Fall 2006 - Air & Space Power Chronicle - Air Force Link

Clausewitz and the Falkland IslandsAir WarMAJ RODOLFO PEREYRA, URUGUAYAN AIR FORCEEditorial Abstract: Major Pereyra applies Carl von Clausewitz’s classic ideas about warfareto analyze aerial operations in the Falklands/Malvinas War of 1982. The author’sstatus as an officer in the Fuerza Aérea Uruguaya (Uruguayan air force) affords hima unique perspective of that unfortunate clash between Argentina and Great Britain.Readers may profit from his examination of basic concepts such as center of gravity, friction,and the relationship between politics and military operations.THE FALKLAND ISLANDS WAR of1982 remains fresh in our memory,particularly in the minds of air forcepersonnel from Latin Americancountries. One can attribute this fact to severalfactors, such as the major role of one of thesecountries in the conflict, Latin America’s geographicalproximity to the area where the waroccurred, and the ability to gather informationfrom veterans. From a professional perspective,studying the war is attractive becauseof the dominant role of aerial combat in definingthe islands’ destiny. Specifically, interestfocuses on how the Fuerza Aérea Argentina(FAA) (Argentinian air force) and Navyair component managed to frighten the pres-111