By
WGCDR David Thiele
Air
power is the most difficult of military forces to measure or even
to express in precise terms. – Winston Churchill
When the rickety biplane first appeared over the skies of France
in World War I, the commanders were faced with a dilemma.
How
was this new tool of war to be used? What could this flying machine
bring to the battlefield? What were the special characteristics
that could be used to create a war advantage?
In
a modern armed conflict, commanders would not want to go into
battle without air capabilities.
But
what is it that is unique about aerospace power and how can it
be best applied?
By
understanding the characteristics of aerospace power, we can better
understand how to apply it. A series of articles over the next
10 issues will explore the characteristics of aerospace power
that many might take for granted.
For
anyone who has been lucky enough to stand on the battlefield of
the Somme, the first thing you realise is how short the field
of view the commander had. While the enemy trenches were only
3km away, and the ground was barren, the ability of a commander
to view the enemy was almost non-existent.
When
the first aircraft arrived, the most obvious advantage it brought
was to increase the perspective of the commander.
Now
commanders could see the enemy in a way never experienced before.
The layout of the land, the placement of troops and trenches could
all be mapped.
And,
much to the horror of the ground commanders of World War I, they
suddenly realised that the Germans had three rather than the accepted
two lines of trenches. A fact unknown until the aircraft was first
used to survey the battlefield.
By
its very nature, the aircraft is always able to occupy the high
ground and greatly increase the perspective of the commander.
While
this was initially limited to how far the pilot could see, modern
aircraft have since been fitted with a vast array of electronic
sensors that now allow “vision” of the entire battlespace
and often well beyond.
What
does this increased perspective mean for battle? Clearly, being
able to see the enemy brings with it great advantages. Being able
to see force build up long before it is ready to be used allows
the commander to adjust plans to counter an attack.
In
short, a good perspective can counter the ability of the enemy
to use surprise.
However,
perspective is not the only characteristic of aerospace power
to present the commander with an advantage on the battlefield.
Next issue we will look at the characteristics of speed and reach.
- WGCDR
David Thiele is Deputy Director Aerospace Concepts at the Aerospace
Centre.
