The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has a strategic approach and works closely in the areas of military and defence with countries in the region including Qatar. The strategic approach is based on people, partners and innovation, according to CENTCOM Commander, General Michael Kurilla.
Speaking at a telephonic press conference General Kurilla said that the region “really does matter to the United States and to the world,” adding that he makes frequent visits to the region and communicates with his counterparts.
“My travelling engagements help shape my strategic approach for CENTCOM, which is best, summarized in three words: people, partners and innovation,” he said.
Referring to people and partnerships in the region, General Kurilla said, “We’re all stakeholders in the region. And I found after serving more than three decades in the region that ensuring these relationships are candid, built on trust and constructive, is critical to military and security success. All the solutions to the region’s vexing problems start and end with people.”
General Kurilla emphasized that no nation can face the complexity of the region alone.
He also discussed the innovative efforts to maximize operations across Central Command through the employment of new technology and concepts, including AI, machine learning, and unmanned systems.
“For CENTCOM, our partnerships are value-based relationships. That’s what makes us a partner - a choice in the region. Innovation is the final component of this strategic approach… Innovation will strengthen our partnerships, assist in operations and ensure a stable region,” he said.
Innovation will extend the value of our partnerships, fill some of the gaps in resources, and allow us to move faster, operate more efficiently, and increase progress across all operational efforts.
“Innovation is not just about technology for us. It is an innovation of concept and process. We are building a culture of innovation and our partners are with us on this journey,” he added.
According to General Kurilla, the US commitment to the region should be measured by the strength of the partnerships, not “by boots on the ground,” like in the past.
Giving an example for partnerships he said, “We are building on assets that we already have and creating an interconnected mesh of sensors that transmit real-time data views together through data integration, artificial intelligence platforms that help build a clearer picture of the operating environment.
“We’re using unmanned systems paired with artificial intelligence or AI to give us better information faster. This allows us to employ our manned systems more efficiently and strategically. All of this helps us achieve decision dominance. We’re able to cultivate information and use AI to make decisions faster than our adversaries and use our manned systems more efficiently,” he said.
General Kurilla also explained about the three innovation task forces - Task Force 59, Task Force 99 and Task Force 39.
“Task Force 59 are unmanned vessels, both on the surface of the water and under the water. These unmanned vessels carry sensors which are collecting vast amounts of data. That data is pushed through data integration and artificial intelligence platforms. Helps build a clearer picture of the operating environment,” he said.
Explaining about the other two task forces he said, “In addition to Task Force 59, which operates at sea in a maritime domain, we have Task Force 99 based in Qatar, operating in the air domain. Task Force 99 will replicate Task Force 59 maritime efforts with aerial drones, complete with tailored payloads and other capabilities operating together to observe, detect and gather data that feeds into an operations center. Task Force 99 fleet of unmanned aircraft will impose dilemmas on our adversaries and detect and defeat threats to our systems and to our partners.”
“Finally, we have Task Force 39; our land-based Innovation Task Force. Task Force 39 will test concept and technology to include a fleet of unmanned land vehicles paired with manned ground vehicles to help us and allow us to protect the force while maximizing our troop strength and force posture,” said General Kurilla.
