Check Six Begins on the Ground: Responding to the Evolving Ground Threat to U.S. Air Force Bases.
Abstract
This report explores the possibility that future adversaries will use ground attacks on U.S. Air Force (USAF) bases as at least a partial countermeasure to overwhelming U.S. air superiority. It also identifies, in broad terms, the types of initiatives that have the most potential to counter this evolving threat. Having watched the Gulf War being fought and read the reams of postwar commentary, future adversaries may feel strongly inclined toward neutralizing or, at a minimum, blunting U.S. airpower. Such an opponent has a menu of options available, among the potentially most effective being to attack USAF bases. Taking advantage of readily available forces and technologies, it could hope to reduce the effectiveness of U.S. air operations, at least temporarily, by destroying high-value assets or disrupting sortie generation. Alternatively or in tandem, it could hope to weaken U.S. or allied resolve by creating a strategic event, an incident that is as damaging politically to the conduct of a war as loss of a major battle is operationally or militarily.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA300431
Entities
People
- Alan Vick
- David A. Shlapak
Organizations
- RAND Corporation