The Counterair Companion : A Short Guide to Air Superiority for Joint Force Commanders

By Major James M. Holmes, USAF

Book Id: WPLBN0002170697
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 0.6 MB
Reproduction Date: 10/22/2012

Title:	The Counterair Companion : A Short Guide to Air Superiority for Joint Force Commanders
Author:	Major James M. Holmes, USAF
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Military Science, Airpower
Collections:	Technology, Science Fiction Collection, Military Technology, Business Strategy, Military Science, Authors Community, Naval Science, Literature
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Air University Press

Member Page:	Air University Press
Citation APA MLA Chicago James M. Holmes, Usa, B. M. (n.d.). The Counterair Companion : A Short Guide to Air Superiority for Joint Force Commanders. Retrieved from http://www.gutenberg.cc/

Description
The author’s examination of the counterair strategy process shows how joint force commanders should balance objectives, the balance of forces, the nature of the theater, and policy limits to build a counterair strategy that links means to ends by choosing methods, targets, and attack timing.The author’s discussion of current counterair issues shows that the services appreciate the product (freedom of action for land, sea, and air forces) that control of the air provides, but neglect the process of obtaining it. Current air power disputes emphasize the control and targeting of air resources, and slight the potential impact of these issues on America’s future ability to control the air and space.

Table of Contents
1 AIR SUPERIORITY AND JOINT OPERATIONS . . . . . 1 Notes . . . . . 4 2 VISIONS AND DOCTRINE . . . . 5 Doctrine . . . . 6 Counterair Doctrine Evaluation . . . . . 8 Service Doctrine . . . . . 12 Joint Doctrine . . . . . 14 Conclusion . . . . 14 Notes . . . . . 15 3 COUNTERAIR STRATEGY, TARGETS, AND TIMING . . . . . 19 The Counterair System . . . . 19 Basic Strategy Considerations . . . . 20 Strategic Choices . . . . . 22 Offense and Defense . . . . . 23 Targets . . . . 27 Strategy, Targets, and Timing . . . . 29 Measures of Success . . . . . 31 Conclusion . . . . 31 Notes . . . . . 32 4 COUNTERAIR FORCES . . . . 35 Capability and Cost . . . . 35 Air-to-Air and Surface-to-Air Weapons . . . . . 36 Manned and Unmanned Systems . . . . 37 Specialized and Multirole Forces . . . . 37 Weapons . . . . 38 Force Multipliers . . . . . 39 Conclusion . . . . 40 Notes . . . . . 40 5 COUNTERAIR ISSUES . . . . 43 Roles and Missions . . . . 43 The Bottom Up Review . . . . 44 Controlling Joint Air Forces . . . . . 48 Fire Support Coordination . . . . 50 Theater Missile Defense . . . . . 52 Conclusion . . . . 53 Notes . . . . . 54 6 VISIONS AND THE FUTURE . . . . . 57 The Air Force . . . . . 58 The Army . . . . . 59 The Navy . . . . . 60 The Marine Corps . . . . 61 Conclusion . . . . 62 Notes . . . . . 62 7 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . 65 Notes . . . . . 67