By the end of this lecture students should be able to understand that:
Air power represents a technological revolution
Air power has tremendously changed the conduct of warfare
Air power has not changed the nature of warfare
2. From this lecture you should be able to understand that:
• Air power represents a technological revolution
• Air power has tremendously changed the conduct of warfare
• Air power has not changed the nature of warfare
3. Strengths of air power:
• Speed
• Reach
• Height
• Ubiquity
• Agility
4. Weaknesses of air power:
• Impermanence
• Fragility
• Cost
• Base-dependence
5. Traditional Roles of Air Power
“Strategic”
• Coercion
• Denial
• Punishment
“Tactical”
• Close Air Support
• Interdiction
Control of the Air
6. Traditional Roles of Air Power
“Strategic”
• Coercion
• Denial
• Punishment
“Tactical”
• Close Air Support
• Interdiction
Control of the Air
7. Traditional Roles of Air Power
Independent
• Coercion
• Denial
• Punishment
Integrated
• Close Air Support
• Interdiction
Control of the Air
8. Traditional Roles of Air Power
Independent
• Coercion
• Denial
• Punishment
Integrated
• Close Air Support
• Interdiction
Control of the Air
= “Strike”
9. Traditional Roles of Air Power
Independent
• Coercion
• Denial
• Punishment
Integrated
• Close Air Support
• Interdiction
Control of the Air
Mobility
10. Traditional Roles of Air Power
Independent
• Coercion
• Denial
• Punishment
Integrated
• Close Air Support
• Interdiction
Control of the Air
Mobility
Situational Awareness
18. Target sets
• Civilians
– inflict terror
– break morale
• Civilian industry
– create social chaos
– reduce production
19. What was wrong with this approach?
• Targeting civilians was morally / legally questionable
• Targeting cities and industry was dangerous
• It took a long time to have and measure any effect
• It was not actually very effective
22. Target sets
• Leadership / governance
– essential energy sources
– essential or high-value state infrastructure
– the economic system
23. What’s wrong with this approach?
• It inevitably causes unintended civilian deaths
• It can lead to accusations of immorality
• It creates greater support for enemy leadership
• It is seldom politically acceptable
• It has not ordinarily proved effective by itself
24. What’s right with this approach?
• It demonstrates resolve
• Not much else
27. What’s right with this integrated approach?
• It is moral (combatants fighting only combatants)
• It is usually politically acceptable
• It facilitates effective battle
• Effective battle is ordinarily strategic
28. What’s wrong with this integrated approach?
• Absolutely nothing, but remember:
• It has a higher risk of fratricide
• It is relatively dangerous
• Insurgents provide few, fleeting and often uncertain targets
• Mistakes can be highly politically awkward
29. Concluding thoughts:
• The use of ordnance is now called “strike” and encompasses both
“strategic” and “tactical” contexts
• Air power’s contributions away from traditional battles have usually
been exaggerated
• Expectations of its effects have seldom been met
• Air power integrated in battle has ALWAYS proven remarkably effective