Military Aviation: Evolution of Aerial Warfare and Tactical Advancements

By Fouad Sabry

What is Military Aviation

Military aviation comprises military aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling aerial warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a war theater or along a front. Airpower includes the national means of conducting such warfare, including the intersection of transport and warcraft. Military aircraft include bombers, fighters, transports, trainer aircraft, and reconnaissance aircraft.

How you will benefit

(I) Insights, and validations about the following topics:

Chapter 1: Military aviation

Chapter 2: Strategic Air Command

Chapter 3: Military aircraft

Chapter 4: Israeli Air Force

Chapter 5: Attack aircraft

Chapter 6: Aerial refueling

Chapter 7: Aerial warfare

Chapter 8: List of active United States Marine Corps aircraft squadrons

Chapter 9: List of United States Air Force squadrons

Chapter 10: Close air support

(II) Answering the public top questions about military aviation.

Who this book is for

Professionals, undergraduate and graduate students, enthusiasts, hobbyists, and those who want to go beyond basic knowledge or information for any kind of Military Aviation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Billion Knowledgeable
• Release date: Jun 21, 2024

Book preview

Chapter 1: Military aviation

Military aviation consists of military aircraft and other flying vehicles used to conduct or enable aerial warfare, as well as national airlift (air freight) capacity to supply soldiers stationed in a war theater or on a front with logistical supplies. Airpower encompasses the national means of conducting such combat, including the interaction between transport and warplanes. Bombers, fighters, transporters, trainer aircraft, and reconnaissance aircraft are examples of military aircraft.

Initially, lighter-than-air balloons were utilized for military purposes. During the 1794 Battle of Fleurus, the French observation balloon l'Entreprenant was deployed to track the movements of Austrian troops. In the 19th century, lighter-than-air aircraft were regularly employed in warfare, particularly during the American Civil War. As heavier-than-air aircraft advanced, lighter-than-air military aircraft were gradually phased out of various tasks until just after World War II.

Early on, despite opposition from traditionalists and the severe constraints of early aircraft, it was recognized that heavier-than-air aircraft had military applications. On 2 August 1909, the U.S. Army Signal Corps purchased a Wright Model A, the first military aircraft in history.

Reconnaissance was the oldest military function performed by aircraft; however, by the end of World War I, military aviation had rapidly adopted several specialized functions, including artillery spotting, air superiority, bombing, ground attack, and anti-submarine patrols. As the war ended, the first all-metal cantilevered warplanes entered service.

Between the world wars, incremental improvements in many areas, particularly powerplants, aerodynamics, structures, and weapons, led to a rapid advancement in aircraft technology during World War II, with large performance increases and the introduction of aircraft for new roles, such as Airborne Early Warning, electronic warfare, weather reconnaissance, and flying lifeboats. During the interwar period, the United Kingdom used aviation to crush rebellions throughout the Empire and launched the first military transports, which revolutionized logistics by allowing troops and supplies to be rapidly transported over vastly wider distances.

Although they originally debuted during World War I, ground attack aircraft did not make a meaningful impact until the Germans launched Blitzkrieg during the invasion of Poland and the Battle of France, where aircraft served as mobile flying artillery to immediately shatter defensive formations. Later, the Allies would employ rocket-equipped fighters for the same purpose, immobilizing German armored divisions during and after the Battle of Normandy. During World War I, the first strategic bomber units were created; however, they were not tested until the Spanish Civil War, where the apparent consequences of mass bombardment encouraged their widespread employment in World War II. During World War II, most major navies recognized the advantages of the aircraft carrier over the battleship and devoted substantial resources to the construction of additional carriers.

During World War II, U-boats posed a threat to the ability of the Allies to transport troops and war material to Europe. This prompted the development of very long range Maritime patrol aircraft, whose capability of independently detecting and destroying submerged submarines was greatly enhanced by new detection systems, such as sonobuoys, Leigh Lights, and radar, as well as better weapons, such as homing torpedoes and improved depth charges. This was crucial to the victory in the Battle of the Atlantic. Many notable engagements, such as the Battle of Britain or the attack on Pearl Harbor, were decided solely through the use of military aircraft, and the conclusion of the Pacific War against Japan was marked by two lone aircraft dropping the atomic bombs, destroying the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Jet engines, radar, early missiles, helicopters, and computers are World War II innovations that continue to have an impact today.

The standoff between superpowers during the Cold War stimulated the development of military aviation after World War II. The helicopter debuted late in World War II and developed into a vital component of military aviation, delivering troops and enhancing the anti-submarine capabilities of smaller warships, hence eliminating the need for a large number of aircraft carriers. The necessity to outperform opponents drove the development of new technologies and aircraft in the U.S.S.R. and the United States, among others, and the Korean War and Vietnam War put the ensuing designs to the test. Beginning with the development of the first electronic computers during World War II and slowly expanding into communications, data processing, reconnaissance, and remotely piloted aircraft, the role of electronics in modern warfare has grown indispensable. At the beginning of the 1960s, it was anticipated that missiles would replace human interceptors and the weapons on other manned aircraft. Surface-to-air missiles lacked flexibility and were not as effective as manned interceptors, and fighters equipped only with air-to-air missiles had limited effectiveness against enemy aircraft that could avoid being hit. Missiles were extremely costly, particularly when used against low-value ground targets. The return of gun-armed fighters and an increased emphasis on mobility marked the 1970s. From the 1980s until the present, stealth technology and other countermeasures have dominated.

Today, a country's military aviation forces are frequently the first line of defense against an attack or the first troops to attack the enemy, and effective military aviation forces (or the lack thereof) have proven critical in a number of recent conflicts such as the Gulf War.

Airborne Early Notification reduces the possibility of being surprised by the enemy by providing early warning of their operations. Many also include command functions that enable them to guide or vector friendly fighters towards approaching foes.

Bombers are able to carry enormous bomb loads and may compromise speed or maneuverability in order to maximize payload.

Advanced aerodynamic, structural, avionic, and propulsion concepts are tested on experimental aircraft. These are often well-instrumented, with performance data transmitted through radio-frequency data links to ground stations near the test ranges where they are flown.

Fighters maintain and establish air supremacy. For this, they carry a variety of weaponry, including machine guns and guided missiles, in addition to their speed and mobility.

Forward Air Control commands close air support aircraft to assure the destruction of intended targets and the safety of friendly forces.

The primary function of ground-attack aircraft is to weaken or eliminate the enemy's defenses in support of ground troops. Attacking enemy armor and ground soldiers, helicopter gunships and specialist ground attack aircraft provide close air support for ground troops.

Typically, liaison aircraft are small, unarmed aircraft used for transporting messages and critical persons.

Maritime Security Aircraft are frequently equipped with sonar and other electronic equipment for detecting and sinking submarines in order to manage sea routes. Additionally, they are utilized for search-and-rescue operations and fishery patrols.

Depending on the task, multirole combat aircraft combine the capabilities of a fighter and a bomber.

The primary function of reconnaissance aircraft and scout helicopters is intelligence gathering. They are outfitted with television, photographic, infrared, and radar sensors. This function is increasingly performed by spy satellites and unmanned aircraft.

Refueling aircraft are utilized to refuel fighters and reconnaissance aircraft, hence expanding their mission range and flying distance. These aircraft include the KC-135, KC-46, KC-767, A310 MRTT, and KC-130J, among others. These aircraft are part of the military forces of numerous nations.

Aircraft used for training recruits to fly and providing further training for particular jobs, such as air combat.

Convey aircraft transport supplies and troops. Cargo can be placed on pallets to expedite unloading. Parachutes may also be used to drop cargo and personnel from a moving aircraft. This category also includes aerial tankers, which can refuel other aircraft in flight. Helicopters and gliders can transport soldiers and supplies to locations inaccessible to other aircraft.

A nation's air force is the branch of the armed forces responsible for aerial warfare, as opposed to the army, navy, or other branches. The majority of states maintain either an air force or, in the case of smaller and less developed nations, an air wing (see List of air forces). Typically, air forces are charged with air defense, strategic bombing, interdiction, close air support, information collection, battlespace management, transport functions, and delivering services to civilian government agencies. Space-based operations, such as reconnaissance or satellite missions, may also be included in air force operations.

In addition to or in place of a dedicated air force, other branches of a nation's military may employ aviation (naval aviation and army aviation). In some instances, this includes armed coast guard services, gendarmeries, and comparable forces.

{End Chapter 1}

Chapter 2: Strategic Air Command

Between the years 1946 and 1992, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) served as both a United States Department of Defense Specified Command and a United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command. Its primary responsibility was to exercise command and control over the strategic bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile components of the strategic nuclear forces of the United States military. SAC was also in charge of the operation of strategic reconnaissance aircraft and airborne command post aircraft, in addition to the majority of the United States Air Force's aerial refueling fleet, which included aircraft from the Air Force Reserve (AFRES) and the Air National Guard (ANG).

The Second Air Force (2AF), the Eighth Air Force (8AF), and the Fifteenth Air Force (15AF) were the primary components of the Special Air Command (SAC). The headquarters of the SAC (HQ SAC) included Directorates for Operations and Plans, Intelligence, Command and Control, Maintenance, Training, Communications,