Air Power Flashcards
What are the 4 instruments of power the government uses?
Diplomatic
Information
Millitary
Economic
Define Air Power
The ability to use air capabilities in and from the air, to influence the
behaviour of actors and the course of events
What are the enduring characteristics of air power?
Height
Reach
Speed
Agility
Ubiquity
Concentration
How is height important in air power?
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
How is speed important in air power?
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
How is reach important in air power
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
How is agility important in air power
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
How is ubiquity important in air power
Ubiquity is the ability to appear everywhere / be very common
Threats can be posed/countered across a wide area
How is concentration important in air power
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
How does air power help?
Enable freedom of movement
Deliver humanitarian aid
Deliver interventions through attack operations
Reassure allies
Deny/deter adversary activity
Factors to consider in the air environment
Variety of altitues
Extreme temperatures
Speed ranges
Limitations of air power
Impermanence
Limited payload
Fragility
Cost
Basing and overflight
Weather
What’s impermanence
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
Limited payloads effects
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
Fragility effects
Aircraft are structurally highly stressed and as light as possible
Little to no armour
Small damage can be devastating
Cost effects of air power
Many aircraft use cutting edge tech
Very expensive
Expensive to run
Basing and overflight effects
All forms of millitary power depend on basing, support, and protection
Requirements for basing, access and overflight rights is a weakness
Weathers effect on air power
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
Hard power definiton
Employs millitary power and economic strength to achieve desired behaviour of states
Soft power definition
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
What’s Operation Ruman?
Humanitarian relief through air support.
In Caribbean islands, hurrican Irma 2017
Voyager, C17, and A400M set off within hours
4 Air power roles
Control the Air
Attack
ISTAR
Air Mobility