Warden and the Air Corps Tactical School: Deja Vu?

Abstract

This study answers the following questions: Is John Warden's "The Enemy as a System" analogous to the Air Corps Tactical School s (ACTS ) Industrial Web theory of airpower employment? If so, why (given the 50+ years between development of these theories)? If not, what are the prime sources of divergence? The author first describes both theories using an outline from which they are compared on an apples-to-apples basis. From this analysis, similarities and differences are presented. Next, the author discusses contextual factors affecting development of both theories. A baseline is developed from which factors from both eras are compared. After linking relevant contextual factors of the 1920s/30s and 1980s/90s, the author explains why the theories of ACTS and Warden are more similar than different. Finally, implications are drawn from the preceding analysis to address the issue of how airpower theory should be developed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA391814

Entities

People

  • Scott D. West

Organizations

  • Air University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Counter WMD
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Aerial Warfare
  • Air Defense
  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Bombing
  • Civil Engineering
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Employment
  • Instructors
  • International Relations
  • Military Aircraft
  • Military Aviation
  • Military Organizations
  • National Security
  • Second World War
  • Warfare
  • Warning Systems

Readers

  • Brain and Cognitive Science; Experimental Psychology; Cognitive Neuroscience
  • Military History / Militaries and War Studies
  • Software Engineering.