Proposal for United States Air Force Air Refueling Operations Doctrine.
Abstract
The United States Air Force, the aerospace arm of the United States' armed forces, has developed basic aerospace doctrine to guide and direct operations in the aerospace medium. The basic objective of aerospace forces is to take decisive action against an adversary's vulnerable strategic centers of gravity. Although aerospace forces perform many crucial "force-enhancement" missions, one is uniquely important to the success of military air operations - air refueling. Air refueling has become indispensable in modern warfare. Air refueling capability ensures the unique flexibility of airpower (concentration of power quickly at any point on the globe against any facet of an enemy's power) is a reality rather than an abstract concept. The Air Force has published doctrine supporting its objectives at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. Several fundamental and enduring principles in Air Force doctrine provide guidance on Air Force organization and execution of the air war; however, not all Air Force flying operations are governed by doctrine publications. Strategic and tactical bombing, air to air combat, close air support, and airlift doctrine have been developed, published, and refined since their implementation, but air refueling doctrine has yet to be published. This research paper proposes air refueling operations doctrine for the United States Air Force. The proposal offers a framework of fundamental concepts and doctrinal principles that should be included in Air Force air refueling operations doctrine. Air refueling doctrine should be used to guide decisions regarding operational employment of tankers as well as decisions regarding tanker force sizing, future weapons acquisition, and technology integration.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA320329
Entities
People
- Philip A. Iannuzzi Jr
Organizations
- Air Force Institute of Technology