Limits of Air Power?
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Limits of Air Power?
For many years some have come to regard the application of air power as the unbeatable trump card in any conflict. In Gaza we saw one of the best equipped and effective air forces in the world, despite inflicting huge damage, fail to achieve their declared objective. The UAE attacks in Libya, while causing political ripples, didn't affect the outcome and repeated and determined attacks by the Syrian Air Force didn't save the unfortunate defenders of one of its major bases from being humiliated then murdered. Are recent events beginning to prove our expectations unrealistic?
For many years some have come to regard the application of air power as the unbeatable trump card in any conflict.
In Gaza we saw one of the best equipped and effective air forces in the world, despite inflicting huge damage, fail to achieve their declared objective.
The UAE attacks in Libya, while causing political ripples, didn't affect the outcome
repeated and determined attacks by the Syrian Air Force didn't save the unfortunate defenders of one of its major bases from being humiliated then murdered.
Are recent events beginning to prove our expectations unrealistic?
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Also, most of the airstrikes seem to have been FJ's.
If you also had a squadron of Apache's et al, would that not make a difference ?
Although not the be all and end all, they seem to be very effective in Iraq, Afghanistan etc.
If you also had a squadron of Apache's et al, would that not make a difference ?
Although not the be all and end all, they seem to be very effective in Iraq, Afghanistan etc.
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Current and recent past operations are just a bit of fun for us. A chance to blow things up with incredibly expensive guided missiles and bombs, with no real consequences. We have nothing at stake in those places, they aren't wars of necessity.
Give us a war of necessity and see all of the full spectrum of cards fall into place, every 'obsolete' bit of kit fulfilling it's niche. Well, what little kit we have left.
Give us a war of necessity and see all of the full spectrum of cards fall into place, every 'obsolete' bit of kit fulfilling it's niche. Well, what little kit we have left.
Operation Desert Storm was surely the last time air power was used to its full potential, ie with gloves off and few restrictions? The air campaign lasted just over a month, wrecking Iraq's forces to the extent that the ground campaign took a few days to achieve its aims. And don't forget the 'highway of death'.
I think air power still has the capacity to do that, but political sensibilities and restrictions means that it will rarely be allowed the opportunity to do so. Of course, the same could be said about the use of ground forces, but I think it will be a long time before any Western politician permits air power to truly show just what it can do.
I think air power still has the capacity to do that, but political sensibilities and restrictions means that it will rarely be allowed the opportunity to do so. Of course, the same could be said about the use of ground forces, but I think it will be a long time before any Western politician permits air power to truly show just what it can do.
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To refer to a long forgotten film:
"The British spirit cannot be crushed by bombing. Every bomb dropped just makes us more determined!"
"Not like the Germans then?"
"Totally different thing son, bombing demoralises the Hun."
"The British spirit cannot be crushed by bombing. Every bomb dropped just makes us more determined!"
"Not like the Germans then?"
"Totally different thing son, bombing demoralises the Hun."
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You can destroy the enemy from the air, but you never win over the enemy until there is a bayonet at their throat. Infantry is still the queen of battle.
Mind you, if your infantry is under air attack, they can't 'do their job so you do have to have air supremecy.
Close air support does make it easier for the infantry.
But unless you are willing to complete destroy without limits the enemy, you can't win with airpower.
Mind you, if your infantry is under air attack, they can't 'do their job so you do have to have air supremecy.
Close air support does make it easier for the infantry.
But unless you are willing to complete destroy without limits the enemy, you can't win with airpower.
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If you go back 100 years, Churchill had the same deluded view of naval power...send in a few battleships and the Turks will wither away with awe at the might of British firepower.
That went well...
There is only one way to consolidate ground. Boots on it. Air/sea provides the transport, supply, CAS, intel...logistical support.
But you cant take and hold ground without infantry.
That went well...
There is only one way to consolidate ground. Boots on it. Air/sea provides the transport, supply, CAS, intel...logistical support.
But you cant take and hold ground without infantry.
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I think I remember a TV interview with an Iraqi armoured battalion commander in desert storm. He said that after a few weeks of air attack he had lost 4 tanks. After an hour and a half tank engagement, he had lost the remainder (30 tanks or so).
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Think what you will about Air Power but understand the truth.
The truth is it takes Soldiers on the ground.
Think not.....we removed all of our Troops from Iraq and see the result.
Look at the Iraq War (the one where we ran Baghdad Bob off his Podium) and despite all that "Shock and Awe" crap.....our guys had one heck of a fight on the road to Baghdad.
In the end, despite so many mistakes by Senior Leadership, we prevailed but Air Power was only a supporting arm of the effort.
Starting in WWII, Air Force Leaders have told a huge Lie about the power of their Forces to win Wars by application of Air Power alone.
They sadly believe their own propaganda and propaganda is surely is.
It requires a combined effort by all forces to achieve victory over a determined enemy be it ISIS or a Nation's Military.
Do you think for a second we could "bomb" the Russians or Chinese into submission without use of Naval and Land Forces?
The truth is it takes Soldiers on the ground.
Think not.....we removed all of our Troops from Iraq and see the result.
Look at the Iraq War (the one where we ran Baghdad Bob off his Podium) and despite all that "Shock and Awe" crap.....our guys had one heck of a fight on the road to Baghdad.
In the end, despite so many mistakes by Senior Leadership, we prevailed but Air Power was only a supporting arm of the effort.
Starting in WWII, Air Force Leaders have told a huge Lie about the power of their Forces to win Wars by application of Air Power alone.
They sadly believe their own propaganda and propaganda is surely is.
It requires a combined effort by all forces to achieve victory over a determined enemy be it ISIS or a Nation's Military.
Do you think for a second we could "bomb" the Russians or Chinese into submission without use of Naval and Land Forces?
Gentleman Aviator
When one was working in the Bunker during the First Gulf Unpleasantness, there was a sign on the Land Ops Cell door (when they weren't doing much initially) which read:
"The Ground's not yours 'til it's held by a Man;
not a Bomb, not a Gadget, but a Man!"
Sounds a bit Kipling-esque, but I've never been able to track down its origin.....
"The Ground's not yours 'til it's held by a Man;
not a Bomb, not a Gadget, but a Man!"
Sounds a bit Kipling-esque, but I've never been able to track down its origin.....
"An air force cannot stick the flag on the hilltop," says chief of the Israeli general staff and former air force commander Lt Gen Dan Halutz
Speaking about the sense of hubris felt by the Technology driven IAF in 2006, whilst trying to find, fix and finish Hezbollah. Pretty prescient regarding the current campaign in Gaza. Some suggested reading would be "The Vulture and the Snake" Counter-Guerrilla Air Warfare: The War in Southern Lebanon as well as Clodfelter's tome looking at Vietnam.
Speaking about the sense of hubris felt by the Technology driven IAF in 2006, whilst trying to find, fix and finish Hezbollah. Pretty prescient regarding the current campaign in Gaza. Some suggested reading would be "The Vulture and the Snake" Counter-Guerrilla Air Warfare: The War in Southern Lebanon as well as Clodfelter's tome looking at Vietnam.
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To refer to a long forgotten film:
"The British spirit cannot be crushed by bombing. Every bomb dropped just makes us more determined!"
"Not like the Germans then?"
"Totally different thing son, bombing demoralises the Hun."
"The British spirit cannot be crushed by bombing. Every bomb dropped just makes us more determined!"
"Not like the Germans then?"
"Totally different thing son, bombing demoralises the Hun."
Nationalism and hubris: a potent elixir best taken in a judiciously measured dose diluted with much caution.
effortless. What was the film?
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Vietnam demonstrated that immense technological superiority, including overwhelming air power, is no guarantee of success against a relatively unsophisticated enemy on its own ground and enjoying the support of the local populace.
"Boots on the ground" (and plenty of 'em, and the willingness to lose some) are the only answer.
"Boots on the ground" (and plenty of 'em, and the willingness to lose some) are the only answer.