The Quest for Relevant Air Power

Contents
Chapter
Page
DISCLAIMER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
DEDICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ABOUT THE AUTHOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
iv
v
xv
xvii
xix
1 INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Air Power Challenges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Scope of Discussion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2 POST–COLD WAR CHALLENGES . . . . . . . . . . 13
Changing Strategic Context and
Alliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Employment of Western Air Power in
Real Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Air Power Doctrine and Thinking . . . . . . . . . . 39
Force Structuring and Procurement . . . . . . . . 50
Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
3 FRENCH AIR FORCE (ARMÉE DE L’AIR) . . . . 81
How Has the French Air Force Adapted
to the Uncertainties Created by Shifting
Defence and Alliance Policies? . . . . . . . . . . . 83
How Has the French Air Force Responded
to the Challenges of Real Operations? . . . . . 100
How Has the French Air Force Responded
to the New Intellectualism in Air Power
Thinking and Doctrine? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
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