The US Air Force has activated its provisional Integrated Capabilities Command, or ICC (P), this week as part of its modernization efforts in response to evolving threats.
The ICC (P) is set to drive the service’s modernization plans for rapid collaboration and integration and continue developing a framework for its transition as a permanent institutional command by 2025.
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall observed that the service’s current processes aren’t competitive enough to face the dynamic threat environment.
“This organization is a key part of the competitive ecosystem we are creating to reoptimize for Great Power Competition. With other [Department of the Air Force] organizations, ICC will ensure the Air Force keeps pace with our pacing challenge, China, and acute threat, Russia,” he added.
Integrated Capabilities Command
One of its initial tasks as a provisional command is to set up teams at existing Air Force centers known for their expertise, bringing together specialists in military operations and planning.
The command will test different military strategies, develop alternative force structures, identify requirements to stay ahead of threats, and coordinate science, technology, experimentation, and industry needs.
“We will bring together experts from across multiple fields into one organization to drive rapid collaboration that results in a coherent demand signal to industry. This will be essential to driving capability development at the pace our security environment demands,” said ICC (P) Commander Maj. Gen. Mark Mitchum.
The command will work with the service’s Materiel Command Integrated Development Office to determine the feasibility of requirements generated by technical and acquisition experts.
Full operational capability as a permanent command will be reached once a three-star commander is nominated and confirmed, a unit manning document is approved, and the strategic basing process is completed.
“We are going as fast as we dare to build the Air Force we need from the beginning so we remain competitive into the future. We must be integrated from the start to stay ahead of the threat,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin during the 2024 Air and Space Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference on September 16.
