Five Eyes Air Force Interoperability Council facts for kids

The Five Eyes Air Force Interoperability Council (AFIC) is a special group of military air forces from five countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. This group helps these countries' air forces work together smoothly. The name "Five Eyes" comes from an informal name for a network where these five countries share important information.

AFIC was previously known as the Air and Space Interoperability Council (ASIC) and before that, the Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC).

How AFIC Started

In 1948, after World War II, the Air Standards Coordination Committee (ASCC) was formed. The air force leaders from Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States created it. Their goal was to help their air forces work better together in the sky. They also wanted to make sure their aircraft could be serviced by each other's teams.

In 1951, the United States Navy joined ASCC. The Royal Australian Air Force became a member in 1964. The Royal New Zealand Air Force joined a year later in 1965.

One important job of ASCC (and later AFIC) was creating special names for aircraft. These names were for planes from the Soviet Union (now Russia), other countries in the Warsaw Pact, and People's Republic of China. These special names are still used by the militaries of NATO and other Western countries.

In 2004, the ASCC group was reviewed. As a result, in 2005, it was reorganized and renamed the "Air and Space Interoperability Council" (ASIC).

Later, in 2016, the air force leaders of the "Five Eyes" nations suggested changes. They wanted ASIC to be more helpful for real-world operations. So, in 2017, ASIC focused more on how air forces work together. It also changed its name to the "Five Eyes Air Force Interoperability Council" (AFIC).

What AFIC Does

The "Five Eyes" AFIC finds and solves problems that stop air forces from working well together. They use the combined knowledge of all five countries. Simply put, AFIC makes the "Five Eyes" air forces stronger by helping them operate better as a team.

AFIC does this by setting up special groups called "working groups." These groups deal with specific problems that make it hard for the "Five Eyes" air forces to work together. These working groups try to create agreed-upon "Air Standards" (AIRSTDS). These standards can then be used in "Five Eyes" air operations. They are also included in each country's air force rules and guides.

AFIC also shares information about how "Five Eyes" air forces train and operate. They do this through "Information Publications." They also help countries lend equipment to each other for testing. AFIC also manages how different people and groups work together to achieve its goals.

How AFIC Is Organized

AFIC has a four-level management system.

• National Directors (ND) are high-ranking officers (like a 1-star or 2-star general) from each country. They guide the organization's overall plans. They also approve the yearly tasks and main goals for the Council. One of these National Directors serves as the Chairperson for one year, and this role rotates among the countries.

• A Management Committee (MC) is based in the Pentagon in the US. This committee handles AFIC's daily operations. They put the agreed-upon plans into action. They also lead the working groups and connect the different parts of the Council. The MC usually has representatives from each country. These representatives are typically mid-level officers (like a Lieutenant Colonel) and serve for about three years.

• Working Groups (WGs) are set up for different areas of air force work. These groups help improve "Five Eyes" teamwork at a practical level. Each country appoints a "Head of Delegation" (HoD) to represent its interests in the WG. They also have various "Subject Matter Experts" (SMEs) who help solve specific problems.

• Finally, each country has a "National Program Manager" (NPM). This person reports to their country's National Director. They are in charge of their country's AFIC program. They also help coordinate the HoD and SME support for the Working Groups. They provide administrative help to their country's ND and MC representative.

Current AFIC Working Groups

AFIC has several working groups, each focused on a different area:

• Agile Combat Support (ACS). This group focuses on how air forces can quickly set up, run, support, and close airbases. The ACS WG works on how "Five Eyes" forces can work together for quick airfield operations. This includes sharing airbases and supporting new ways of operating, like Agile Combat Employment (ACE).

• Air Mobility (AM). This group deals with moving people, equipment, and supplies by air. The AM WG focuses on how "Five Eyes" air forces can work together for air transport, medical evacuations, dropping cargo or people from the air, and refueling planes in the air.

• Aerospace Medicine (ASM). This group covers all parts of aviation medicine. It helps share information and create standards. The ASM WG focuses on how "Five Eyes" forces can work together for medical evacuations by air. It also looks at medical staff training and protecting aircrews.

• Airworthiness (Aw). The Aw WG makes sure that "Five Eyes" air operations are safe. They also look for ways to benefit all countries.

• Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS). The C-UAS WG works on improving how "Five Eyes" security forces protect airbases. They focus on tactics and equipment to defend against drone threats.

• Fuels, Lubricants and Gases (FLG). This group deals with providing aviation fuels, oils, and gases. The FLG WG works on making sure "Five Eyes" countries use the same methods for testing and approving aviation fuels. This includes sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

• Operational Training Infrastructure (OTI). OTI includes the systems and places needed for important training. The OTI WG helps "Five Eyes" air forces train together more often. They do this by combining live training with simulated training environments.

• Combined Joint All-Domain Command & Control (CJADC2). The CJADC2 WG aims to help "Five Eyes" partners work together to control air operations. They also show this control ability in planned wargames and exercises.

What AFIC Produces

AFIC's main outputs are documents that help air forces work together better:

• Air Standards (AIRSTD). An AFIC AIRSTD is a formal agreement between "Five Eyes" nations. It means their national procedures match specific military rules, ways of doing things, or equipment. This helps them work together more effectively in air operations.

• Information Publications (INFOPUB). An AFIC INFOPUB is created when there isn't a standard way of doing something between nations. However, it's helpful for "Five Eyes" partners to know about each other's best practices.

Groups AFIC Works With

AFIC works with other groups that help militaries work together. They coordinate activities and collaborate on big projects. These groups include:

• ABCANZ Armies Program (for land forces)
• ANZUS – a group linking Australia, New Zealand, and the US.
• AUSCANNZUKUS (for naval forces)
• Combined Communications Electronics Board (for military communications)
• Five Eyes – the intelligence sharing network
• NATO – Canada, the UK, and US are also part of NATO, so AFIC works with them.
• The Technical Cooperation Program (for military technology and science)

See also

• AUKUS (agreement on submarine technology)
• CANZUK (a proposed alliance)
• UKUSA Agreement (signals intelligence agreement)