Air Power, Insurgency and the “War on Terror” - Prof. Joel Hayward's ...

Chapter 14
<strong>the</strong> Democratic Republic of Congo during 2006. Hence, operations of a more offensive
nature as those in Sou<strong>the</strong>rn Afghanistan are not in line with Germany’s defence policy.
Operating under a recently established Swedish <strong>Air</strong> Force Rapid Reaction Unit scheme,
a Swedish C-130 Hercules executed transport missions for ISAF in Afghanistan in
late 2004. It operated in tough, mountainous conditions in <strong>the</strong> nor<strong>the</strong>rn part of <strong>the</strong>
country, where <strong>the</strong> l<strong>and</strong>ing strips were frequently gravel-topped or in a disastrous
shape. 598 From August to November 2005, a Swedish C-130 was again dispatched to
Central Asia. It was based toge<strong>the</strong>r with German transport aircraft in Termez, from where
it assisted ISAF in Afghanistan. 599 Although this contribution might not seem significant,
it never<strong>the</strong>less shows that even European countries with a tradition of neutrality are
contributing to current operations in Afghanistan. This was inconceivable at <strong>the</strong> outset of
<strong>the</strong> post-Cold War era.
Evolution of Continental European <strong>Air</strong> <strong>Power</strong> in <strong>the</strong> post-Cold War Era
The development of Continental European air power will now be analysed in order to
put European contributions into context. Interoperability <strong>and</strong> power projection have been
<strong>the</strong> two key <strong>the</strong>mes shaping European air power in <strong>the</strong> post-Cold War era. Moreover,
<strong>the</strong> French <strong>Air</strong> Force could draw upon a vast experience in rapid reaction operations in
<strong>the</strong> African <strong>the</strong>atre <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> Royal Ne<strong>the</strong>rl<strong>and</strong>s <strong>Air</strong> Force upon distinct doctrinal features,
combat proven in <strong>the</strong> air campaigns over <strong>the</strong> Balkans. Moreover, co-operative ventures
have helped to improve European power projection.
French Interventions in Africa
When rapidly deploying forces to Central Asia against <strong>the</strong> backdrop of Operation
Enduring Freedom, <strong>the</strong> French <strong>Air</strong> Force could draw upon a vast experience in small
scale deployments to Africa since <strong>the</strong> late 1960s. In <strong>the</strong> wake of protracted large-scale
involvements in Indochina <strong>and</strong> Algeria, France – under <strong>the</strong> presidency of Charles de
Gaulle – adopted a new military strategy to protect its remaining overseas interests. This
strategy hinged upon light <strong>and</strong> rapidly deployable units as well as on <strong>the</strong>atre reception
bases within Africa such as in Djibouti or in Senegal. 600 This allowed for interventions
on a much smaller scale, but not necessarily at <strong>the</strong> lower end of <strong>the</strong> spectrum of military
force. Particularly under <strong>the</strong> presidency of Valéry Giscard D’Estaing (1974-1981), French
overseas interventions experienced a drastic rise against <strong>the</strong> backdrop of growing Soviet-
Cuban involvement in Africa. 601
Gradually, reliance upon <strong>the</strong> French <strong>Air</strong> Force to project power grew. This trend is
illustrated by <strong>the</strong> composition of French deployments to Chad between 1968 <strong>and</strong> 1987.
The first operations hinged upon light <strong>and</strong> mobile infantry forces with air power playing
<strong>Air</strong> <strong>Power</strong>, <strong>Insurgency</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> “War on Terror” 245