What factor adds stress to data collection in air defense operations?

In the context of air defense operations, greater difficulty in predicting timing and sector of attack significantly contributes to stress during data collection. This is primarily due to the rapidly evolving nature of aerial threats where adversaries may employ tactics that obfuscate their intentions, thereby hindering accurate forecasting. When air defense personnel are unable to predict when and where an attack might occur, it complicates the process of data collection, as they must constantly adapt to incoming information and potential threats. This unpredictability necessitates a robust situational awareness and quick decision-making, adding to the stress of the operational environment.

While improved surveillance techniques and access to reliable satellite communications enhance operational capabilities and might ease certain aspects of data collection, they do not inherently introduce stress in the same way that uncertainty in attack predictions does. Similarly, an increase in the number of aircraft deployed adds complexity to the situation, but it does not directly challenge the prediction of attack timing and sector as does the unpredictability associated with adversary tactics.