The use of air power has become more important in modern warfare, and the ability to use the full potential of air power is significant for a beneficial outcome of conflict. Today’s most established air power theories are developed from a military superpower perspective, leaving a void of knowledge for the smaller air forces. This study intends to find out how the air power advocate Robert Pape’s theory theater air power is applicable to small states and small air forces by testing Pape’s theory against the Six Day War in 1967 and the Georgia War in 2008 and thus contribute to a greater basis for the debate on how the air forces should be used and which role they play in conflict. The result show, in contrast to Pape’s theory, that air superiority is beneficial but not decisive. Instead, the coordination between arms is crucial for high combat efficiency and utilization of airspace. Also, the result shows that operational interdiction is the most efficient course of action for small state to use their air power, particularly if lacking the ability to defeat heavily armoured combat vehicles and battle tanks. Finally, the result clarifies that the air power cannot win conflicts by their own but are a vital contributor to the favourable outcome of conflict.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:fhs-9993 |
| Date | January 2021 |
| Creators | Blomberg, Christoffer |
| Publisher | Försvarshögskolan |
| Source Sets | DiVA Archive at Upsalla University |
| Language | Swedish |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Student thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Rights | info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
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