 21 April 2005 and
subsequently approved by the Chiefs of Staff of member nations that ASCC would adopt a revised
name, the Air and Space Interoperability Council. The National Directors from ASIC member nations
endorsed the new ASIC environment with effect from 10 April 2006. In brief, there was a need for
transformation from ASCC to ASIC to ensure future effectiveness and relevance is maintained in a
coalition war fighting environment characterized by expeditionary, network centric / enabled
operations utilizing effects based capabilities against non-conventional threats. In essence, ASIC would
be able to examine coalition, expeditionary interoperability issues from a ‘whole of warfighting’ and
‘whole of capability’ approach. Emphasis would be placed more on searching for interoperability
solutions than on seeking standardization.
What is the composition of ASIC?
Each member nation from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom and the United States of
America supports the ASIC with a small group of people from its flag-rank National Directors down
through staff and project officers at appropriate level and rank. All provide expertise to the organization
and its Working Groups and bring back international information to national headquarters and
operational commands. Much of the ASIC standardization effort, specifically the internationally
adopted Air Standards, is incorporated into the respective National documents. “Coalition” in ASIC
generally refers to the five member nations. Nations provide resources to a permanent Washington-
based Management Committee.
What is the ASIC Public Relations Message?
The public relations message of the ASIC Program is:
“The Air and Space Interoperability Council contributes significantly to the successful
conduct of coalition expeditionary operations by improving interoperability among ASIC Air
Forces. ASIC Working Groups are responsive, cost effective and focused on achieving
interoperability and standardization across the functional areas of aerospace activity in the
full spectrum of combined or coalition operations. The ASIC provides member Air Forces
the opportunity to exchange information freely, develop standards and to share the
resources of their partners”.
The ASIC message is the principle strategic element for publicity planning. All aspects of public
communication, irrespective of level, must aim to reinforce that message. It is the responsibility of
all ASIC WG members to be aware of the organization’s message, to ensure that they espouse it,
and the underlying strategy of ASIC as reflected in the ASIC Capstone Concept document and the
Task List, at every appropriate opportunity.
What is the ASIC Mission and Vision?
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Mission:
To enhance current and future Air and Space warfighting capabilities through joint and coalition
interoperability.
Vision:
Allies striving towards fully integrated and interoperable air and space forces. The greatest strength of
the ASIC member nations is the common heritage, language and close strategic relationships, ie: shared
vision.
How does ASIC execute its mission?
The foundation for ASIC includes real world operations and lessons learned, experimentation,
publications management and information exchange. Interoperability is the ability of coalition forces
to train, exercise, and operate effectively together, in the execution of assigned missions and tasks.
ASIC must balance current, evolving and future force interoperability through the following
activities: 1) Force-in-Being (Lessons Learned, Operational Imperatives, Exercises) and 2) Evolving
Force (Capability development imperatives, Rapid prototyping, Operational and System
Architectures, Experimentation - People/Organisation/Doctrine and Technology) and 3) Future
Force (Future concepts and architectures, Experimentation - People/Organisation/Doctrine and
Technology, CTDs/TDPs – what is this acronym??). Within an environment of constrained
resources, materiel and financial, the ASIC activities will promote the ongoing development of:
coalition architectures, information exchange, collaborative planning tools, collaborative
development opportunities, and shared battle space awareness.
What are the ASIC values and key attributes?
The ASIC values are: shared vision, trust and understanding, collaboration, and commitment. A detailed
explanation of these terms is in the ASIC Capstone Concept. The key attributes of the ASIC mission
are: looking to the future, measures of interoperability, and national imperatives. The key attributes of
the ASIC Vision are: aspirational, seamless and networked, focused, innovation and experimentation.
How does ASIC add value?
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The ASIC organization provides solutions to the problems currently perceived as beyond the ability of
a single nation to resolve. The ASIC mandate is to solve interoperability problems among the ASIC
member nations and not focus on the broader coalition. ASIC objectives are achieved where possible,
by standardization of doctrine, operational procedures, materiel and equipment. ASIC will articulate the
importance of its products in a coalition context, identifying priority interoperability gaps and shortfalls
along with areas where a member nation can develop focused, or niche capabilities. Each nation will
always reserve the right to not implement, either partially or fully promulgated ASIC products.
What is the ASIC Capstone Concept?
The Capstone Concept is the Strategic Level ASIC foundation document. It articulates why the
organization has evolved from the ASCC into the ASIC, outlines the Warfighting Functional
Concepts, Capability Elements, and the Interoperability Framework, as well as introducing Measures
of Interoperability and Key Interoperability Outcomes. Furthermore, as the key strategic document,
it underpins all other ASIC documents, activities and products. Accordingly, the Capstone Concept
is produced and maintained by the ASIC National Directors and their respective national staffs. This
document is reviewed by the National Directors on an annual basis, or more frequently as
circumstances dictate. As a living document, is used by the ASIC Management Committee (MC) and
Steering Group (SG) as a beacon for lighting the way ahead for interoperability development.
What are the ASIC Functional Concepts?
The ASIC Functional Concepts are constructed using a ‘whole of warfighting’ approach to describe
military activities that ASIC member nations might undertake as part of an expeditionary based
coalition. These concepts are future focused and based upon the US Joint Functional Concepts and
can be compared, in intent to the AU, CA and UK Future Air and Space Operating Concepts
(FASOC). The ASIC Functional Concepts, together with the ASIC Capability Elements and
Interoperability Framework are the tools by which ASIC members identify the key areas for
directing all new tasks, avoiding duplication of effort, as well as identifying areas where legacy work
can be ceased. ASIC Functional Concepts do not represent a de-facto directive to any particular
WG. This misunderstanding is an unintended, although not unexpected, outcome of naming the
Working Groups the same as the Functional Concepts. WGs can and should work across functional
areas. ASIC Functional Concepts are not intended to be doctrinally pure. This frees up the concept
to embrace roles, tasks and potential activities that doctrinally might not otherwise be acceptable.
Each ASIC Functional Concept includes the following: ASIC working definition, description,
desired interoperability statement and roles.
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Agile Combat Support?
Agile Combat Support consists of the essential capabilities, functions, activities and tasks necessary to
sustain coalition air and space power anywhere, at our initiative, speed and tempo. Agile combat
support is conducted during all phases of the operation and focuses on the establishment, operation,
and maintenance of air operating bases, including the provision of airbase services. Combat support is
essential to the delivery of other air and space capabilities, and may also support the capabilities of
collocated elements from sea or land forces or other agencies.
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Air Mobility?
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Air Mobility is the rapid movement of personnel, materiel and forces to and from a theatre of
operations (strategic airlift) and within that theatre (tactical airlift) by air. This capability generally
includes both airlift and air refueling operations and covers the movement from on load to offload.
Because this concept concerns administrative mobility functions, it includes the airlift missions of
passenger and cargo movement. It does not include combat employment and sustainment or special
operations support missions (which are considered to be Force Application).
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Command and Control,
Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance??
Command is the authority vested in an individual of the armed forces for the direction, coordination,
and control of military forces. Control is the process and system by which commanders’ plan and direct
operations. C2 is the exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over
assigned and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission. It involves the integration of a
system of procedures, organizational structures, personnel, equipment, facilities, information and
communications. More specifically, C2 includes the battle space management process of planning,
directing, coordinating and controlling air and space capabilities, forces and operations. The
interoperability focus for ASIC C2 is compatibility of information, doctrine and procedures, reinforced
by appropriate education, training and exercising. One of the keys to coalition C2 interoperability is
access for all coalition members to appropriate information. Such information can be drawn from
Command & Control systems (C2S). Access to relevant standards (both technical and procedural) is
essential in achieving the necessary cross domain flow of information across these C2S. Intelligence,
Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) is the acquisition, processing, analysis,
fusion, exploitation and dissemination of accurate, timely, relevant and assured information to provide
the battle space awareness essential to successful planning and conduct of operations. ISTAR integrates
capabilities from all components and sources to increase the flexibility, effectiveness, and
responsiveness of coalition forces by reducing uncertainties in the decision-making process. Air and
space forces will be involved in the collection of information, and play a key role in its analysis and
dissemination. ASIC’s key ISTAR principles are: integration, accuracy and fusion, accessibility,
coordination, timeliness, survivability, sustainability and deployability.
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Force Application?
Force Application is the integrated use of maneuver and engagement to create the effects necessary to
achieve assigned mission objectives. Fundamental to force application, maneuver is the coordinated
movement of forces into and through the theatre of operations to a position of advantage in order to
generate or enable the generation of desired operational effects. Freedom of maneuver throughout the
theater of operations for coalition forces will enable decisive engagements. In combat, maneuver will
pose compounding dilemmas for enemy forces that disrupt their decision-making ability and cause
them to bend to friendly force will. In operations other than war, maneuver offers a wide range of
options to accomplish the mission. Force application expands the view of how enemy forces can be
affected beyond the traditional use of lethal fires. Engagements must capitalize on the synergies of
timely and effective use of kinetic (e.g. bombs, missiles, supplies, etc.) and non-kinetic (e.g. information
operations, directed energy, etc.) means to create lethal and non-lethal effects. ASIC includes battlefield
mobility, air land and airdrop within Force Application.
What is the ASIC Functional Concept Description of Force Protection?
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Force Protection is all measures and means to manage risks to and minimize the vulnerability of
personnel, facilities, materiel, information and operations to any threat from an adversary and in all
situations, to preserve freedom of action and the operational effectiveness of the force. Force
protection is an integrated set of activities that applies to all phases of all operations across the spectrum
of conflict. It is threat-driven, vulnerability-dependent and is usually supported by formal risk
assessment. ASIC Force Protection does not include prevention or treatment of naturally occurring
disease or protection against natural threats; these fall under Agile Combat Support.
What is the ASIC Organisation Chart?
The ASIC organization derives policy direction from the ASIC National Directors (NDs). It is
organized internationally and nationally at three distinct levels. Schematic diagrams showing the
elements of the ASIC are outlined below. The International element of the organization consists of:
ASIC National Directors, Management Committee (MC), Steering Group (SG), Working Groups
(WGs), and Project Groups (PGs). The National element of the organization consists of: ASIC
National Directors, National Program Managers (NPMs), Group Heads (GHs) of one or more
WGs, Heads of Delegation of WGs (HoDs), and WG Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). The Working
Group (WG) and Project Group (PG) structure evolves from the Capstone Concept document and
is articulated through the Functional Concepts and Capability Elements, which are, in turn, mapped
against the Interoperability Framework. Roles and responsibilities of these positions in addition to
Terms of Reference are detailed within the ASIC Instructions 18th Edition.
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Note this org chart… change MC box and Steering group box around to show MC in direct lione
from NDs, and SG “out there” as an advisory input
What is the ASIC Working Group (WG) and Project Group (PG) structure?
The Working Group (WG) and Project Group (PG) structures evolve from the Capstone Concept
document and articulated through the Functional Concepts and Capability Elements, which are, in turn,
mapped against the Interoperability Framework. The ASIC WG Functional Concept definition
describes the desired levels of interoperability, so that work can be properly focused. Roles or tasks are
listed that might be performed within the Functional Concept. ASIC tasks are carried out within a
Working Group (WG) and Project Group (PG) structure. WGs bring together Heads of Delegations
(HoDs) and subject matter experts (SMEs) from each of the member nations, and are tasked with WG
governance issues such as developing coalition interoperability product agreements, exchanging
information, and sponsoring Test Project Agreements (TPA). They meet once every 12 months, with
additional work being conducted utilising the ASIC private website and forum between meetings. There
are five functional warfighting WGs as follows: Agile Combat Support (ACS), Air Mobility (AM), C2
ISTAR, Force Application (FA) and Force Protection (FP). Project Groups are formed by nominated
SMEs to address a specific interoperability gap or shortfall (a task approved by the National Directors)
within a given timeframe, and are stood down on completion. A Project Leader will be nominated from
within the PG.
What is the responsibility of the Head of Delegation for each WG?
National WG delegations are led by a Head of Delegation (HoD), who is responsible for coordinating
and administering national input to the WG, and speaks with national authority. Delegations also
include Project Leads and SME Members to provide additional specialist advice. Further details
contained within the ASIC Instructions, 18th Edition.
What is the purpose of the ASIC Working Group Project Directive?
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Project Directives scope the interoperability issue and provide the ‘Terms of Reference’ for the Project
Group on the respective topic. Project Directives should not be too prescriptive in their required
outcomes. Each Project Directive needs to clearly identify the interoperability deficiency, broadly frame
/ scope the area within which the PG would work, but not dictate how the PG is to solve the problem.
The PG would be largely free to develop whatever interoperability documents were considered
necessary to overcome the interoperability issue. Note, ASIC Functional Concepts do not represent a
de-facto directive to any particular WG. This misunderstanding is an unintended, although not
unexpected, outcome of naming the Working Groups the same as the Functional Concepts. WGs
can and should work across functional areas.
What are ASIC Project Groups?
Project Groups (PGs) differ from WGs in that they are established for the purpose of progressing a
specific task or tasks, over a defined period. PGs may be made up of members of a number of existing
WGs and/or SMEs from outside the existing WG framework. The Project Groups are not permanent
and may be set up each year to complete required tasks from the Task List that deal with specific
interoperability issues that require a specialized team.
What is the ASIC Project System?
A project is used by WGs to organize tasking needed to address identified interoperability gaps. The
project provides the means by which inputs from all interested agencies may be collated and
developed into usable products such as Air Standards, Advisory Publications and Information
Publications. Projects are normally established for the development of ASIC documents but may
include other activities such as participation in exercises. These activities or products must be
achievable within a reasonable timeframe (nominally 1 meeting cycle) to render a project ‘active’.
The target for validation of deliverables is to be completed two years after publication,
implementation one year after publication. Information Directives may be used as a means for
information exchange to scope out an interoperability gap.
Are there any permanent Project Groups?
On transformation from ASCC to ASIC and the subsequent focus on deployed coalition operations, it
was identified that two ASCC Working Parties (WP), WP15 Fuels, Oils and Lubricants and WP61,
Aviation Medicine and Aircrew System needed to be retained as permanent entities, separate from the
five warfighting concepts. Technically, these groups have Working Group status, and specific Project
Groups may be stood up within the individual disciplines. To date, only the JRTC
Participation/Validation Project has endured more than one tasking cycle, and may well become a
“permanent project”.
What is the ASIC annual battle rhythm?
The full ASIC battle rhythm, including agenda and terms of reference for each meeting is detailed
within the ASIC Instructions, 18th Edition. A summary of the main events is as follows:
National HoD / Survey – Jan/Feb
VTC – April (PG Progress Report, Plan Upcoming NDM, Metrics)
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Steering Group - Start of April
NDM - Start of June (Approve Task List)
Working Groups Sep – Nov (Conduct Projects, Conduct IE & Document Revision)
VTC – September (Approve/Discuss Survey, Update since NDM, Admin Issues, Metrics)
VTC – December (Update from WG/PG Meetings, Metrics)
What is the ASIC Interoperability Framework?
The ASIC Interoperability Framework (IF) maps the ASIC Functional Concepts/Warfighting
Functions against Capability Elements to identify desired levels of interoperability. This framework is
the basis for prioritizing potential work, evaluating products, and measuring the effectiveness of the
organization. All ASIC activity including project work, document maintenance, information exchange,
experimentation activities, exercise participation and collaboration / liaison with other Fora is measured
against the agreed, high priority, interoperability focus areas highlighted in the Interoperability
Framework. Ultimately, all ASIC products will be overlaid on the IF to provide a simplified
management tool that relates actual/achieved interoperability to desired interoperability. The IF must
be seen as a living document.
What are the ASIC Warfighting Functions?
The fundamental building block for this interoperability framework is an agreed set of Warfighting
Functions. Taking an Effects Based approach as well as acknowledging each member nation’s
requirements, these warfighting functions are: Force Application, Force Protection, Air Mobility, C2
ISTAR (C4ISR), and Agile Combat Support. These functions and derived roles form the vertical
column of the Interoperability framework.
What are ASIC Capability Elements?
Interoperability must also be considered from a ‘whole of capability’ perspective. The ASIC Capability
Element model is an amalgam of military capability national models, e.g.: DOTMLPF (US) and
PRICIE (CA/NZ). ASIC Capability Elements are used to analyze interoperability capabilities, shortfalls
and requirements. Clearly articulated Capability Elements provide two critical functions. Firstly, these
elements ensure that ASIC takes a ‘whole of capability’ approach when identifying/addressing identified
interoperability gaps and secondly, these elements form a critical component of the ASIC
Interoperability Framework (the horizontal row). The ASIC Capability Elements are:
Concepts, Doctrine and Experimentation. Concepts, doctrine publications, TTP, operating procedures,
regulations, checklists, or policy which governs or guides the way the military conducts business. A
concept is an expression of the capabilities that are likely to be used to accomplish an activity in the
future. Doctrine is an expression of the principles by which military forces guide their actions and is a
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codification of how activity is conducted today. Research, analysis and experimentation can be used to
assist the development and refining of concepts.
Organization: The operational and non-operational organizational relationships of people. It typically
includes military force structures, civilian organizational structures and defense contractors providing
support. Considers actual organizations needed to conduct an operation and required skill sets and
competencies.
Training and Education: The provision of means to practice, develop and validate, the practical
application of a common military doctrine to deliver a military capability. Education imparts knowledge.
Materiel/Equipment: The provision of military platforms, systems and weapons, expendable and non-
expendable (including updates to legacy systems), needed to outfit/equip an individual, group or
organization.
Information: Information and knowledge requirements for capabilities and all processes designed to
gather and handle data, information and knowledge. Data is defined as raw facts, without inherent
meaning, used by humans and systems. Information is defined as data placed in context. Knowledge is
information applied to a particular situation and includes the establishment of common formats and
structures and protocols for exchanging information. Does not include hardware or software, which is
included in the Equipment capability element.
Personnel (Leadership and Training): Timely provision of sufficient, capable and motivated personnel
to deliver military outputs, both now and in the future. Ensure that qualified personnel are there to
support a capability. This includes identification of the knowledge, skills, abilities, and competencies
needed to perform a position, job, or task. It may involve creation of new occupational specialties to
support new missions, threats, and technologies and revision of those specialties over a period of time.
Facilities: The acquisition, development, management and disposal of buildings, structures, property,
plans and equipment, and areas for training and other purposes, utilities and civil engineering works
necessary to support capabilities whether fixed or expeditionary.
Why does ASIC use the term ‘Warfighting’?
The term “warfighting” is used because ASIC member nations believe that warfighting represents
the core function of the military as well as the most challenging condition of military activities. ASIC
recognizes that joint activities extend beyond warfighting.
What does ASIC mean by ‘Economic Use of Resources’?
ASIC provides opportunities for both formal and informal collaboration on issues of common
interest to member nation air and space forces, thereby sharing successes and avoiding duplication
of (national) efforts. There are two main activities that may be considered where they improve
member nation national or coalition capabilities while reducing overall (national) costs Firstly, the
loan of materiel through the Test Project Agreement (TPA) Program and secondly, development of
interoperability agreements not directly related to coalition expeditionary operations, where there is a
demonstrable and significant savings of national resources or direct benefit to member nation.
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What is the difference between integrated and interoperable?
The meanings of “integrated” and “interoperable” largely overlap, but it is important to capture
both shades of meaning. “Integrated” describes a state in which ASIC member forces operate as a
seamless unit. This is a highly aspirational state well worth working toward. “Interoperable” reflects
ASIC’s primary focus, a state in which forces and equipment can operate together to accomplish the
mission.
What is the definition of Standardization?
Standardization is not an end in itself, but is a tool for increasing the operational effectiveness of
coalition expeditionary forces. Similar to NATO, standardization within the ASIC can occur within
the areas of doctrine, procedures and materiel at three possible levels. These levels are: 1)
Compatibility - the suitability of products, processes or services for use together under specific
conditions to fulfill relevant requirements without causing unacceptable interactions, 2)
Interchangeability - the ability of one product, process or service to be used in place of another to
fulfill the same requirements and 3) Commonality - the state achieved when the same doctrine,
procedures, and/or equipment are used.
What is the ASIC Interoperability Survey?
ASIC engages a civilian defence contractor to develop and administer the Interoperability Survey every
two years. In brief, the National Directors from all member nations approve a scenario to assist in the
design and implementation of an interoperability survey. The ASIC Management Committee is
responsible, in conjunction with the ASIC Steering Group, for providing an analytically rigorous survey
process. Members of ASIC are requested to provide input throughout the survey cycle that ultimately
identifies the highest priority interoperability issues. In brief, the survey is drafted in Feb every alternate
year, approved at the National Director’s Meeting (NDM) in Jun and reviewed by the WGs in Sep –
Nov. The contractor then administers the survey and analyzes the results in the following year Jan –
Mar. Survey analysis will identify and prioritize issues, and suggest courses of action. The Steering
Group will develop the COAs into suitable interoperability tasks and make recommendation to the
NDs. Risk assessment prioritizes these tasks and then provides an assessment of the risks of not
moving forwards towards completion of the tasks. Once interoperability tasks have been agreed (by the
NDs), ASIC establishes Project Groups (PG) to commence new work or allocates enduring tasks to
appropriate Working Groups (WG).
Why is a two year survey tasking cycle used?
A two-year tasking cycle was initially selected to deconflict with the workload of USAF CONOPS
and the contractor. A single survey is expected to yield at least two year’s worth of validated tasks
for ASIC. Spreading the survey and contractor fees over a two-year period also reduces costs. In
addition, the size of HoD meetings is reduced in the non-survey year, further reducing National
expenditures.
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What is the importance of the National Top 5 Interoperability issues?
The National ‘Top 5’ interoperability issues capture high-priority National issues that either require
immediate resolution (e.g., a “pop-up” issue from a current operation) or did not derive from the
survey. This list is not bounded by the survey parameters. It is meant to provide responsive tasking
and to address urgent issues that cannot await the survey process. Items on this list may be used to
guide subsequent survey efforts. Top 5 issues may subsequently be tasked for action, but they would
compete against survey derived issues and may not meet the criteria for analytic rigor unless
additional analysis was applied. The onus is on NPMs to filter the National Top 5 issues as part of
the Task List process.
What is the ASIC Task List process?
The issued Task List provides the authority and direction for all ASIC activities and as such provides
the guidance for ASIC projects and information exchange directives. Through the ASIC tasking
process, a prioritized Task List is developed for ND approval. As such, the SG recommends to the
NDs to assign projects to a Working Group or to a Project Group to be stood up to accomplish a
particular project. Project and Information Exchange Directives are developed by the SG in
conjunction with WG SME input. WGs and PGs can make recommendations to the SG on current
and future interoperability issues that may, be entered into the ASIC tasking process. This process
provides the strategic guidance for the organization to progress expeditionary interoperability issues. It
emphasizes a broad spectrum of doctrinal, operational and material issues, and will ensure that the
ASIC product continues to enhance the ability of the member air forces to operate together. The Task
List is reviewed on a yearly cycle to ensure the focus of ASIC work remains current. Part of the risk
assessment under the new tasking process incorporates a time dimension to ensure that the
organization has a more forward-looking approach to interoperability issues. From an interoperability
perspective, the evolving force is a five year forward look, and the Future Force is ten years out. Any
further would be too difficult, and risk wastage of resources, if programmes were subsequently
cancelled. The Coalition Interoperability Assessment (CIA) process (Interoperability Survey, plus other
inputs), if done to plan, will accommodate the time dimension with a look to the future. The figure
below provides a pictorial of the envisaged process and feedback loops. Of note is the inclusion of
Experimentation. It includes the importance of the survey, SME input, and Lessons Learned, to the
overall attainment of interoperability issues for the organization to solve.
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What are Measures of Interoperability?
A set of metrics to provide feedback and accountability for ASIC members and leaders has been
determined. The focus of these measures is guided by the interoperability priorities from the
Capstone Concept, Vision, Mission and Values. Key components of the structured interoperability
ASIC assessment methodology are well developed Measures of Interoperability. Effective measures
will facilitate a contributing nation’s assets being assigned appropriate coalition tasking. Measures
include: Measures of Suitability (suitable for task), Effectiveness (how well assets perform assigned
tasks), Performance (compliance with agreed standards and architectures – a long standing tenet of
ASIC) and Measures of Economy (fostering of collegiality, trust and information sharing).
What is the ASIC Private Website?
The ASIC Private Website is a password-protected, https site that is hosted by the Defense
Technical Information Center. It provides appropriate security, guards against hacking and allows
access to all members. ASIC conducts the majority of its work on the ASIC private website. All
ASIC members are expected to hold an ASIC private website account. As the website functionality
is progressively improved, more tasks (Project Development, Document Maintenance and relevant
Information Exchanges) will be conducted online through virtual meetings and website chat forums.
To request a password, go to https://register.dtic.mil/wobin/WebObjects/RegLite?SiteID=ASIC or
contact the ASIC Admin Assistant, Ph: 1 703 696 8454, asicad01@pentagon.af.mil.
What is the ASIC Public Website?
The ASIC Homepage on the public website is the public face of ASIC. The public website is a simple,
easily accessible, website to educate our defence personnel and the general public on ASIC organisation
and roles. It also provides a guide for aviation industry on how to obtain ASIC products. The web
pages provide the following information: an overview of ASIC, including its organization and purpose,
titles and descriptions of ASIC documents, specific information on the ASIC Working Groups and
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meeting schedules, a bi-monthly newsletter highlighting activities and current and future events, and an
ASIC document request form.
What happened to the old ASCC documents?
As part of the ASCC to ASIC transformation process in 2005, any ASIC interoperability document
(document, air standard, advisory publication, information exchange etc), that did not support
expeditionary coalition operations was cancelled. Cancelled documents remain available on the
protected website but bear a caveat that indicates that they are neither actively reviewed, managed
nor updated.
What is an ASIC Air Standard?
An ASIC Air Standard is a ratified agreement between ASIC member nations to standardize specific
military doctrine, procedures and / or materiel to enhance their ability to conduct joint and combined
operations. Ratified ASIC documents have little meaning unless they are correctly implemented in
nationally recognized documents of ASIC member nations.
What is an ASIC Advisory Publication?
An ASIC Advisory Publication informs other ASIC member nations of procedures or materiel used by
other ASIC member nations. An ADV PUB is produced when standardization is not possible.
What is an ASIC Information Publication?
An ASIC Information Publication is a formal exchange of information which doesn’t meet the
requirements of an Air Standard or Advisory Publication. A formal and informal exchange of
information in key warfighting areas improves the coalition capabilities of national air and space forces.
These exchanges contribute toward ASIC goals by enhancing interoperability where formal
interoperability agreements are inappropriate or where individual national requirements preclude the
adoption of such agreements and by acting as a starting point when ASIC is investigating aspects of the
coalition warfighting continuum for the first time, where the intended aim of this investigation is to
enhance coalition interoperability.
What is the ASIC Test Project Agreement (TPA)?
ASIC provides the framework to exchange technical information and arrange for the free loan of
equipment between member nations for test and evaluation purposes. The results of these tests are
distributed to all member nations using the Test Project Agreement (TPA). The TPA programme is one
of the most successful aspects of ASIC and is an example of the efficient use of resources. A TPA can
be initiated at Project Group, Working Group or at any higher management level.
What is the relationship between ASIC and NATO Standardization Agency?
ASIC Working Group meetings include an Agenda item regarding liaison relationship activity, including
the NATO Standardization Agency (NSA). All ASIC members are able to access the NATO (NSA)
website for further information via the following website address: http://nsa.nato.int/. NATO
Working Groups have also undergone recent change and new relationships between new WG from
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ASIC and NATO is encouraged. ASIC occasionally coversheets NATO STANAGs (Standardization
Agreement), and NATO occasionally adopts ASIC products. The purpose of liaison is to effect
synergies with other international standardization bodies, and avoid duplication of effort.
What other multifora does ASIC interact with?
The ASIC maintains regular liaison with other defence and defence scientific related standardization
organizations. Each WG will identify additional liaison organizations appropriate to their field of
expertise. Just as ASIC relies on the resources of member nations in order to foster air and space
interoperability, ASIC also needs to maintain close links with other interoperability fora, harmonizing
activities and occasionally collaborating on major projects. As interoperability gaps are quantified and
prioritized, ASIC needs to be prepared to develop new links with other relevant organizations. ASIC
Management Committee (MC) liaison is primarily undertaken through the periodic Washington Multi-
fora Meetings. The networking achieved through this liaison assists the MC in identifying potential
duplication of effort, opportunities for collaboration and interoperability deficiencies. These
interoperability fora are described in the Washington Staff Handbook, which is a useful reference for
cross-organizational networking (available on the ASIC private Website). The MC also conducts ad hoc
liaison with particular fora as necessary to progress specific issues of mutual interest. The defence-
related standardization organizations with which ASIC maintains regular liaison and works closely with
are: American, British, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand (ABCA) Armies, Australian, Canadian, New
Zealand, United Kingdom and United States (AUSCANNZUKUS) Navies, the Multinational
Interoperability Council (MIC), the Combined Communications-Electronics Board (CCEB), The
Technical Cooperation Program (TTCP), the Quadrilateral Logistics Forum (QLF), the European Air
Group (EAG), and NATO.
What is the ASIC Coalition Handbook?
The ASIC Coalition Air and Space Handbook contains sections based on the current Functional
Framework (FA, FP, C2/ISTAR (CI), AM, and ACS). The product will provide both visibility and
utility for ASIC products. WGs will have the overarching task to draft and update the Handbook.
Detailed work on the Handbook would be expected during the tasking cycle, both during the
applicable WG meeting and throughout the year. Conceptually, each WG will own one section of
the Handbook. Production of the Handbook and ongoing maintenance may be assigned as a
discrete project to each WG. The primary ASIC products that will populate the Handbook are (Air
Standards (AIR STDs), Advisory Publications (ADV Pubs) and Information Publications (INFO
PUBs).
Disclaimer
The information contained within the ASIC Frequently Asked Questions was predominantly sourced
from within extant ASIC documents, e.g.: the ASIC Capstone Concept and the ASIC Instructions 18th
Edition. These source documents should be referred to in the event of any discrepancy in these FAQs
or to obtain further information/details. The authority to formulate, issue and amend ASIC
Instructions has been delegated to the Management Committee by the ASIC National Directors. ASIC
Instructions are reviewed and reissued on a biennial cycle and form the overarching Instructions for
ASIC.
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