The Changing Face of Conventional Air Power
Prior to the Gulf War, American air power strategy was based on the AirLand Battle doctrine, which supported ground forces by concentrating on theater targets and objectives. Since the Gulf War the focus of air power has shifted from supporting ground forces to attacking national strategic assets, military and civilian. Today, advanced technologies, some first seen during the Gulf War, are maturing and have already begun to change how air power is viewed. From these advanced technologies come new forms of warfare centering on information and space, which will provide new tools and enhance the effects of conventional air power. Air power doctrine has already been altered to accommodate these new areas of warfare while platforms are evolving to meet the current challenges and those of the future. However, there are many problems and concerns today that can disrupt or even inhibit the new vision and application of air power in the future. This thesis examines these developments, their promise and the concerns over them.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations