|
|
Article: Future Offensive Air System
- Article from:
- RUSI Journal
- Article date:
- August 1, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Royal United Services Institute for Defence Studies Aug 1998. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
|
Introduction
Offensive action is an essential element of any modern military campaign. The power, range and accuracy of modern weapons make a purely defensive posture unsustainable, and the ability to destroy or neutralise enemy assets in the early days, or even hours, of the war is the key to victory or survival. An effective Air Force must therefore, as one of its primary missions, be able to strike effectively and quickly at enemy formations, whilst minimising losses amongst its own assets. An offensive air system must be able to penetrate enemy defences, find and identify the targets, deliver weapons with high accuracy and return to base with minimum losses. In the contemporary world, ...