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INTRODUCTION TO AIR POWER STUDIES AOPS 1 (P)

BY LT COL B M NZILU acsc (USA)

AND
LT COL M A BADI psc (K), psc (RSA)
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INTRODUCTION
Airpower studies seek to expand understanding of war theory by introducing modern perspectives on war fighting Students will be challenged to think critically in order to devise the most effective way of employing air power either singly, in support of another force or in a joint environment A study of the development of airpower technology, theory and doctrine determine what airpower adds to mans quest for effectiveness in war.

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INTRODUCTION
Study provides knowledge and skill to enable you produce credible and innovative employment of air power Air power has become predominant, both as a deterrent to war, andin the eventuality of war as the devastating force to destroy an enemys potential and totally undermine his will to wage war. General Omar Bradley
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AIM
To give a broad overview of the structure and content of the Air Operations study package
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OBJECTIVE
At the end of this presentation, the student should be able to correctly state the contents air strategy as contained in the study package and correctly explain the linkages between the air power study and other study blocks
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SCOPE
This presentation will highlight air power strategy in abstract, outlining the functions and employment considerations

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OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

At the end of air power study, students should be able to:
Analyze the difference between the promise of airpower and the realities of its application Evaluate the current and emerging trends in airpower theory and doctrine Plan and employ air power either independently or in support of surface forces
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LINKAGES WITH OTHER LESSONS

IR
NW

A broad look at national and international security issues and the theories explaining international state bahaviour An examination of conflict at various levels and the cycle of conflict from inception, to war, to termination. Maturation of airpower theory using a context, theory, practice and analytical framework.

AP

Air power study examines conflict in sequential fashion: from a broad look at international conflict, to a specific examination of specific conflict, concluding with a look at the theories and principles guiding the effective use of airpower in a particular conflict.

5,000 years of
Two-Dimensional Warfare

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Incoherent Strategy
Bankruptcy of European strategic thought set stage for descent into positional warfare Efforts to break consequent stalemate failed to overcome inherent strengths of static, entrenched defenses

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Problems of Tank Warfare

Design Problems

Fuel Tanks in Front

Traversing Trenches Vulnerable to Artillery
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A NEW PERSPECTIVE

If we should have to fight, we should be prepared to do so from the neck up instead of from the neck down.
Jimmy Doolittle

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Immensely Destructive ...

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Highly Flexible ...

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An Instrument of Power

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An Instrument of Peace

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HOW SHALL WE STUDY AIRPOWER?

Have a Course Theme Be able to contextualize Have a Common Vernacular

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Airpower Studies 2010

Theme
Effectiveness -- seeking the maximum effectiveness of airpower in the evolving national and international conflict and peace arena

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Airpower Studies 2010

Theme
Effectiveness -- seeking the maximum effectiveness of airpower in the evolving national and international arena.
Theory -- ideas or notions about how to use the air instrument.

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Contentious Theoretical Issues

Air power is the only means of waging war which has the capability of striking directly at the will to resist of a hostile nation, by paralyzing its economic structure and threatening its very existence.
ACTS, General Air Force Principles, 1934-35
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Contentious Theoretical Issues

..We can accept as axiomatic the fact that air forces operate in three dimensional space and that their objectives are included in areas on the earths surface, in contradistinction to surface forces that operate in two dimensions and that ordinarily find their objectives on the perimeter of the position occupied by those forces
ACTS, Air Force Fundamentals Lecture, 1934-35
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Contentious Theoretical Issues

air power is not a new weaponit constitutes a new force, as separate from land power and sea power as each is separate from the other. It has created a trinity of national defense which now consists of land power, sea power, and air power.
ACTS, Orientation Lecture No. 1, 1935-1936

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Contentious Theoretical Issues

the Air Force has a more immediate task--and probably a more difficult task--that entails something beyond the support of the infantry. We want you to realize that the GHQ Air Force is not a part of the ground force combat team--and that close support of the infantry in battle is an inefficient employment of military aviation
ACTS, Air Force Fundamentals Lecture, 1934-35
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Airpower Studies 2010

Theme
Effectiveness -- seeking the maximum effectiveness of airpower in the evolving national and international arena.
Context -- always changing, ever present, and important in every way. 17/04/2013

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Airpower Studies 2010

Common Vernacular
Tenets of Air and
Space Power
Centralized Control and Decentralized Execution
Flexibility and Versatility Synergistic Effects Persistence

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Airpower Studies 2010

Common Vernacular
Air and Space Superiority
Precision Engagement Information Superiority Global Attack Rapid Global Mobility Agile Combat Support

Tenets of Air and

Space Power

Core Competencies

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Airpower Studies 2010

Course Structure

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AIR STRATEGY

A plan of employing and means to accomplish a desired end

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COUNTER AIR

Operations to attain and maintain a desired degree of air superiority through destruction or neutralization of en air forces.

AIR STRATEGY
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COUNTER AIR

OCA

En flying sp installations En forces on gnd En airborne assets Dog fights Missile intercepts Point area def

DCA

AIR STRATEGY

To conquer the command of the air means victory; to be beaten in the air means defeat and acceptance of whatever terms the enemy may be pleased to impose. Giulio Douhet

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COUNTER AIR
STRATEGIC AIR OFFENSIVE

AIR STRATEGY

Military action carried out against enemys COGs or vital target sets such as command elements, war production assets and key supporting infrastructure

Strategic effect is the disruption of the enemys strategy, ability, or will to wage war or carry out aggressive activity

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COUNTER AIR
STRATEGIC AIR OFFENSIVE Operations carried out to disrupt, destroy or neutralize enemy surface forces

AIR STRATEGY

ANTI SURFACE ACTION

Air Interdiction (A I)

Battlefield Air Interdiction (B A I)

Close Air Support (C A S)

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Surface warfare (Anti-ship) Under sea Warfare (Anti Submarine) Sea Surveillance Aerial mine laying

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COUNTER AIR
STRATEGIC AIR OFFENSIVE

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AIR STRATEGY

ISR

ANTI SURFACE ACTION

Special Ops Employment

Air Lift

CSR

Nav & Posn Weather

COMBAT SUPP AIR OPS

Operations designed to enhance or support the effectiveness of air and surface combat forces.

C3

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COUNTER COUNTER AIR AIR

STRATEGIC STRATEGIC AIR AIR OFFENSIVE OFFENSIVE

OCA OCA

En Enflying flyingsp spinstallations installations En Enforces forceson ongnd gnd En Enairborne airborneassets assets Dog Dogfights fights Missile Missileintercepts intercepts Point Pointarea areadef def

DCA DCA
DEGRADING DEGRADINGEN EN CAPABILITY CAPABILITY ATTKS ATTKSON ONEN ENWILL WILLTO TOFIGHT FIGHT POLITICAL POLITICALSIGNALING SIGNALING

AIR STRATEGY

BAI

ANTI ANTI SURFACE SURFACE ACTION ACTION

OAS CAP CAP ESCORTS ESCORTS RISTA RISTA TACTICAL TACTICAL AIR AIR TPT TPT EW EW ESM ESM ECM/ECCM ECM/ECCM TACTICAL TACTICAL AIR AIR RECCE RECCE

Combat Search and Rescue Special Special Ops Ops Employment Employment Air Air mobility mobility for for Special Special msns msns

COMBAT COMBAT SUPP SUPP AIR AIR OPS OPS

ANTI ANTI SEA SEA

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Concern of surface forces

Air mobile ops -Air landed -Airborne -Air assault

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Assessment
05 Nov AOPS 18 (TX)
15 Nov AOPS 19 (X)

29 Nov to 10Dec AOPS 22(X)

09 Dec LOGS 14(TX)
Thorny issues

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CONCLUSION

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Final Thought
If we should have to fight, we should be prepared to do so from the neck up instead of from the neck down.
Jimmy Doolittle
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