Air Power “The ability to use platforms operating in or passing through the air for military purposes”

Strengths of Air Power Height Aircraft can operate over a wide range of heights and so have the ability to observe and control activities on the ground. Speed The enormous speed of modern aircraft means: Deployable to any part of the world very quickly. Missions can be completed in shorter times. Aircraft spend less time over the target which reduces their exposure to hostile fire.

Strengths of Air Power Reach Air power has a much greater reach than either land or sea forces and is unaffected by terrain. Air-To-Air Refuelling enhances reach. All-encompassing Air power can counter or pose simultaneous threats across a far wider geographical area than either land or sea forces.

Strengths of Air Power Flexibility Modern aircraft can perform a wide variety of tasks and change from one task to another with comparative ease. Typhoon – From Air Defence to Ground Attack

Strengths of Air Power Voyager – From Transport to Air-To-Air Refuel

Strengths of Air Power Response Aircraft can be scrambled and be deployed to distant places in a very short period of time.

Strengths of Air Power Concentration To have the ability to focus massive fire power against crucial targets, may well achieve operational success very quickly. Iraq War an armoured column fleeing from the US Army, finds as it turns West the British Army waiting for it. It turns North, so the Allies divert some B52 Bombers and the column is annihilated.

Limitations of Air Power Airborne Time Aircraft can not stay airborne for ever, Even with air-to-air refuelling Aircraft need to land to re-arm, re-crew or service the aircraft. Limited Payloads Payloads that can be carried by aircraft are smaller than those carried by ships or land vehicles.

Limitations of Air Power Fragility Even low levels of battle damage could bring the aircraft down - a fact which limits the time they can be exposed to hostile fire. Aircraft can however take advantage of their height and speed to make them difficult targets to hit.

Other considerations with Air Power Cost High-technology equipment inevitably costs more than simple equipment, Dependency On Bases Aircraft need a high level of base support if they are to operate effectively, and if this base support is vulnerable to attack, this could fundamentally weaken the effectiveness of the air power.

Other considerations with Air Power Sensitivity To Light And Weather Bad weather can make it difficult for aircraft to take-off and land. But with modern technological developments aircraft can use bad weather and night to prevent detection and so improve success.

Other considerations with Air Power Sensitivity To Technology Air power is extremely sensitive to technological change. For example, small advances in surface-to-air defence technology can have a major impact on the offensive operations of aircraft.