Chapter 14: Airpower As Strategic Laboratory

Question 1

1. Inadequate armament on the bombers
2. No capability for precision bombing
3. Use of the fighters in close support of the bombers instead of in general support

Answer 1

Germany’s 3 critical mistakes in its use of airpower

Question 2

An independent air campaign, intended to be decisive, and directed against the essential war-making capabilities of the enemy

Answer 2

Strategic bombing

Question 3

What are the three principles of combat that strategic bombing takes advantage of?

Answer 3

• The principle of mass
• The principle of objective
• The principle of economy of force

Question 4

Its capacity to bring all its forces from widely distributed bases simultaneously to focus on single targets

Answer 4

The principle of mass

Question 5

Its capacity to select for destruction the elements most vital to an enemy’s war-potential and penetrate deep into enemy territory

Answer 5

The principle of objective

Question 6

Its capacity to concentrate on a limited number of vital target systems, and its capacity to select for destruction a portion of target systems which all yield the desired effect with the least expenditure of force

Answer 6

The principle of economy of force

Question 7

1. We had 4.5 years to rebuild an AF. We need to maintain it next time.
2. No more long field campaigns; the 3rd dimension
3. Control of the air to execute sustained ops w/o prohibitive losses (long-range fighter escort a must)
4. The Germans were land-minded. Other enemies won’t be.
5. Another war will be decided by some form of air power before the surface forces are able to make contact

Answer 7

The 5 lessons that the US learned from the use of Strategic Air power in WWII

Question 8

• “What are the vital elements of an enemy nation’s power?”
• “How can airpower sufficiently endanger them to change an opponent’s behavior?”

Answer 8

The two questions of airpower theory the Air Corps Tactical School (ACTS) sought to answer.

Question 9

The bomber must only fly against ‘vital material targets’ deep in the enemy heartland and never in Army support

Answer 9

Kenneth Walker’s “Inviolable Principle” for bombers

Question 10

What were the 3 major thematic differences between ACTS theory and Col Warden’s airpower theory?

Answer 10

Warden added a new vital center (the leadership ring) and two new destructive mechanisms to influence it: decapitation and parallel war

Question 11

The killing or isolation of enemy leaders

Answer 11

Decapitation

Question 12

The overwhelming force strategy to use when the leaders are unreachable; death by 1000 cuts

Answer 12

Parallel war

Question 13

1. Overreliance on metaphor in place of logical argumentation
2. Making a fetish of quantification and prediction in war
3. Seeking to develop hoary maxims that would apply to all wars

Answer 13

The 3 pathologies of airpower that affect both ACTS and Col Warden’s theories

Question 14

A metaphor for the digital society made possible through computers and computer networks

Answer 14

Cyberspace

Question 15

The sum total of information available electronically, the exchange of that information, and the communities which emerge from the use of that information

Answer 15

Cyberspace

Question 16

(In reference to a particular military op)
The information available to a specific audience

Answer 16

Cyberspace

Question 17

• the organization can be decentralized as much as is feasible within a military context
• the organization can function as a coalition of semi-independent agents whose environment drives their operations

Answer 17

2 benefits of operating in a rich cyberspace environment

Question 18

1. Information is the coin of the realm in cyberspace
2. Cyberspace shapes authority
3. Cyberspace operates under non-traditional physics
4. Cyberspace brings the front line to the front door

Answer 18

The 4 fundamental principles of cyberspace

Question 19

The ability to project military power or influence through the control and exploitation of air, space, and cyberspace to achieve strategic, operational, or tactical objectives

Answer 19

Airpower

Question 20

Air power exploits the third dimension of the operational environment, the electromagnetic spectrum, and time to leverage speed, range, flexibility, precision, tempo, and lethality to create effects from and within the air, space, and cyberspace domain.

Answer 20

TRUE

Question 21

Air power cannot simultaneously strike directly at an adversary’s centers of gravity, vital centers, critical vulnerabilities, and strategy.

Answer 21

FALSE

Question 22

In what ways does air power operate that are fundamentally different from other forms of military power?

Answer 22

With its speed, range, and three-dimensional perspective

Question 23

Air power can be used rapidly to express the national will wherever and whenever necessary.

Answer 23

TRUE

Question 24

The AF provides national leadership and joint commanders with options, the threat of which may accomplish political objectives without what?

Answer 24

The application of lethal force

Question 25

What are the three essential first ingredients in any successful modern military operation?

Answer 25

Air, space, and cyberspace superiority

Question 26

Thinking beyond two dimensions, into the dimensions of the vertical and the dimension of time

Answer 26

Air-mindedness

Question 27

Control the vertical dimension is generally a necessary precondition for what?

Answer 27

Control of the surface

Question 28

Air power is an inherently ___ force.

Answer 28

Strategic

Question 29

Surface forces can exploit the principles of mass and maneuver simultaneously to a far greater extent than air power.

Answer 29

FALSE

Question 30

AF forces are less culturally intrusive in many scenarios.

Answer 30

TRUE

Question 31

The effective integration of capabilities, people, weapons, bases, logistics, and all supporting infrastructure results in what?

Answer 31

Airpower

Question 32

Airpower's unique characteristics necessitate that it be controlled by other military branches.

Answer 32

FALSE (centrally controlled by Airmen)

Question 33

Supporting bases with their people, systems, and facilities are essential to launch, recovery, and sustainment of AF forces.

Answer 33

TRUE

Question 34

The choice of appropriate capabilities is a key aspect in the realization of what?

Answer 34

Air Power

Question 35

To operate, maintain, and secure nuclear forces to achieve and assured capability to deter an adversary from taking action against vital US interests

Answer 35

Nuclear Deterrence Operations

Question 36

- Assure / Dissuade / Deter - Nuclear Strike - Nuclear Safety

Answer 36

Sub-elements of nuclear deterrence operations

Question 37

The degree of dominance in air battles of one force or another which permits the conduct of operation in its related air, sea, land, and special operations forces at a given time and place without prohibitive interference by an opposing force

Answer 37

Air Superiority

Question 38

- Offensive Counterair - Defensive Counterair - Airspace Control

Answer 38

Sub-elements of air superiority

Question 39

The degree of dominance in space of one force over another that permits the conduct of operations by the former and its related land, sea, air, space, and special operations forces at a giving time and place without prohibitive interference by the opposing force (may be localized or broad)

Answer 39

Space Superiority

Question 40

The operational advantage in, through, and from cyberspace to conduct operations at a given time and in a given domain without prohibitive interference

Answer 40

Cyberspace Superiority

Question 41

- Cyberspace Force Application - Cyberspace Defense - Cyberspace Support

Answer 41

Sub-elements of Cyberspace Superiority

Question 42

The exercise of authority and direction by a properly designated commander over a signed and attached forces in the accomplishment of the mission

Answer 42

Command and Control

Question 43

The synchronization and integration of the planning and operation of sensors, assets, and processing, exploitation, and dissemination systems across the globe to conduct current and future operations

Answer 43

Global Integrated Intelligence, Surveillance, & Reconnaissance (ISR)

Question 44

- Planning & Direction - Collection - Processing & Exploitation - Analysis & Production - Dissemination & Integration

Answer 44

Sub-elements of Global Integrated ISR

Question 45

The ability to hold at risk or strike rapidly and persistently any target to create swift, decisive, and precise effects across multiple domains

Answer 45

Global Precision Attack

Question 46

- Strategic Attack - Air Interdiction - Close Air Support

Answer 46

Sub-elements of Global Precision Attack

Question 47

Operations conducted in hostile, denied, or politically-sensitive environments to achieve military, diplomatic, informational, and/or economic objectives employing military capabilities for which there is no broad conventional force requirement

Answer 47

Special Operations

Question 48

- Agile Combat Support - Aviation Foreign Internal Defense - Battlefield Air Operations - Command & Control - Information Operations - ISR - Military Information Support Operations - Precision Strike - Specialized Air Mobility - Specialized Refueling

Answer 48

Sub-elements for Special Operations

Question 49

The timely deployment, employment, sustainment, augmentation, and redeployment of military forces and capabilities across the Range of Military Operations (ROMO)

Answer 49

Rapid Global Mobility

Question 50

- Airlift - Air Refueling - Aeromedical Evacuation

Answer 50

Sub-elements of Rapid Global Mobility

Question 51

The sum of military, diplomatic, and civil efforts to prepare for and execute the recovery and degree integration of isolated personnel

Answer 51

Personnel Recovery

Question 52

- Combat Search & Rescue - Civil Search & Rescue - Disaster Response - Humanitarian Assistance Operations - Medical Evacuation / Casualty Evacuation

Answer 52

Sub-elements of Personnel Recovery

Question 53

- Ready the Total Force - Prepare the Battlespace - Position the Total Force - Protect the Total Force - Employ Combat Support Forces - Sustain the Total Force - Recover the Total Force

Answer 53

Sub-elements of Agile Combat Support

Question 54

Airmen interacting with international airmen and other relevant actors to develop, guide, and sustain relationships for mutual benefit and security

Answer 54

Building Partnerships

Question 55

What are the components of the Nuclear Triad?

Answer 55

- bombers - ICBMs - SLBMs (air, land, & sea)

Question 56

In the president's view, conventional parity would destroy the US economy and bankrupt the federal treasury. But the US could effectively deter Soviet aggression by placing greater emphasis on nuclear weapons in American national security policy - led to the development of the nuclear triad

Answer 56

President Eisenhower's "New Look" policy

Question 57

Led the US to be purposefully vulnerable to a first strike, yet maintaining a credible second-strike capability

Answer 57

Assured Destruction

Question 58

Summarize why the US should maintain its nuclear triad

Answer 58

Redundancy offers a great level of protection that submarine-based nuclear arsenal would greatly diminish