Air and Space Power
Defined
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Overview
 Define Air and Space Power
 Competencies
 Functions of Air and Space Power
 Air and Space Doctrine
 Principles of War
 Tenets of Air and Space Power
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Air and Space Power
The integrated application of air and
space systems to project global
strategic military power.
AFDD 1
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Air and Space Power
 Integrated application
 Air and space systems
 To project global strategic military
power
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Competencies
 Competencies  capabilities
 Air Force Corps Competencies: Air and space
expertise, capabilities, and technical know-how
distinctive to the United States Air Force
• Developing Airmen: “The heart of combat capability
• Technology-to-warfighting: “The tools of combat
capability
• Integrating Operations: “Maximizing combat
capabilities
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Functions
 Functions  missions
 Broad, fundamental, and
continuing activities of air and
space power not unique to the
Air Force
Counterair
Counterspace
Counterland
Countersea
Counterinformation
Strategic Attack
Combat Search
Navigation
Air Refueling
Spacelift
Special Ops
Intelligence
Surveillance
Reconnaissance
Airlift
Weather Services
Command &
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Control
Doctrine
 A belief in the best way to implement/
use air and space power
 Based on:
• History
• Technology
• Leaders, etc.
 Provides Guidance
 Must NOT stagnate
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Doctrine - Examples
 WWI
• Armies vs. Machine Gun
 WWI
• Daylight, High Altitude, Unescorted
Precision Bombing
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Principles of War
“those aspects of warfare that are
universally true and relevant”
- Joint Pub 1
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Principles of War
 Historically tested
 Apply equally to all US Armed Forces
 Unity of Command, Objective, Offense,
Mass, Maneuver, Economy of Force,
Security, Surprise, Simplicity
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Principles of War
 OBJECTIVE: Directs military operations
toward a defined and attainable objective
that contributes to strategic, operational, or
tactical aims.
 OFFENSIVE: States that we act rather than
react and dictate the time, place, purpose,
scope, intensity, and pace operations. The
initiative must be seized, retained, and fully
exploited.
Principles of War
 MASS: Concentrates combat power at the
decisive time and place.
 ECONOMY OF FORCE: Creates usable
mass by using minimum combat power on
secondary objectives. Makes fullest use of
forces available.
Principles of War
 MANEUVER: Places the enemy in a position
of disadvantage through the flexible application
of combat power.
 UNITY OF COMMAND: Ensures unity of effort
for every objective under one responsible
commander.
Principles of War
 SECURITY: Protects friendly forces and their
operations from enemy actions which could
provide the enemy with unexpected advantage.
 SURPRISE: Strikes the enemy at a time or
place or in a manner for which he is
unprepared.
 SIMPLICITY: Avoids unnecessary complexity
in preparing, planning, and conducting military
operations.
Tenets
 Fundamental truths that are unique to
the air and space environment.
Flexibility/Versatility
Priority
Synergistic Effects
Persistence
Concentration
Balance
Centralized Control and
Decentralized Execution
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Tenets
 Centralized Control/Decentralized Execution
• Air power must be controlled by airman…JFACC
• Delegation of execution authority
 Flexibility and Versatility
• Exploit mass & maneuver simultaneously
• Parallel attacks…parallel attacks at strategic,
operational, and tactical levels
 Synergistic Effects
• Higher effectiveness than sum of individual
contributions
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Tenets
 Concentration
• At a point where it will be decisive
• Avoid spreading air and space power to thin
 Priority
• Prioritize applications to have greatest impacts
• Must consider finite force structure
 Persistence
• Continuous efforts
• May need to hit targets more than once…do not need to
remain in close proximity to do so
 Balance
• Principles of war and Tenets
• Offensive and defensive application of power
• Strategic, operational, and tactical impacts
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Summary
 Define Air and Space Power
 Competencies
 Functions of Air and Space Power
 Air and Space Doctrine
 Principles of War
 Tenets of Air and Space Power
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