Weather in Air Campaigns, 1990-2003
Abstract
Forecasting increasingly determined the success of air missions in operations between 1990 and 2003. Weather affected whatever traveled through the atmosphere, including manned and unmanned aircraft, missiles, bombs, and electromagnetic signals. Commanders who knew probable atmospheric conditions for specific locations and times were better able to select systems and launch missions when and where they would most likely succeed. As weather forecasting improved, commanders were increasingly able to incorporate it into mission planning. Reasonably accurate long-range forecasts allowed weather personnel to influence the air tasking order prepared days in advance of the mission. Because clouds affected reconnaissance, bomb damage assessment, and the accuracy of certain air strikes, their location, thickness, and movement was especially important. Weather also greatly influenced aircraft deployments, aerial refueling, airlifts, parachute drops, aerial broadcasts, and leaflet drops. Although aircraft flew in more weather conditions than ever before, using radar and infrared devices to compensate for lack of visibility, airplanes remained vulnerable to thunderstorms, icing, crosswinds, turbulence, and other weather factors. A truly all-weather airplane had not yet been built. Unmanned aerial vehicles, strategic reconnaissance aircraft, airborne warning and control airplanes, and helicopters were especially sensitive to certain weather conditions. Moreover, increased use of sensors magnified the importance of weather as a planning factor. For all these reasons, weather support personnel and their equipment contributed significantly to the success or failure of air campaigns.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 24, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA521389
Entities
People
- Daniel L. Haulman