Document created: 1 March 04
Air
& Space Power Journal - Spring 2004
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Flight Lines |
COL ANTHONY C. CAIN, EDITOR
THE FULL RANGE of air and space power capabilities is inherently tied to technology, more so than any other form of military power. Although navies most closely approximate air and space forces in this relationship, the capabilities resident in sea forces matured in the industrial age and are constrained by the physical challenges of operating on and beneath the surface of the world’s oceans. Air and space power also originated in the industrial age, but technological advances and the potential to expand its operational capabilities uniquely equip this form of power to bridge conflicts between the industrial and information ages.
The problem with any institution that relies so heavily on technology is that leaders and practitioners have to balance present needs, doctrinal requirements, and strategies for future innovation. On the one hand, the lure of new technology can encourage a fascination with gadgets that ultimately reduces the application of air and space power to a tactical level. On the other hand, airmen might have to forgo research into new technological areas because of the expenses that invariably accompany innovation. In the 1920s and 1930s, airmen struggled with both of these constraints on technological change. They ultimately created a doctrine and strategy for employing airpower that helped define technologies—the long-range bomber and precision bombsight—required to execute the strategy. In the absence of fiscal resources and clearly defined threats, members of the interwar generation laid a doctrinal foundation for employing airpower in the event of another war between the great powers. In their dogged pursuit of doctrine, however, they failed to anticipate requirements for long-range fighter escorts, thus illustrating how the balancing act requires constant attention and investment.
Presently, US Air Force members do not have the freedom to develop doctrine gradually. The global war on terrorism; ongoing operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere; conventional and unconventional threats to states; and the imperative to protect the homeland dictate heightened operations tempo and command vast resources. These factors can militate against researching and introducing new technologies. Therefore, air and space professionals must pay careful attention to identifying future requirements and capabilities that serve as catalysts for the next generation of technological advances.
Our Air Force must recruit innovators who can transform the technological superiority we now enjoy into even more impressive capabilities that prepare us to meet future threats and challenges which we cannot imagine today. As in the interwar period, doctrine, operating concepts, and organizational structures must also evolve in anticipation of emerging technological capabilities to ensure that all components of air and space power come together precisely at the right time and place. This was the challenge for the airmen of yesterday, and it will remain so for air and space forces of the future.
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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