"Operations Go Dark": Guard Unit Trains for GPS, Internet, and Comms Blackout

The Missouri National Guard’s 139th Operations Group conducted a four-day exercise to simulate a full-scale cyber attack. This drill aimed to evaluate their operational capabilities in the absence of internet, radios, or phones. 

The recent “Operations Goes Dark” exercise challenged airmen to depend on traditional analog tools, including handwritten notes, runners, and whiteboards, to coordinate C-130 takeoffs, airdrops, and ground communications.

Internet outages were reported intermittently over two days, culminating in a complete shutdown by the third and fourth days. Pilots and crews relied on traditional navigation methods, employing paper maps, smoke signals, and visual flight cues to guide their journeys. 

Operations experienced delays as personnel relayed messages manually across the base, occasionally jogging distances of up to half a mile to provide updates.

“We reverted to a mindset reminiscent of the 20th century,” Capt. Kyle Hutchison, a pilot with the 180th Airlift Squadron who played a key role in planning the exercise. “Making a phone call is no longer as simple as it once was.” It alters the entire landscape.

Due to the absence of digital tools, delays and human error have arisen, with minor miscommunications, including takeoff times, potentially impacting larger operational processes. To address challenges in weather updates and airspace coordination, satellite phones and external flight stations were employed as temporary solutions.

Lt. Col. Jason Lehman, the safety chief for the 139th Airlift Wing, underscored the importance of practicing analog workflows. He stated, “If others can’t help us get where we need to be, we still need to fly and execute the mission.”

The simulation underscored vulnerabilities and gaps while simultaneously showcasing the unit's resilience. “It was an eye-opening experience,” Hutchison remarked. 

The pilot shared, “This serves as a reminder of the importance of functioning without modern conveniences, highlighting the necessity for regular practice.”