Joint Air Power, Transformation, and Operation Iraqi Freedom
Abstract
An analysis of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) shows that many aspects of the Department of Defense's initiative to transform the military have already been realized and have made the U.S. military a virtually unstoppable force on the symmetrical battlefield. Perhaps the most decisive transformation in the U.S. military to date has been in the role of aviation and its application across the joint battle space to achieve operational goals. The rapid and expansive operational maneuver demonstrated during OIF, coupled with technological advances in precision fires and command and control, made the joint use of fixed-wing aviation essential to the attainment of operational objectives. THESIS: The current limitations in joint communications, the complexity of fire support coordination, the adaptive employment of fixed-wing aircraft, and current aircraft technological deficiencies all limited aviation's ability to fully meet the demands of this "transformed" type of warfare and require a revision of command and control and employment doctrine.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 09, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA422776
Entities
People
- Michael J. Gough
Organizations
- Naval War College