scope:

By its nature, NC3 comprises a set of national level capabilities that must be assured, reliable, and resilient across the range of threat conditions-from benign to highly contested-through all phases of nuclear (and, at times, non-nuclear) conflict. AF NC3 has numerous external stakeholders that include the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD), the Joint Staff (JS), Combatant Commands (CCMDs), other Services, Combat Support Agencies (e.g., Defense Information Systems Agency, National Security Agency), and the White House Military Office. In addition to describing the roles and responsibilities of Air Force entities, this instruction also informs and directs how the Air Force will interact with external stakeholders to ensure AF NC3 support to the President.

Purpose. This instruction establishes roles and responsibilities to ensure effective stewardship and integrated planning, programming, budgeting and execution, and sustainment of the AF NC3 mission area. In addition, it provides a framework to ensure the Air Force properly organizes, trains, and equips to enable Nuclear Command and Control (NC2) mission essential functions.