<p>Throughout the conflict, combat support forces would be vital to the overall effort. E-3s and E-8s would provide the 'big picture' of both air and ground battles, supplying a stream of vectoring and targeting information to friendly aircraft and to deconflict various strike forces. The importance of the defense suppression team would not diminish after the first attack: their missiles and jammers would keep up an incessant barrage against the remnants of the air defenses. Fighter forces would be extremely busy, not only sweeping and escorting, but also keeping friendly airspace clean with CAPs and protecting high-value assets such as the AWACS and J-STARS. Tankers would accompany most strike packages, not only to give the aircraft enough fuel for their forays into hostile airspace, but also to provide emergency fuel if they return damaged or short of fuel. Rescue crews would stand ever-ready to selflessly fly into enemy territory to save downed airmen, while other Special Forces aircrew would fly shadowy missions, mostly at night, to support the unconventional warfare effort.
