AAPC 01-2013 ESSAY QUESTIONS
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Answer one of these questions. Note, citing the relevant sections of the 5 Edition of the
RAAF Air Power Manual and other reference material is mandatory.
Question 1
‘The effective use of air power might become increasingly restricted by political considerations.’
Given your understanding of the past employment of air power, critically analyse this statement.
In doing so, your essay should address each of the following:
a.
The effect of politics, the media and society on historical air campaigns and how this
might differ for future campaigns.
b.
Other likely constraints on future air campaigns imposed by international law and
Protocols.
c.
How might air forces mitigate or manage these constraints?
d.
How it might influence the future shape of the RAAF.
Question 2
Evaluate the adequacy of ‘western’ theory and practice of employing air power in irregular
warfare or other unconventional threats (refer to APDC Pathfinder Nos. 107 and 113). Consider:
a.
Should the RAAF give preference to conventional or irregular warfare.
b.
The legal and political obligations in the compliance of the Laws of Armed Conflict
(LOAC) in countering insurgencies/unconventional threats. Does an optimal
‘western’ approach require a more flexible interpretation of the LOAC?
c.
Will constraints on targeting and the use of air-delivered weapons affect the conduct
of air campaigns in future?
d.
Are there historical lessons from the use of air power in irregular warfare?
e.
What can air power contribute to the fight during irregular warfare?
Question 3
Has the continuing development and employment of air power resulted in more political and
military controversy than the development and employment of land and naval power? Discuss
this question and consider its influence on the future shape of the RAAF.
Question 4
Discuss the question; what might be the enduring conclusions from the application of air power
over the last 100 years which may be relevant to the RAAF in the 21st Century?
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Question 5
Douhet once observed that: ‘He who controls the air controls everything.’ Critically evaluate the
statement that the control of the air takes primacy in various roles of air power and is this still
valid?
Question 6
‘When collateral damage is mentioned in the media, air power is generally thought to be largely
responsible for it'. Evaluate this statement. Your essay might consider the following factors:
a.
The notions that strike air power are arguably subjected to unreasonable scrutiny
compared to other forms of warfare.
b.
Has modern air power built-up an incorrect image that 'surgical accuracy' always
ensures success.
c.
Why is the contribution of the other non-strike aspects of air power (humanitarian
relief for example) hardly considered when civilians are accidentally killed?
Question 7
Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, argued that essentially that there is no
longer a battlefield and that the battle is in the hearts and minds. Critically evaluate this
observation with regard to the host population, the adversary and the need to retain domestic
support.
Question 8
In the seventeenth century Thomas Hobbes commented that the natural condition of man is ‘a
condition of war of everyone against everyone.’ Some two hundred years later Giulio Douhet was
drawn to the same conclusion stating that ‘whenever two men met, conflict is inevitable.’
Evaluate if air power has the capability to negate these assumptions.
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Question 9
If you want to safeguard Australia’s national security, then you stockpile guided and smart
munitions, not bullets and explosives.’
Dr Mark Thomson
Australian Strategic Policy Institute
(Statement contained in a newspaper article by John Kerin, 'Gillard urged to close bullet
factories', Australian Financial Review, 31 January 2013.
Critically evaluate this statement in regard to the importance, or otherwise, of air-launched
Precision Guided Munitions and the implication that Australia’s security can be assured by the
application of high-tech air power weaponry. In addressing this question, you may wish to take
the following aspects into account:
a.
What was Thomson's intention in making this statement?
b.
Is the perceived infallibility of PGMs overrated?
c.
Any stockpiling of PGMs comes at a high dollar cost and a limited shelf life. Is there a
fine balance in this equation?
d.
Are advances in PGM design creating a 'chicken and egg' situation in regard to aircraft
design? That is, the choice of a particular design of aircraft will restrict the range of
PGMs that can be fitted.
e.
Can cheaper 'dumb' bombs be used with certainty in some cases particularly with
semi-smart, retro-fitted, devices such as laser/GPS apparatus?
Question 10 (For Australian Defence Organisation members)
The Australian Parliament has passed legislation in regard to cluster munitions. Once the new
legislation commences, it will be an offence to:


use, develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer cluster
munitions; and
assist, encourage or induce anyone to undertake these activities.
Evaluate the impact of this legislation on the RAAF's involvement in future coalition operations