How Airpower Doctrine if Applied in a Contemporary Environment - Report Example

How Airpower doctrine if applied in a contemporary environment Name of the Student: Name of the Instructor: Name of the course: Code of the course: Submission date: How Airpower doctrine if applied in a contemporary environment Introduction In a generic sense, airpower has been perceived as the capacity to do something in the air, primarily the ability to impel military force through a stage above the earth’s surface in the third dimension (Barber, 2007). In the Australian context, AAP 1000-F (2008) cited that the core doctrine underpinning the Australian Air force is to produce air power aimed at securing the country and its diverse interests. Against this backdrop, this essay aims at exploring the historical context of airpower, the doctrine that molds the way Australia applies air power, the impacts of context on eventual application as well as the strategic environment in Australia. Historical context of Air power in Australia It has been pointed out that there are diverse historical phenomena that have played a central role in shaping the application of air power in Australia since the instigation of military air power in the country which has been cited as predating the formation of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in 1921 with more than a decade (AAP 1000-H, 2008). Nonetheless, it is imperative to be cognizant of the fact that much of the military aviation in Australia before WW1 was extensively inspired by the happenings in Britain. During the WW1, the airmen from Australia accrued extensive experience in different operational responsibilities and diverse geographical environment despite having limited exposure to command outside the realms of operations. In addition, it has been pointed out that the Australian government made limited efforts to extract a doctrinal foundation out of the air warfare lessons which were learnt during this particular epoch (AAP 1000-H, 2008). It was thus not until few years before WW2 that momentous efforts to develop an air power doctrine in Australia materialized. After WW2, the instigation of the cold war which meant curtailing the spread of communism to the global scale saw the involvement of the RAAF in diverse expeditions (though in a small-scale) but nevertheless, the Australian air power played a substantial role in the efforts of the allied forces. The instigation of the war in Vietnam saw increased involvement of the RAAF between 1964 and 1971, though this involvement did not reach the high structures of command (AAP 1000-H, 2008). However, despite the limited involvement in the high levels of command during the Vietnam War, the lessons that were acquired resulted in extensive policy transformations in the defense strategy of Australia. This was best epitomized in 1972 where the white paper informed a new policy development founded on the need to elevate self-reliance on military strength. Eventually, this culminated in the RAAF embarking on addressing the inadequacy of domestic doctrine for the Australian Air force (AAP 1000-H, 2008). In the recent decades, the increased prominence of ‘war on terror’ has played a significant role in shaping the application of air power in Australia. This is whereby the Australian involvement in this contemporary global ‘war on terror’ means the necessity for the RAAF to evolve into becoming a formidable and adaptable force endowed with the capability of conducting a wide alley of domestic as well as international expeditions (AAP 1000-H, 2008). Role of the doctrine in molding air power application in Australia From the above discourse, it is apparent that the air power in Australia has evolved through diverse epochs, shaped by diverse historical occurrences to emerge into what it is today and the doctrines underpinning its operations. It is imperative to define the air power doctrine in the Australian context whereby LeMay (2005) determined that in the ADDP-D - a doctrine publication by the Australian Defence Force (ADF) – a doctrine has been widely viewed as the body of conceptions in regard to the nature, handling and the ultimate role of the armed conflict which entails the primary principles under which the military force is guided in terms of actions geared towards supporting the objectives at the national level. Three types of doctrines have been identified as influencing the application of air power by the RAAF. These are procedural (tactical), application (operational) and philosophical (strategic) doctrines. These doctrines have been perceived to be interdependent and not entirely divorced from each other. There are different ways in which they inform the application of air power in the Australian context (LeMay, 2005). Firstly, doctrine inform the form of hierarchy in the RAAF whereby LeMay (2005) cited that the hierarchy has a clear identification of the AAP1000 and AAP1002 as the primary sources of the strategic level doctrine and operational level doctrine of the RAAF respectively. In addition, the array of group standing instructions (Sis) tactical manuals and procedures have been cited as the sources of tactical level doctrine at RAAF. All the above doctrinal hierarchy greatly determines and shapes how Australia applies its airpower in terms of command and control during military operations. Consequently, the doctrine plays a central role in informing the conduct of military operations which are heavily molded by the continuing nature of the armed conflict, the approach of the Australian government to national security as well as the principles of war at the global level (AAP 1000-D, 2008). In this regard, doctrine shapes the way Australia as a country conducts its air power both at the domestic level as well as the international platform. On the other hand, doctrine also shapes the way in which RAAF executes its diverse functions in response to security threat. This is in terms of deployment of force, sustainment and generation of force, information support and superiority as well as application and protection of force (AAP 1000-D, 2008). Lastly, doctrine determines the extent, level and the probability of forming an offensive coalition with other forces from other countries around the world, mostly when confronted by an armed conflict which is global in nature. In this regard, doctrine have a direct determination in supporting the resolutions on whether the Australian air force will be involved in direct military intervention in war torn regions, the forms of coalitions Australia will forge as well as the tactical, strategic as well as the operational capabilities that will be put into utility in these international operations. Impact of context on the air power application There are diverse effects on the context of application of air power application in Australia. Firstly, there are extensive effects of the application of air power in Australia on the general communities in the countries as a result of the need to strategically establish defence bases, ranges and training areas for the air force which has in the recent past come under extensive pressure as a result of urban intrusion (Defence White Paper, 2009). Against this backdrop, the air power extensive application of air power by Australia as a response to increased threat to national security in the contemporary world will mean increased need for area to establish training grounds, air bases as well as ranges for the air force. This will mean disturbance of the settlement patterns of different communities in the country as well as resulting to the increased concerns over the impacts on the community in terms of aircraft and vehicle noise, explosions among other activities directly or indirectly involved with air power undertakings. Secondly, emerging forms of threat, for instance cyber war means the increased investment of the defense forces on new technology and analytical potential to protect the integrity of its databases which are core to successful execution of air power operations (Defence White Paper, 2009). Thus, the necessity to increase investment on the acquisition of new technological and human capital will necessitate heightened budgetary allocation by the Australian government to the air force which will in turn affect other sectors of the economy in Australia.). This is not forgetting the investment in armory of the air force which is also central to the execution of successful operations by the air force. Similarly, apart from the governmental investment in the technological acquisition to support the air power application in Australia, there is also need for extended investment in other secondary prerequisites which are indirectly related to the application of air power. This is best epitomized by the need to establish robust frameworks to deliver both physical and mental health services, for instance, rehabilitation programs to minimize the effects of illnesses and injuries in the air force (Defence White Paper, 2009). All the above investment needs of the air power, mostly with the elevated level of national and global threats will mean a paradigm shift in terms of prioritization in the course of the national budgetary allocation. This will pose diverse effects, mostly negative, to other sectors of the economy, for instance, education, social welfare, agriculture and other tenets like climate change. This will negatively impact on the goals to achieve different national goals as well as international goals like the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Lastly, it has been perceived that elevated air power application in Australia will also pose negative impacts on the environment. This is whereby increased air power means a larger contribution to pollution, mostly air pollution. With the increased concern over issues of climate change in the world and scarcity of energy and resources, there is need to cultivate feasible measures to curtail the negative impacts posed by increased air power in Australia on these basic fronts. Strategic environment in Australia Australia has continued to formulate and implement diverse strategies aimed at ensuring the conduct of successful air power operations both at the domestic and national levels. According to the Defence White Paper (2009), one of the major strategic approaches which is tied to the doctrine discussed in the preceding discourse is ensuring the capacity to conduct independent operations while defending Australian interests. This will mean exclusive control of the air space in the country aimed at ensuring that there is adequate security over the Australian territory and its citizens. Another strategic approach is forging international alliances aimed at collaborative response to global threats like terrorism and cyber warfare. According to the Defence White Paper (2009), the Australian government is extensively committed to engage with core as well as emerging power in forging a robust regional community; the Asia-pacific security environment. This is central in ensuring and guaranteeing the security of the people in this region through collaboratively agreeing to swiftly respond to any form of external aggression threatening the security in this region. In conclusion, it is apparent from the above discourse that the air power in Australia is shaped by diverse historical phenomena which also tend to influence and shape doctrine of the application of the air power. There are also some effects of the context of the air power application on the economy and the wider community. Nonetheless, the government is making strategic advances in curtailing these impacts and ensuring the security in the region. References AAP 1000-H (2008). The Australian ExperienceofAir Power. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. AAP 1000-F (2008).The Future Air and SpaceOperating Concept. Canberra: Australian Air Publication. AAP 1000-D (2008). The Air Power Manual. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. Barber, T.D. (2007). Airpower in counterinsurgency: The search for missing doctrine. Retrieved August 28th, 2012 from http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a470743.pdf. Defence White Paper (2009). Defending Australia in the Asia Pacific Century: Force 2030. Canberra: Commonwealth of Australia. LeMay, C. (2005). Reorganising Air Force doctrine.Retrieved August 28th, 2012 from http://www.defence.gov.au/adc/docs/publications2010/PublcnsGeddes2005_310310_ReorganisingAirForce.pdf. Read More