Document created: 1 September 04
Air & Space Power
Journal - Fall 2004
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LT COL PAUL D. BERG, EDITOR
Recent Air and Space Power Operations
Air and space power operations have taken many forms recently, some of them attracting more attention than others. Brief episodes of high-intensity combat such as Operation Anaconda in Afghani-stan and the first few weeks of Operation Iraqi Freedom loom prominently in Airmen's minds, but routine activities such as air mobility and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance occur every day in relative obscurity. Few observers dispute that American airpower and space power, in concert with that of our allies, perform brilliantly when called upon to inflict what one might call "mass-production destruction" by rapidly gaining air superiority and striking numerous ground targets. However, applying airpower to the mundane tasks of restoring stability and security in troubled regions has proven more challenging. With ground forces playing highly prominent roles in countering insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq, some observers may even question the relevance of airpower and space power to the long-term security challenges we now face. The US Air Force does not want to confine itself to a glass case labeled "break in case of major combat."
Airpower and space power bring great advantages to practically any military operation, but Airmen need to keep thinking about how to perform under conditions other than major combat. New equipment such as the F-22, C-17, and advanced satellites can serve many purposes, but one hears most often about how they contribute to major theater wars. Few likely opponents present serious air-superiority challenges, but insurgents and terrorists are widespread. How can Airmen best apply old and new equipment to the war on terror? Advanced weaponry will certainly play a role, but we should also consider innovative ways to use simpler gear.
Looking beyond major combat, we see that Airmen offer unmatched capabilities in the realms of expeditionary and effects-based operations (EBO). Projecting power rapidly over global distances and then sustaining it are essential aspects of expeditionary airpower. Although expeditionary operations have established themselves as an Air Force success story, more work remains. American Airmen need to continue honing their skills at establishing and protecting operating bases in austere locations, not only to project destructive combat power, but also to help restore order in troubled countries. However, they need not bear the entire burden themselves. Restoring order might entail rebuilding the air forces of former opponents such as Iraq so that those forces can help secure their own countries without threatening their neighbors. The Air Force has no obligation to provide such air arms sophisticated equipment and doctrine equal to its own but should nevertheless consider using expeditionary methods to assist them in times of need.
EBO, which has recently gained wide acceptance in the Air Force, can guide Airmen as they ponder the most appropriate application of airpower and space power. Fundamentally a commonsense approach, effects-based thinking links actions to the attainment of desired objectives. Careful analysis of the effects that actions might produce and the way those effects might lead to desired objectives remains key to deciding which actions to take. So far, Airmen have applied EBO most successfully to combat operations, but the concept has broader utility. The next step calls for extending EBO to noncombat activities and helping friendly air forces help themselves.
Recent experience offers plenty of fodder for those of us who contemplate how best to apply airpower and space power in pursuit of national goals, whether during open combat or while facing the amorphous environment in which we find ourselves the rest of the time.
Disclaimer
The conclusions and opinions expressed in this document are those of the author cultivated in the freedom of expression, academic environment of Air University. They do not reflect the official position of the U.S. Government, Department of Defense, the United States Air Force or the Air University.
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