Integration of space, air and cyber teams, within the guise of the paradigm shift of multi-domain command and control chief of staff of the Air Force Gen. David Goldfien has pushed, is becoming a reality in the fight against the Islamic State group. In a “war story,” Gen. Goldfein described how an MQ-9 Reaper was flying an armed reconnaissance mission over Iraq in early January when personnel received reports of satellite communications interference hindering the aircraft in carrying out the mission. Previously, Goldfein explained during a Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies event Feb. 3, personnel might have tried to troubleshoot and work their way through this issue, but the integration of space teams and prioritized SATCOM link monitoring has dramatically reduced troubleshooting and made the force more agile.
