Air Warfare: An Introduction

A new textbook provides a comprehensive understanding of air power and aerial conflict, covering concepts, issues, and debates for policymakers and students. It covers the theory and practice of air warfare, airpower as a coercive political tool, aerial combat, strategic bombing, support of fielded forces, command and control, and intelligence gathering.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 01 January 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive and user-friendly new textbook offers a thorough exploration of the terminology, principles, challenges, and discussions surrounding air power and aerial conflict. Despite its widespread utilization as a primary means of waging contemporary warfare, a limited number of individuals outside the military possess a comprehensive understanding of the strategies, equipment, and organizations involved in conducting an air campaign, as well as the interconnectedness of air warfare with other domains of combat. The primary objective of this book is to simplify the intricate nature of air warfare and provide a clear and coherent comprehension of the distinctive characteristics of air warfare that are crucial for policymakers and students alike to grasp the intricacies of debates surrounding the employment of airpower in conflicts.

Air Warfare is structured into two primary sections. The first section delves into the fundamental concepts of war and elucidates what constitutes air warfare and the air domain. The second section examines air warfare in operations and tactics, covering a range of topics such as:

- A conceptual overview of the theory and practice of air warfare to date.
- Airpower as a coercive political tool employed beyond conflict scenarios.
- Aerial combat and the process of achieving air superiority.
- Exploiting air superiority for strategic bombing, supporting fielded forces, command and control, and intelligence gathering.
- Challenges and considerations for the future of air warfare.

This book is an indispensable resource for students pursuing studies in air power and air warfare, and it is also highly recommended for students of strategic studies, military theory, and defense studies. Its comprehensive coverage and accessible writing style make it an invaluable tool for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of this critical aspect of modern warfare.

Dimension: 246 x 174 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138704848