ROUTLEDGE LIBRARY EDTIONS:
INTERNATIONAL SECURITY STUDIES
Volume 8
THE FUTURE OF AIR POWER
THE FUTURE OF AIR POWER
NEVILLE BROWN
First published in 1986 by Croom Helm Ltd
This edition first published in 2021
by Routledge
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Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
1986 Neville Brown
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A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN: 978-0-367-68499-0 (Set)
ISBN: 978-1-00-316169-1 (Set) (ebk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-70957-0 (Volume 8) (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-70961-7 (Volume 8) (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-00-314870-8 (Volume 8) (ebk)
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The Future of Air Power
Neville Brown
1986 Neville Brown
Croom Helm Ltd, Provident House, Burrell Row,
Beckenham, Kent BR3 1AT
Croom Helm Australia Pty Ltd, Suite 4, 6th Floor,
64-76 Kippax Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010, Australia
Brown, Neville
The future of air power.
1. Air power
I. Title
358.4 UG630
ISBN 0-7099-3217-0
Phototypeset in English Times by Pat and Anne Murphy
10 Bracken Way, Highcliffe-on-Sea, Dorset
Printed and bound in Great Britain by Mackays of Chatham Ltd, Kent
CONTENTS
List of Abbreviations
The Author
Preface
Part One: The Background to Debate
2. Contemporary Air Doctrines
The West
Soviet Perceptions
3. The Human Factor
Sustained Offensive Action
The Citadel Image
Aircrew Stress
Training and Recruitment
One Seat or Two?
Adaptation to War
4. The Impact of Novel Technology
Electronic Warfare
The Future of Aeronautical Science
Other Advances in Air Ordnance
5. The Changing Land Battle
Movement and Fire
The Liddell Hart Fallacy
The Implications for Air Power
The Triumph of Artillery?
Geostrategic Perspectives
6. Technology Gaps
The Global Sweep
The Central Comparison
Electronics Again
The Extended S-Curve
No Grounds for Euphoria
Part Two: Pre-Nuclear War Over Land
7. The Classic Missions
The Geographical Setting
Surface versus Air
Interdiction
Tactical Reconnaissance
Air Defence in Depth
8. Tactical Air Mobility
9. The Vulnerability of Airfields
Part Three: Other Environments
10. Air Power at Sea
11. Aerial Mass Destruction
The Demise of Strategic Air Deterrence
Theatre Confrontation
Part Four: A Predictive Overview
12. Costs versus Benefits
Investment and Operation
Full-life Cost
Economy through Multi-role?
Simple is Effective?
13. A Multiple Revolution in War
Air Power Ascendant
Warplahes in Decline?
The Sudden Blitzkrieg
NATOs Quest for Strategy
Maritime Air Cover
A Mix of Systems
Air Power and Geography
Appendix A: The Electromagnetic Environment
Appendix B: Terminology and Notation
Appendix C: Some Contemporary Military Aircraft
Strategic Bombers
Tactical Monoplanes
Helicopters
Airborne Early Warning
Heavy Transport Aircraft
ADVAir Defence Version (of the Tornado)AFVArmoured Fighting VehiclesAGARDAdvisory Group for Aeronautical Research and DevelopmentALCMAir-Launched Cruise MissileASWAnti-Submarine WarfareATBAdvanced Technology BomberAWACSAirborne Warning and Control SystemAngstromCAPCombat Air PatrolCASClose Air SupportCCVControl-Configured VehicleCEPCircular Error ProbabilityCVACarrier Vessel AttackCWContinuous WaveECCMElectronic Counter-Counter MeasuresECMElectronic Counter MeasuresEFAEuropean Fighter AircraftEHFExtremely High FrequencyEMPElectromagnetic PulseETEmerging TechnologiesEWElectronic WarfareFAEFuel Air ExplosiveFBMFleet Ballistic MissileFEBAForward Edge of the Battle AreaFLOTForward Line of Own TroopsFLEDForward Line of Enemy DefenceFLIRForward-Looking Infra-RedFOFAFollow-on Forces AttackFPBFast Patrol BoatGCAGround-Control ApproachGLCMGround-Launched Cruise MissileHEHigh ExplosiveHFHigh FrequencyICBMIntercontinental Ballistic MissileIFFIdentification Friend or FoeHSSInternational Institute for Strategic StudiesINEWSIntegrated Electronic Warfare SystemJATOJet-Assisted Take-OffJVXJoint Services Advanced Vertical Light Aircraftkc/skilocycles per secondkgkilogramkmkilometrekmc/skilomegacycles per secondkm/hkilometres per hourkPakilopascalLRMPLong-Range Maritime PatrolmmetreMASHMobile Army Surgical HospitalMBTMain Battle Tankmc/smegacycles per secondMITIMinistry of International Trade and IndustryMLRSMultiple Launch Rocket Systemmmmillimetremphmiles per hourmpsmetres per secondMTBFMean Time Between FailuresNATONorth Atlantic Treaty OrganisationNOENap of the EarthOECDOrganisation for Economic Co-operation and DevelopmentOMGOperational Manoeuvre GroupOTHOver-the-HorizonOTH-BOver-the Horizon-BackscatterPGMPrecision Guided MunitionPLAPeoples Liberation ArmyPLOPalestine Liberation OrganisationPVO-Strany
Protivo Vozdushnaya Oborona StranyQRAQuick Reaction AlertRAFRoyal Air ForceREB
Radio electronnaya borbaRPVRemotely Piloted VehicleRSAFRoyal Swedish Air ForceRSNRoyal Swedish NavySACStrategic Air CommandSAMSurface-to-Air MissileSHAPESupreme Headquarters Allied Powers EuropeSHFSuper High FrequencySIANSelf-Initiating Anti-Aircraft MissileSLARSideways-Looking Airborne RadarSLBMSubmarine-Launched Ballistic MissileSOCSector Operations CentreSRAMShort-Range Attack MissileSTOLShort Take-Off and LandingUSAUnited States of AmericaUSAAFUnited States Army Air ForceUSAFUnited States Air ForceUSNUnited States NavyVDSVariable Depth SonarVLFVery Low FrequencyV/STOLVertical or Short Take-Off and LandingVTOLVertical Take-Off and Landing
Neville Brown has a personal chair of International Security Affairs at the University of Birmingham. He has held Visiting Fellowships at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, the Australian National University and the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Between 1972 and 1978, he was an Academic Consultant to the National Defence College.
