Since the dawn of military aviation, air power has been, and continues to be, a predominant psychological weapon with the power to influence strategic decisions and shape tactical outcomes. As such, the combatant that best wields air power tools usually holds an asymmetric advantage in those conflicts dominated by the human dimension—irregular, unconventional, revolutionary, insurgent, low-intensity, etc.—where psychology and sociology complicate strategy.
For three quarters of a century, air, and more recently space, capabilities have offered military and civilian leaders creative options to address political, economic, humanitarian, and security challenges in conventional and unconventional theaters. Yet most analyses and current force planning for irregular conflicts limit their perspectives to a terrestrial focus, neglecting the possibilities available via the third, vertical dimension. The dominating role the human element plays in irregular settings eclipses considerations of what modern overhead systems can contribute. Despite amazing multispectral capabilities to “see,” overhead systems cannot sense emotions, judge attitudes, or assess passion and resolve, all of which exert significant influence in the irregular warfare ecosystem.
Such an approach gives short shrift to the human dimension and the ingenuity of those seeking unconventional applications of air power. The attributes and historical record of air power application in unconventional settings illustrates that it can be uniquely effective when shrewdly deployed. Project Air & Space Power will explore and advocate for the totality of air, aviation, and space power in the unconventional, hybrid, and gray-zone environments.
