The Reliability of Warden's Theory on the Use of Air Power
Abstract
During World War II and the Vietnam War, the primary focus of effort for air power was on the destruction of enemy factories producing military goods and the transportation networks that brought these goods and personnel to the battlefield. In the 1980's this changed due to the impact of COL (RET) John Warden's theory. Warden analyzed the enemy as a system and concluded that there were crucial elements of the enemy that would cause its defeat if destroyed. Warden concluded that the enemy's leadership was this crucial element. He explains his theory using a five-ring model in which the most important and most protected elements are in the middle and the other elements, in order of importance to the enemy, emanate in four more rings from this center ring. The four other rings, in order, are: the enemy's organic essentials (electricity, oil, and food); the enemy's infrastructure (roads, airfields and factories); the enemy's population; and the enemy's fielded forces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 25, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA382006
Entities
People
- Joseph F. Birchmeier
Organizations
- United States Army Command and General Staff College