Manned flight has been integral to the fight on the battlefield since World War I. World War II was the first large-scale showcase for aviation in the interdiction role while the Vietnam War heralded the advent of precision-guided munitions. During...
Joint publications list fixed-wing aircraft and Army tactical missile system (ATACMS) as the two preferred weapon systems for engaging time-sensitive targets (TSTs), but do not give specific considerations. This thesis comprehensively lists the...
This monograph discusses the question of whether or not the USAF should consider using heavy bombers in the Close Air Support (CAS) mission. To answer this question, the monograph develops a bomber CAS concept of operations. The validity of this...
While both air and ground based fire support have proven themselves to be an invaluable and overwhelmingly lethal force in conventional combat, they have struggled to deal with the extreme complexity, density, and constraints of the Urban...
Air apportionment is the joint force commander’s tool for weighting his main and supporting efforts within the air operations supporting his campaign. It complements the targeting process by specifying how much effort is to be expended within...
Deploying initially with the 96th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron in January 2002 in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM (then later re-task organized under the 40th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron), Major Mike Adderley served as a B-52 aircraft...
Since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war, the airfield attack subset of the counter-air role became increasingly hazardous to attacking aircrews due to improvements and proliferation of anti-air weapons. The United States and coalition air forces in...
In 1991 the organizational structure of the Air Force changed substantially. Since then, senior Air Force leaders have called for an additional change in the mindset of the airman. The USAF is a "stovepiped" organization in which most officers know...
This essay speaks of the overall advantages gained by the use of Global Positioning Systems (GPS) in combat. Fratricide has been reduced because of the effective use of GPS in common equipment employed by troops. Collateral damage that might...
United States. Army. Engineer Center and Fort Leonard Wood.
The Guidon came into being as a weekly publication in 1966 under the title Fort Leonard Wood Guidon. Between 1966 and 1987 the title was simplified to Guidon before becoming Essayons in 1988. The name reverted back to Guidon in 1999. It has been...
This study examines the decision to deploy a space-based kinetic kill vehicle (SBKHV) by examining the validity, feasibility, suitability, and acceptability of such a deployment. Determining validity entails verifying that a need exists for the...
The utilization of the Global Positioning System (GPS) has enabled the United States Army to dramatically reduce the number of personnel exposed to enemy contact during combat operations. This essay will identify three areas that the Global...
Through the study of past military experiences, especially the examination of common lessons from differing conflicts, implications for future warfare can be revealed. Common counterland lessons from three major US conflicts are the focus of this...
This thesis investigates the question: Should inertially guided air-to-ground weapons be used to perform Close Air Support (CAS)? With inertially guided weapons it is possible to strike targets with precision, even when crewmen in attack aircraft...
This monograph discusses the role of The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) in JFACC planned deep operations. Since Operation Desert Storm, all of the services have been involved in a debate over their respective roles and missions. Part of this...
Developing a strategic bomber in today's budget constrained environment is a challenging prospect. The design requirements must address conflict across the spectrum and remain relevant regardless of the enemy America faces. The operational concept...
The Department of Defense (DoD) has depended on different space-based assets as critical components to battlefield operations. As technology has evolved, space-based assets have become the eyes and ears of the military. Unfortunately, these assets...
Lieutenant Commander Brandon Sellers served as a pilot for an F-18 Hornet in Carrier Air Wing Five onboard USS Kitty Hawk from March through May 2003 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In this interview, he talks about being part of the Navy's...
Major Alan Wesenberg, US Air Force, deployed as a flight commander of a 12-aircraft air expeditionary force (AEF) element of the 492nd Fighter Squadron form March to June 2004. Flying F-15Es from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, to...
This thesis examines the position the B-52 has filled in support of U.S. national security objectives and deterrence. This thesis recommends that the B-52G augment the bomber fleet until the B-2 and new precision-guided munitions become available...