Air Power Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 instruments of power the government uses?

A

Diplomatic
Information
Millitary
Economic

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2
Q

Define Air Power

A

The ability to use air capabilities in and from the air, to influence the
behaviour of actors and the course of events

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3
Q

What are the enduring characteristics of air power?

A

Height
Reach
Speed
Agility
Ubiquity
Concentration

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4
Q

How is height important in air power?

A

Height enables the observation, and delivery, of activities in the land
and maritime environments. Three-dimensional manoeuvre, facilitated by
height, is also an important survivability factor

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5
Q

How is speed important in air power?

A

Enables rapid response
Projection of power
Missions can be completed fast, gaining tempo
Reduces exposure, increases survivability
Being able to fly slow enables you to loiter for longer

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6
Q

How is reach important in air power

A

Enables audiences, actors, adversaries and enemies to be
influenced, regardless of their location
Reach isn’t impeded by terrain allowing distant/isolated targets to be engaged

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7
Q

How is agility important in air power

A

Agility is a blend of responsiveness, adaptability, flexibility, and resilience
Agility permits aircraft
to move quickly and decisively between the strategic, operational
and tactical levels of operations
Move across and between operational theatres

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8
Q

How is ubiquity important in air power

A

Ubiquity is the ability to appear everywhere / be very common
Threats can be posed/countered across a wide area

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9
Q

How is concentration important in air power

A

Speed, reach, agility allow air power to concentrate millitary force in time and space when and where required
Precision weaponry means effects can be concentrated without the requirement for combat mass
The psychological and physical shock imposed by the concentration of effects is crucial in achieving successful outcomes

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10
Q

How does air power help?

A

Enable freedom of movement
Deliver humanitarian aid
Deliver interventions through attack operations
Reassure allies
Deny/deter adversary activity

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11
Q

Factors to consider in the air environment

A

Variety of altitues
Extreme temperatures
Speed ranges

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12
Q

Limitations of air power

A

Impermanence
Limited payload
Fragility
Cost
Basing and overflight
Weather

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13
Q

What’s impermanence

A

Aircraft can’t stay airborne indefinitely
Can use air to air refueling, can’t restock munitions
Multiple aircraft cycling through the same task can give a degree of permanence
Can be advantage: prevent millitary and political liabilities that come from extended land based presence in a foreign country

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14
Q

Limited payloads effects

A

Can be limited compared to land and sea counterparts
Air power trades payload for for speed and reach, and ability to reach places surface forces can’t

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15
Q

Fragility effects

A

Aircraft are structurally highly stressed and as light as possible
Little to no armour
Small damage can be devastating

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16
Q

Cost effects of air power

A

Many aircraft use cutting edge tech
Very expensive
Expensive to run

17
Q

Basing and overflight effects

A

All forms of millitary power depend on basing, support, and protection
Requirements for basing, access and overflight rights is a weakness

18
Q

Weathers effect on air power

A

Historically constrained by night and poor weather
Majority of aircraft can now operate at night
Sensors and equipment and targeting systems gives UK advantage over adversaries lacking in these capabilities

19
Q

Hard power definiton

A

Employs millitary power and economic strength to achieve desired behaviour of states

20
Q

Soft power definition

A

The ability to persuade or encourage others to adopt an alternative approach primarily through cultural and idealogical means
Generally slower and harder to employ in a targeted way
Air power can be used in soft power, provide training to other countries

21
Q

What’s Operation Ruman?

A

Humanitarian relief through air support.
In Caribbean islands, hurrican Irma 2017
Voyager, C17, and A400M set off within hours

22
Q

4 Air power roles

A

Control the Air
Attack
ISTAR
Air Mobility