Page 13 - AAPT March 2019

Feature Story
success. Air power was applied in Perhaps only a
its most sophisticated technical form catastrophic nuclear
and achieved spectacular tactical war can create a truly
results that contributed directly to conclusive end-state
strategic victory. However, in the through the application of
2000s, air power applied against air power.
irregular adversaries in almost perfect Hopefully this will
technical tactical co-ordination at its remain an unlikely event.
precise and proportional best, did Ever since the attacks
not deliver the sought after strategic on the World Trade Center
victory even after two decades. Why in 2001, the strategic
did air power not deliver a strategically narrative regarding air no equivalent to compare. However,
decisive end-state despite having power and its application has been air power is not the panacea to all
achieved near-perfection in creating marred by the tactical errors that have the mistakes in the application of
the desired effects? been committed. There are numerous force, which tend to detract from the
There are many contributory examples of missions that should not ultimate aim of winning the battle,
factors, at all levels of war, to this have been undertaken and therefore campaign and ultimately the war.
diminishing return from high-end air have led to highly publicised failures. A retrospective look at the
power in irregular conflicts. Even so, the Analysis shows that the fault lies not in employment of air power in irregular
primary reason is the very perfection the application of air power but in the wars indicate that the need is for a
that has been achieved by air power misconstrued theories that underpin broader spread in its application that
in the technical-tactical sphere. The its application, which are developed leverages its inherent flexibility couched
near perfection of the application of air without sufficient appreciation of the in its precision and proportionality.
power has motivated and forced the contextual nature of conflicts and Employed contextually, air power can
irregular adversary to find ways wars. create the exact effect necessary to
to neutralise the A theory that suits a conventional turn the tide of an irregular conflict;
war will not lend itself to being adapted even one that seems to be heading
to irregular wars. towards a complex and protracted
Air power, of situation.

Author Pathfinder http://airpower.airforce.
gov.au
Picture above: Royal Australian Air Force
officer controls the airspace during the
advanced forward observers course.
Main picture A Royal Australian Air Force C-17
Globemaster takes off from the Multinational
Base Tarin Kowt.

all the elements
of military and/or national power, KEY POINTS
t remendous is most prone to being directly
advantage that air power influenced by the context of its • In the 1990s air power emerged
provides to conventional military application. The context therefore as the supported rather than
forces. Air supremacy invites recourse becomes a critical factor in the the supporting element in the
to asymmetry—that is what happened success or failure of air power. application of military force in the
in the early 2000s, a classic case of As an element of national power, pursuit of national objectives.
the superiority edge being whittled air power ’s technical-tactical
away until it becomes non-existent. excellence and its ability to • When appropriately employed,
Another factor that contributes to the apply precise, proportionate and stand-off air power capabilities
dilution of air power application, and discriminatory force has reached are able to dominate both air-land
one that is normally not discussed by unparalleled levels in the annals and air-sea engagements.
air power enthusiasts, is that however of war and conflict, in the past • Air power is highly prone to being
important air power may be to winning decade. Similarly, the inherent directly influenced by the context
the battle, campaign or war in an spread of its capabilities and the of its application
irregular conflict, it is only one part of broad spectrum of its employment—
the broader struggle for creating lasting from delivering humanitarian aid to
influence among the people. the lethal application of force—have

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