Application of the Operational Art to the NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) Air Element

摘要

This study examines the applicability of the operational art practiced by land commander to air campaign planning. It focuses on the role of U.S. Army Air Defense systems in operational maneuver and particularly seeks to determine if the same basic tenets used by land campaign planners are adaptable to the theory of integrating the air campaign into support of an operational maneuver by a U.S corps in NATO. The 'air element' is a phrase used to imply airspace as it is affected by both the air defense forces, to include U.S. Army Air Defense systems, and offensive air forces. The author presents an example from World War II to emphasize the lessons history has already taught about integration of operational level land and air campaigns. He then reviews the NATO environment, describing the roles of the major commanders, the staff agencies, and the processes that are involved in air element planning. Future U.S. Army Air Defense systems are reviewed to establish the impact they may have on future air element planning. Investigation of the applicability of the operational art of warfare to planning a theater air campaign is then conducted. Using a hypothetical scenario, tenets of the operational art subsequently are applied to objectives of the air campaign. Conclusions are drawn pertaining to the ability of existing NATO structures to plan for air element support of operational maneuver of a corps, the role of U.S. Army Air Defense systems in operational maneuver, and the applicability of the tenets of the operational art practiced by the land component operational commander to air campaign planning. (edc)