United States Air Force: Air Doctrine – Air and Space Superiority Objective: Comprehend how the United States Air Force is structured in terms of missions and roles Describe the characteristics, objectives and aircraft used to provide air and space superiority

Evolution of Mission and Roles Joint Task List Battle of Pennland Counter Air Operations OCA DCA Counter Space Operations United States Air Force: Air Doctrine – Air and Space Superiority

Complexity From a United States military perspective, most if not all operations until the second half of the 20 th century had historically been structured along a similar classic strategy Force was used to halt the invading army in order to buy enough time to build combat power in order to be able to conduct operations in an effort to resolve the conflict. World War I/II, Korean War are prime examples of this strategy

Complexity However as technology grew so did capability and complexity And while military doctrine and strategy has traditionally lagged behind innovation on the battlefield, it eventually catches up. As the modern battlefield became increasingly more complex, the necessity to adequately define and understand operations became even more vital so that all the moving parts are focused on one goal. Think football….

Joint Task List

PROVIDE AIR AND SPACE SUPERIORITY PROVIDE COUNTER AIR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTER SPACE CAPABILITIES PROVIDE PRECISION ENGAGEMENT PROVIDE LETHAL PRECISION ENGAGEMENT CAPABILITIES PROVIDE NON-LETHAL PRECISION ENGAGEMENT CAPABILITIES PROVIDE CSAR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE INFORMATION SUPERIORITY PROVIDE INFORMATION OPERATIONS CAPABILITIES PROVIDE GLOBAL ATTACK PROVIDE STRATEGIC ATTACK CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTERLAND CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTERSEA CAPABILITIES PROVIDE SPECIAL FORCES CAPABILITIES PROVIDE RAPID GLOBAL MOBILITY PROVIDE AIRLIFT CAPABILITIES PROVIDE AIR REFULEING CAPABILITIES PROVIDE SPACELIFT CAPABILITIES PROVIDE AEF CAPABILITIES Joint Task List

PROVIDE AIR AND SPACE SUPERIORITY PROVIDE COUNTER AIR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTER SPACE CAPABILITIES PROVIDE PRECISION ENGAGEMENT PROVIDE LETHAL PRECISION ENGAGEMENT CAPABILITIES PROVIDE NON-LETHAL PRECISION ENGAGEMENT CAPABILITIES PROVIDE CSAR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE INFORMATION SUPERIORITY PROVIDE INFORMATION OPERATIONS CAPABILITIES PROVIDE GLOBAL ATTACK PROVIDE STRATEGIC ATTACK CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTERLAND CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTERSEA CAPABILITIES PROVIDE SPECIAL FORCES CAPABILITIES PROVIDE RAPID GLOBAL MOBILITY PROVIDE AIRLIFT CAPABILITIES PROVIDE AIR REFULEING CAPABILITIES PROVIDE SPACELIFT CAPABILITIES PROVIDE AEF CAPABILITIES Joint Task List

In other words, for those that like a more visual approach, let’s use

Provide Counter Air Capabilities PROVIDE AIR AND SPACE SUPERIORITY PROVIDE COUNTER AIR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTER SPACE CAPABILITIES Counter-air: A US Air Force term for air operations conducted to attain and maintain a desired degree of air superiority by the destruction or neutralization of enemy forces. Both air offensive and air defensive actions are involved.

Offensive Counter-Air (OCA) : An operation mounted to destroy, disrupt, or limit enemy airpower as close to its source as possible. Provide Counter Air Capabilities PROVIDE AIR AND SPACE SUPERIORITY PROVIDE COUNTER AIR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTER SPACE CAPABILITIES

Defensive Counter-Air (DCA): Operations to detect, identify, intercept, and destroy enemy air and missile forces attempting to attack or penetrate the friendly air environment. Provide Counter Air Capabilities PROVIDE AIR AND SPACE SUPERIORITY PROVIDE COUNTER AIR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTER SPACE CAPABILITIES

Counter Air Aircraft/Systems F-16 F-35 AWACS RC-135 F-15

Red Flag Air war over Nevada Test Ranges Designed to teach aircrew how to fight and win in combat Highly realistic training with significant international participation

Counterspace. Those offensive and defensive operations conducted by air, land, sea, space, special operations, and information forces with the objective of gaining and maintaining control of activities conducted in or through the space environment. PROVIDE AIR AND SPACE SUPERIORITY PROVIDE COUNTER AIR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTER SPACE CAPABILITIES Provide Counter Space Capabilities

Counterspace. Those offensive and defensive operations conducted by air, land, sea, space, special operations, and information forces with the objective of gaining and maintaining control of activities conducted in or through the space environment. PROVIDE AIR AND SPACE SUPERIORITY PROVIDE COUNTER AIR CAPABILITIES PROVIDE COUNTER SPACE CAPABILITIES Provide Counter Space Capabilities

United States Air Force: Air Doctrine – Air and Space Superiority Objective: Know how the United States Air Force is structured in terms of missions and roles Describe the characteristics, objectives and aircraft used to provide air and space superiority