What Do We Mean By Air Power?

Bruce HargraveMilitary Education Group

Air Power or Airpower?• We struggle to define it (and we’re not

even sure if it’s one word or two!)• Is it important to define the term (or the

concept)?• Is it, arguably, more important to define air

power in a multinational alliance?• … and, if it is, why doesn’t NATO doctrine

define it?

Billy Mitchell 1879 - 1936“Air power is the ability to do

something in or through the air”

Dictionary Definition• When in doubt, look it up…• Oxford English Dictionary…• Right after air potato…• Air power - power of defensive and

offensive action dependent upon a supply of aircraft, missiles, etc.

• But is that useful?

Other Nation’s Definitions of Air Power

• Australia– National air power is the total ability of a

nation to achieve its objectives through the air domain and encompasses all elements of civilian and military aviation.

• USA– the ability to project military power or

influence through the control and exploitation of air, space and cyberspace to achieve strategic, operational or tactical objectives.

Netherlands and Turkey• Netherlands

– The ability to, within or from the third dimension, achieve or contribute to military or political objectives. The third dimension has no limits.

• Turkey– The synergistic application of air, space, and

information systems to project global strategic military power.

Germany• Air Power is the totality of all possible

effects, which can be developed or threatened in Air Operations by the employment of air warfare objects.

United Kingdom• UK 1999 until 2009

– The ability to project military force in air or space by or from a platform or missile operating above the surface of the earth. Air platforms are defined as any aircraft, helicopter or unmanned air vehicle.

United Kingdom• UK 2009 until 2013

– The ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events.

• UK (present day)– Using air capabilities to influence the

behaviour of actors and the course of events.– UK space power is defined as “exerting

influence in, from, or through space.”

The Evolution of Doctrine• Doctrine – and the definitions that go with

it – change and evolve over time.• This may reflect a number of things:

– changing technology (e.g. increased use of RPAS)

– changes in the economy (e.g. the financial crisis and austerity measures)

– changes in perceived threats (e.g. end of the Cold War, emergence of non-State actors)

– changes to our way of thinking about how ‘military force’ should be employed.