Air Power Flashcards
What is air power?
Air power is the ability to deliver air capabilities in and from the air to influence the behaviour of actors and course of events. It is achieved through 4 fundamental roles: control of the air, air mobility, attack and isr. The attributes of air power are: height, speed, reach, ubiquity and agility.
What are the four fundamental roles?
ISR, Control of the Air, Air Mobility, Attack.
What are the attributes of air power?
Height, Speed, Agility, Ubiquity, Reach .
Height?
70% of the world’s surface is water but airspace covers every environment including maritime and land allows dimension of height to be exploited anywhere. Observe and control maritime and land operations from anywhere. Height offers advantages can place aircraft out of danger from ground and maritime threats such as Surface-air-missiles allowing for a safer operation allows aircraft to manoeuvre in three planes.
Agility
Agility is the RAFs airpower’s ability to be highly agile demonstrated by the multirole multimission aircraft such as the F35-B lighting also operated by the Fleet air arm. It is able to conduct air-air and air-surface combat, intelligence and electronic warfare. This particular aircraft can also operate from maritime environments with the ability to take off and land from the QE class aircraft carriers returning the Navy to a Blue water status.
Ubiquity
A combination of height, speed and reach allowing aircraft to appear anywhere. This can happen as a result of oversees bases acting as stages posts, multi-role aircraft allowing for air-air refuelling increasing reach aircraft such as the voyager and unmanned aircraft such as the MQ-9 reaper.
Reach
70% of the world is covered with water, but airspace covers the world allowing the RAF to project it’s air power anywhere in the world. This is achieved with oversees airbases acting as staging posts but also the air-to-air refuelling aircraft the voyager. The ability to operate unmanned aircraft also increases reach whilst eliminating danger to RAF pilots.
Speed
Speed allows the RAF to exploit the dimension of time offering significant adventage. It allows for a quick response anywhere in the world in just hours rather than a few days. Speed is extremely important in roles such as QRA where the Typhoons respond extremely quickly to airspace threats commonly intercepting Russia Aircraft. Also allows quick deployment of troops and response to disasters. Minimises amount of time aircraft and personnel are exposed to danger
Control of the air?
Control of the air underpins all UK Military operations. Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery: “If we lose the war in the air we lose it and we lose it quickly.” Control of the air allows freedom of movement and action across all domains including maritime and land. Not a permanent state requires constant attention.
ISR
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. These three elements develop situational awareness and understanding and shaping the conduct of operations. ISR aircraft know as I-STAR Aircraft are crucial.
Attack
Attack can deter adversaries, disrupt activities or ultimately defeat them with the destruction of resources/ capabilities. Attack has four mission types: strategic attack, counter land operations, counter maritime operations and information operations. Achieved using aircraft such as the Typhoon carrying out CAS, air to air combat, electronic warfare.
Air mobility
Air mobility is essential to the RAF providing ability to deploy, retrieve and sustaining of troops and equipment over significant distances enhanced by air-to-air refuelling and oversees bases. Three key elements: air lift, air-to-refuelling, and personnel recovery. New Air Chief Marshal concerned about the gap in capability concerning Special forces with the retirement of the C-130 Hercules this year.
