AIR POWER

Question 1

What are the components of air power?

Answer 1

Height, speed, reach, agility and ubiquity

Question 2

Explain Speed in regards to Air Power?

Answer 2

• Allows us to exploit the time dimension.
• By utilising speed we can rapidly move troops and equipment to response to crisis’s rapidly.
• Can attack or converge on targets in a matter out hours as apposed to days.
• Affords us the element of surprise, reduces exposure to hostile fire.

Question 3

Reach regarding Air Power?

Answer 3

• Allows us to access theoretically any point on or above the earths surface.
• Provides the oppurtunity to observe and influence operations regardless of their location.

Question 4

Explain Agility in regards to Air Power?

Answer 4

• Underpinned by the multi-role, multi-mission capabilities of Aircraft..
• Can rapidly change between strategic, operational and tactical warfare.
• Allows us to simultaneously operate over multiple theatres.
• Aircraft can be retested in the air to meet urgent operational needs.

Question 5

Explain Ubiquity in regards to Air Power?

Answer 5

• Enabled by Height, Speed, Reach and enabled by air to air refuelling, and high endurance unmanned aircraft. We have the potential to be everywhere.
• This allows us to pose or counter threats simaltaneously across large areas.
• This gives us the ability to deliver overwhelming force wherever and whenever it is required.

Question 6

Explain Height in terms of Air Power?

Answer 6

• Allows us to exploit the vertical dimension.
• Due to the Air domain overlaying both the Land and Maritime domains, height allows us to observe and control activities in the air, land and maritime environments.
• Can increase survivability but taking assets out of reach of surface threats.

Question 7

What are the 4 categories of air power?

Answer 7

Control or the air
ISR
Mobility
Attack

Question 8

What does control of the air mean in terms of air power?

Answer 8

There are two parts of control of the air:

Air Superiority - Dominance of one force over an other.
Air Supremacy - Where an opposing force is incapable of effective interference.

This is NOT a permanent state, and requires counter air operations to maintain. There are two types;

Offensive CA - Proactive and seek to dominate an enemies airspace.
Defensive CA - Reactive and seek to nullify enemy air threats.

Question 9

Which event for the West caused focus to be sharpened on control of the air, particularly by exploiting new technology?

Answer 9

The Cold War

Question 10

What does ISR mean in terms of air power?

Answer 10

ISR develops situational awareness and informs decisions.
Broken down into the following;

Intelligence - Provides timely and accurate information which is collated and turned into products by intelligence units across the RAF.

Surveillance - Observation of a wide area of interest. Non target specific.

Reconnaissance - Observation of a specific area of interest. Gain specific information about specific targets.

Question 11

What does mobility mean in terms of air power?

Answer 11

Air Mobility provides the ability to deploy, sustain and recover personnel and equipment over large distances. Consists of three mission types;

Airlift - Ability to transport assets through the air. Operations include; Hub and Spoke operations (air bridge), Airborne ops (paratroops), Aeromedical evacuation, and special forces operations.

A2A Refuelling - Increase reach and endurance and flexibility of airpower. Allows us to stay airborne for longer.

Personnel Recovery - Utilises air mobility to rescue captured, isolated or missing persons. Broken down into: Peacetime recovery operations, and Combat recovery operations.

Question 12

At which 2 stations does the Air Mobility Force live?

Answer 12

Brize Norton & Northolt

Question 13

What does attack mean in terms of air power?

Answer 13

Attack consists of four mission types:

• Strategic Attack: Aimed at an adversaries ability to wage war. Usually against structures or organisations.
• Counter Land: Force Multiplier in conjunction with other force elements. Used to defeat an adversary fielded forces. (Air interdiction, Close Air Support, Strike coordination and reconnaissance)
• Counter Sea: Employment of air attack within the maritime domain. Anti Submarine and Anti Surface warfare.
• Information Activities: Non Lethal effects to influence behaviours.
  There are two key areas:

Electronic Warfare - Aims to ensure freedom of action across the electromagnetic spectrum, whilst denying adversaries the same freedoms. Tends to be more politically acceptable than traditional kinetic weapons.

Psychological Warfare - Create influence by non lethal means. Such as: Leaflet drops, Overt presence of aircraft and show off force.

Question 14

Operations in which domain appear likely to be a key component in future air battles?

Answer 14

Utilising cyber attack against the command, control and communications infrastructure. (Space)