Airpower Contributions to Irregular Warfare

Current operations throughout five geographic combatant commands collectively demonstrate the need for a totally flexible and adaptable U.S. Air Force. No longer are we focused exclusively on a type of warfare in which we can dominate in short, kinetic and decisive engagements. Understanding this premise is absolutely critical to the future. The United States Air Force’s ability to conduct persistent Irregular Warfare in denied, ungoverned, and under governed areas is critical to the Department of Defense’s overall ability to wage IW, accomplish strategic objectives and win both current and future wars. This study focuses not only on the Air Force’s stated contributions to IW, but more the real issue of how much capacity is really required within its stated capabilities and what must be done to resolve any shortfalls. Critical as well, is the fact that it is absolutely necessary for the Air Force to maintain a balanced force that is capable and flexible to operate within conventional as well as irregular warfare.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.