Effective Air Interdiction in Peace Enforcement

Abstract

The United States Air Force has become increasingly involved in peace enforcement missions throughout the world since the end of the Cold War. Recent examples include Operations Allied Force and Deliberate Force in the Balkans, and Operations Northern Watch and Southern Watch in Iraq. While monitoring no-fly zones is the most obvious mission assigned to air forces conducting peace enforcement operations, it is not the only way in which airpower contributes. Other missions include enforcement of sanctions and exclusion zones, protection of shipping, strikes and raids, and shows of force. In order to perform these missions, the basic U.S. Air Force combat functions must be adapted to fit the unique environment of the peace enforcement operation. Although peace enforcement missions may differ considerably from traditional combat, United States Air Force doctrine provides only broad guidance on how basic functions apply to peace enforcement. U.S. Air Force Doctrine Document 2-3, Military Operations Other Than War, states that Air Force units support peace enforcement with traditional air-to-air and air-to-ground operations, but does not describe how these operations are conducted or integrated with the joint force. Instead, the U.S. Air Force believes that normal operational doctrine provides sufficient guidance to accomplish these missions. This monograph challenges the claim that normal U.S. Air Force operational doctrine provides an acceptable basis for peace enforcement. Specifically, the monograph determines whether current U.S. Air Force doctrine promotes effective air interdiction in a peace enforcement operation, using a division-sized land component as a model. The author has determined three criteria for effective air interdiction in peace enforcement operations: unity of effort, responsiveness, and flexibility.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2001
Accession Number
ADA387010

Entities

People

  • Robert D. Evans

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Artillery
  • Combat Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Command And Control Systems
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Doctrine
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Organizations
  • Military Science
  • Tactical Air Support
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Effects

Readers

  • Aerospace logistics and air mobility.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Political Violence and Terrorism Studies.