ISSUE 91 : Nov/Dec - 1991 - Australian Defence Force Journal

AIR POWER — AN ALTERNATIVE APPROACH 23
An offensive weapon system.
Surface ships are particularly vulnerable to attack
by air-to-surface missiles. Even under the sea, the
submarine cannot easily escape the modern antisubmarine
aircraft. Increasingly, the helicopter is
becoming an integral part of surface ship weapon
systems, thus greatly extending the eyes and the
offensive reach of the surface warship.
The Aeroplane in Support — Land Power
One way of looking at the impact of the aeroplane
on land is to ask, from the point of view
of the soldier, what air power can do for him.
First and foremost, air power can try to keep the
enemy aircraft "off his back". In other words, the
first task of air power in support of land operations
is to counter enemy air operations against both the
troops in the front line and their supply lines. This
can be done by attacking enemy strike aircraft in the
skies over the battle front, or better still by attacking
them on the ground at their home base. It is
generally much easier to destroy an aircraft on the
ground than in the air. Troops on the ground also
need to appreciate that 100 per cent air defence is
rarely possible, except by virtually destroying the
whole of the enemy's air strike capability.
The second thing that air power can do for the
troops on the ground is to reduce the enemy's
resupply by attacking his supply lines. As with air
defence, a complete severing of any army's supply
lines is likely to be extremely difficult, if not
impossible.
The third thing that air power can do is to provide
aircraft for the transportation of men and supplies
into and around the combat area. Here, however,
the limitations of the aeroplane need to be kept fully
in mind. Aeroplanes, particularly those used for
transport, are vulnerable to enemy fire, and indeed
make excellent targets, easy to hit and of great value.
Aeroplanes are themselves demanding of supplies.
In many situations aeroplanes will use a higher
resupply tonnage than they are able to bring into the
combat area. Aeroplanes also require extensive
ground facilities; even the ubiquitous helicopter
requires a cleared landing pad with an unobstructed
approach. And all aeroplanes are fuel thirsty.
The fourth thing that air power can do is to
provide a special set of "eyes" to observe the enemy.
Reconnaissance from the air can yield a great deal of
information on the enemy and his activities, but is
very demanding in specialised air resources, resources
that will no doubt be in demand, as well, for
tasks beyond the ground combat zone. Air interdiction
and strike operations also need "intelligence"
if they are to have any chance of success.