Air Power and Its Fundamental Tenets - Assignment Example

There exist several codes of belief that guides air power. According to Westerhoff, there exist about ten general principles that are referred to as General Arnold’s Fundamental Principles of Air Power (GAFPAP). Each of those principles is examined below to reflect its relationship to air power. The first, fundamental tenet emphasizes attacks on the enemy that a state is fighting. Bombardment must be programmed to occur before the enemy has had a chance to strike. It thus focuses on striking first which would ensure maximum defense.

Secondly, there is an emphasis that the planes used for striking or fighting should function in all climatic conditions throughout the year. Thirdly, fighting or bombardment must be done during the day. This would ensure precision that would be aimed at hitting the targets. The fourth tenet is the training of the operation crew members. It includes those in space and those on the ground that are concerned with maintenance. The fifth principle entails the destruction of the property of the enemy.

This involves key areas of the economy such as factories, steel mills, and aluminum plants. It would also include military airbases and even airplane factories. These are the key areas that if targeted, would weaken the enemy completely1. The sixth principle concerns the integration of activities that are concerned with bombardment. There should be fighters in the airspace and those on the ground who must coordinate to achieve a certain goal. The seventh principle entails the protection of bombing operations.

This would be to elude modern pursuit by the enemy during the bombing action or just immediately after the action has taken place. The eighth principle involves the setting up of facilities that are concerned with researching the latest equipment for fighting. This would ensure the efficient carrying out of activities by the troops in the least time possible. The ninth principle involves a combination of efforts of the ground and air forces. This would provide the necessary support required for the achievement of objectives2.

Finally, air power is a complex process made up of various activities such as maintenance teams, aircrews, ground crews, and air bases. All these sections must work together with the main aim of providing the constant strength needed to support fighting activities. I am truly convinced that if the enemy’s factories and infrastructure are destroyed, there is a likelihood for the enemy to surrender. This would be a result of the enemy lacking resources to fight. A nation cannot fight if its infrastructure is destroyed.

If the roads, sea ports, and airports are destroyed, transport is interfered with, and fighting would be difficult. For instance, there would be no clear routes for food transport and passage of fighting equipment. When factories, are destroyed food supply is hindered because manufacturing stops abruptly. Fuel supply which is the core resource in fighting would also be inferred with as its production and transport would be affected. A country or an enemy in such a situation would be compelled to surrender3.

In conclusion, air power is the integration of activities that are aimed at defeating the enemy. Achieving this requires that the concerned nation works as a team by involving air and ground troops. In addition, the destruction of the key areas of the economy such as infrastructure and factories would facilitate surrender by the enemy.