Air and Space Warfare

Abstract

Through the prism of post-cold-war air campaigns, differing national positions of contributing European air forces, as well as their relative weights and evolving capabilities, are gauged. Since major Western air campaigns have occurred only with substantial US involvement, American capabilities offer natural benchmarks. The issue of breadth versus depth has affected all European air forces. Maintaining a coherent set of aerospace capabilities has proven a challenge even for larger European countries. Smaller countries can pursue only limited ambitions and maintain segments of aerospace power. Nonetheless, selected smaller air forces with the right equipment, training, and attitude have managed to make visible contributions to multinational air campaigns. Air campaigns also spurred Europe’s military space ambitions. Space assets have become indispensable enablers of modern warfare, and selected European countries have deployed important capabilities into orbit.