RAND Research Topic: Air Warfare 2012-05-24T14:56:12Z Copyright (c) 2012, The RAND Corporation RAND Corporation http://www.rand.org/topics/air-warfare.html Israeli Mistakes Against Hybrid Adversaries Serve as Cautionary Tale for U.S. Military http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG1085.html Jan 20, 2012 Jan 20, 2012 A review of recent Israeli military conflicts indicates the United States may be ill-prepared for "hybrid" warfare against state-sponsored adversaries who have a modicum of training and small force numbers, but possess advanced weapons and enough expertise to challenge the U.S. military. Israeli Mistakes Against Hybrid Adversaries Serve as Cautionary Tale for U.S. Military http://www.rand.org/news/press/2012/01/20.html Jan 19, 2012 Jan 19, 2012 A review of recent Israeli military conflicts indicates the United States may be ill-prepared for "hybrid" warfare against state-sponsored adversaries who have a modicum of training and small force numbers, but possess advanced weapons and enough expertise to challenge the U.S. military. Access Challenges and Implications for Airpower in the Western Pacific http://www.rand.org/pubs/rgs_dissertations/RGSD267.html Aug 15, 2011 Aug 15, 2011 Examines the risk of U.S.-China conflict based on a variety of theoretical works on conflict, applied to the U.S.-China relationship. Feasibility of Laser Power Transmission to a High-Altitude Unmanned Aerial Vehicle http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR898.html Jun 9, 2011 Jun 9, 2011 This report examines whether a laser-beam-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) could have practical merit, focusing on the altitude, range, persistence, and power possible for a laser-photovoltaic aircraft that uses current technology. Commercially available lasers and photovoltaic cells could provide a UAV with sustained extremely high altitude and moderate persistence and payload. Flawed Strategy, Not a 'Failure of Air Power,' Led to Israel's Disappointing Performance in 2006 Lebanon War http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG835.html May 22, 2011 May 22, 2011 Israel's disappointing performance in its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 did not reflect a "failure of air power," but rather a failure of Israel's political and military leaders to properly assess the enemy, set achievable goals, apply an effective strategy and adequately manage public expectations. Flawed Strategy, Not a 'Failure of Air Power,' Led to Israel's Disappointing Performance in 2006 Lebanon War http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/05/23.html May 22, 2011 May 22, 2011 Israel's disappointing performance in its war against Hezbollah in Lebanon in 2006 did not reflect a "failure of air power," but rather a failure of Israel's political and military leaders to properly assess the enemy, set achievable goals, apply an effective strategy and adequately manage public expectations. Analysis of Chinese Military Doctrine Indicates China Could Pose Serious Challenge to U.S. and Allied Air Forces http://www.rand.org/news/press/2011/02/21/index1.html Feb 21, 2011 Feb 21, 2011 An exhaustive study of Chinese military sources reveals that a future Chinese air force campaign would, under most likely scenarios, seriously test the United States and its allies in a conflict. Analysis of Chinese Military Doctrine Indicates China Could Pose Serious Challenge to U.S. and Allied Air Forces http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG915.html Feb 18, 2011 Feb 18, 2011 An exhaustive study of Chinese military sources reveals that a future Chinese air force campaign would, under most likely scenarios, seriously test the United States and its allies in a conflict. Adding Value to Air Force Management Through Building Partnerships Assessment http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR907.html Dec 17, 2010 Dec 17, 2010 The U.S. Air Force works to build strong and enduring partnerships with allies and friendly nations, to reinforce their capacity to defend themselves and to work in coalitions, and to ensure U.S. access to foreign territories. This volume evaluates existing Air Force capacity to conduct assessments of its security cooperation programs and describes a framework for improving assessment efforts. Air Power http://www.rand.org/pubs/reprints/RP1412.html Aug 4, 2010 Aug 4, 2010 <p>Surveys the subject of air power as an area of research in international security studies and provides a bibliography of significant works and useful online resources.</p> Enhancing Combat Operations Through Improved Air-Ground Integration http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG793.html Apr 13, 2009 Apr 13, 2009 <p>Although airpower capabilities have improved dramatically in the past decade, the joint warfighting potential offered by these capabilities is not being fully realized, as illustrated during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. The authors propose several alternatives and suggest a new joint warfighting concept designed to enhance the prioritization and synchronization of joint fires and maneuver. </p> Statement Regarding Media Coverage of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter http://www.rand.org/news/press/2008/09/25.html Sep 25, 2008 Sep 25, 2008 Andrew Hoehn, Director of RAND Project Air Force, made a statement today regarding articles that have appeared in the Australian press with assertions regarding a war game in which analysts from RAND were involved. U.S. Air Force and Navy Reinforce One Another in Strike-Warfare Operations http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG655.html Dec 27, 2007 Dec 27, 2007 <p>The U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy have steadily developed exceptional cross-service harmony in their conduct of integrated strike operations since the first Persian Gulf War in 1991. That close harmony contrasts sharply with the situation that prevailed throughout most of the Cold War. </p> Common Battlefield Training for Airmen http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG624.html Oct 3, 2007 Oct 3, 2007 <p>Air Force members who do not routinely cross a defended perimeter when deployed may not have received sufficient training for doing so when they need to. The authors conducted surveys and interviews to determine the kinds of experiences airmen have had &ldquo;outside the wire,&rdquo; worked with subject-matter experts to categorize them and suggest training levels, and developed a series of recommendations for course content and further areas for study.</p> Learning Large Lessons: The Evolving Roles of Ground Power and Air Power in the Post-Cold War Era http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG405-1.html Mar 8, 2007 Mar 8, 2007 <p>The relative roles of U.S. ground and air power in major operations and campaigns have shifted since the end of the Cold War. To assess this shift (i.e., between the Army and Air Force, respectively), the author of this report analyzed post&ndash;Cold War conflicts in Iraq (1991), Bosnia (1995), Kosovo (1999), Afghanistan (2001), and Iraq (2003). This revised edition includes updates and an index.</p> Learning Large Lessons: The Evolving Roles of Ground Power and Air Power in the Post-Cold War Era &mdash; Executive Summary http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG405z1.html Mar 7, 2007 Mar 7, 2007 <p>The relative roles of U.S. ground and air power in major operations and campaigns have shifted since the end of the Cold War. To assess this shift (i.e., between the Army and Air Force, respectively), this executive summary discusses four of the five post&ndash;Cold War conflicts analyzed in the larger monograph: Iraq (1991), Kosovo (1999), Afghanistan (2001), and Iraq (2003).</p> Air Power Against Terror: America's Conduct of Operation Enduring Freedom http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG166-1.html Nov 7, 2006 Nov 7, 2006 <p>The terrorist attacks of 9/11 plunged the United States into a determined counteroffensive against Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda terrorist network. This report details the initial U.S. military response to those attacks, namely, the destruction of al Qaeda&rsquo;s terrorist infrastructure and the removal of the ruling Taliban regime in Afghanistan. The author emphasizes several distinctive achievements in this war, including the use of precision air-delivered weapons that were effective irrespective of weather, the first combat use of Predator unmanned aerial vehicles armed with Hellfire missiles, and the integrated employment of high-altitude drones and other air- and space-based sensors that gave CENTCOM unprecedented round-the-clock awareness of enemy activity.</p> U.S. Joint Doctrine Should Be Revised to Reflect the Changing Roles of Air and Ground Power http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB195.html Jul 26, 2006 Jul 26, 2006 This research brief looks at applications of U.S. air and ground power in post-Cold War operations and the implications of air power largely supplanting ground power in future deep operations. The Role of Intelligence in Deciding the Battle of Britain http://www.rand.org/pubs/external_publications/EP20060616.html Dec 31, 2005 Dec 31, 2005 <p>The successful employment of German air power in the Battle of Britain was greatly hindered by abysmal intelligence. The Luftwaffe never developed an accurate picture of enemy strengths and weaknesses, and this contributed to preventing it from bringing force to bear at the decisive point of battle. Although certain aspects of British intelligence were equally flawed, it ultimately proved itself to be an indispensable adjunct to the operational success of Fighter Command. This article focuses on the contribution made to Luftwaffe and RAF operations during the Battle of Britain by their respective intelligence gathering institutions. It is an investigation into the extent to which activities in the realm of intelligence can explain the eventual British victory.</p> Operation Enduring Freedom: An Assessment http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9148.html Dec 12, 2005 Dec 12, 2005 This research brief describes work documented in Air Power Against Terror: America&rsquo;s Conduct of Operation Enduring Freedom (MG-166-CENTAF).