Air Power Flashcards
What is air power?
The ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events.
What are the 5 characteristics of air power?
- Speed*
- Height*
- Reach*
- Ubiquity
- Agility
What are the 4 fundamental roles of air power?
- Intelligence & Situational Awareness
- Attack
- Air Mobility
- Control of the Air / Air Superiority
Speed regarding air power?
Enables the rapid projection of Air Power
Height regarding air power?
Enables a three dimensional manoeuvrability and adds a survivability factor
Reach regarding air power?
Enables distant targets to be reached
Ubiquity regarding air power?
Is achieved through a combination of speed, height, reach and offers the theoretical potential to be everywhere
Agility regarding air power?
AirPower is highly agile and can be quickly and decisively shifted between the strategic, tactical and operational levels of warfare
What are the Limitations of Air Power?
- Limited payload
- Fragility
- Weather
- Cost
What key attribute of air power is key to it fulfilling its Intelligence and Situational Awareness role?
Height. A matter of physics, most sensors, not least the human eye requires a direct line of sight to their target. Visual range is both limited by the terrain and curvature of the earth, these affects can be mitigated by increasing the height above the surface of the earth:
Rvis = 1.05 √h.
The equation for radar horizon is:
Rrh = 1.23 √h.
Height allows aircraft to see further, and this is a defining characteristic in regards to intelligence and situational awareness.
What key attribute of air power is key to it fulfilling its Attack role?
Reach. Because of the ubiquity of the air environment, all points of the earth are accessible via the air - no other environment offers such unhindered access.
Because of this reach, airpower has the capability to reach targets that would otherwise be unfeasible to strike. For example, during the Doolittle raids of 1942 which used B-25 bombers were launched in response to pearl harbour. Furthermore, ongoing technological advancements such as UAV’s, AAR, and precision weapon weaponry augment airpowers range - allowing intercontinental ranges. However, not all targets are exploitable via the air; any targets buried sufficiently deep under concrete or the earths crust are in most cases impervious to air attack.
What key attribute of air power is key to it fulfilling its Air Mobility role?
Speed. While land or navel power can carry a far greater payload, they do so much more slowly. Transport aircraft can achieve speeds of up to 300 mph while a ship may average 8-15 knots (9-17 mph) and a truck 60 mph on good road. Even helicopters which are considerably slower than large transport aircraft can travel at 120 mph.
This speed element allows the joint commander to rapidly deploy troops to operations, resupply those forces with time critical equipment and evacuate casualties and non-combatants from hostile territory.
What key attribute of air power is key to it fulfilling its “Control of the Air” role?
All. In attaining and maintaining command of the air, all attributes of air power are equally important. Speed allows for the rapid interception of hostile aircraft; while height and reach enables visual identification, and if necessary, engagement and destruction.
How is “Control of the Air” different to “Air Defence”?
It is the combination of height, speed and reach that differentiates control of the air as an air power role from air defence as a surface based role. Air defence is defined as “all measures designed to eliminate or reduce to effectiveness of hostile air action”. Thus, air defence serves solely to deny enemy aircraft access to airspace. In contrast, control of the air as an air power attribute seeks to allow the use of airspace by friendly forces.
What are enablers?
The physical equipment, supporting personnel and skills that are required to enable the deployment, operation, and sustainment of aircraft. Broadly this includes force protection and logistics.
