Air University Press

SAASS Theses

These SAASS theses were selected for publication from among those submitted to the faculty of SAASS, as one of the requirements for completion of a master’s degree in air and space power art and science. AU Press no longer publishes this series, but award-winning SAASS theses are now published in the Drew Papers series.

  •  AFD-171227-079-283.PDF

    Seeking Shadows in the Sky

    Maj Patricia D. Hoffman, USAF
    Major Hoffman analyzes the feasibility of guerrilla warfare as the basis for a strategy of airpower employment for a weak air force confronting an opponent with a stronger air force. She compares the ground combat environment of the traditional guerrilla with the airpower environment of the potential air guerrilla. Major Hoffman focuses on the weak force's air platforms because it appears that aircraft employment is the more difficult problem to solve. She concludes that air guerrilla warfare is a credible threat to a stronger opponent. Major Hoffman recommends that the United States reexamine its conflict intervention strategy and reinforce its peacetime engagement posture. [Maj Patricia D. Hoffman, USAF / 2001 / 70 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: T-20]
  •  AFD-171229-075-021.PDF

    Special Operations Forces and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

    Maj Stephen P. Howard, USAF
    This study analyzes whether special operations forces (SOF) should use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) to support intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, communications, and resupply capability deficiencies. The author’s objective is to review the missions and requirements of the United States Special Operations Command, examine current and future unmanned aerial vehicle technologies, and analyze whether unmanned aircraft technologies are mature enough to meet the demanding special operations mission. The result of the analysis is that unmanned aerial vehicles have tremendous potential. But, due to the technological limitations and a lack of systems maturity, unmanned aerial vehicles lack the range, reliability, datalink capability, and size to meet SOF needs at this time. However, in the future, UAVs should be able to fulfill several SOF capability deficiencies. [Maj Stephen P. Howard, USAF / 1996 / 43 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-171229-573-007.PDF

    Strategic Attack of National Electrical Systems

    Maj Thomas E. Griffith, Jr., USAF
    This study seeks to answer the question, “How can airpower help resolve time-induced tensions between political and military imperatives in the conduct of modern warfare?” To answer this question, the study begins by exploring time in the theory of war with an emphasis on time as a fourth dimension that provides a distinct perspective on warfare. With concepts gleaned from theory, this study analyzes the Arab-Israeli War of 1967, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War to determine the role airpower played in overcoming time conflicts and achieving political-military congruence. The study concludes that a time-based strategy was the mechanism through which airpower worked to resolve time-induced tensions between political and military imperatives. A time-based strategy is defined as one in which time is a paramount or extremely significant consideration. Such a strategy seeks to overcome time-induced tensions and achieve political-military congruence by employing forces and forms of military power with an appreciation of their abilities to contribute to this resolution and congruence. A time-based strategy also weighs operational risks and benefits with the goal of balancing them to achieve the greatest time benefit at the lowest risk. In addition to revealing a time-based strategy as the mechanism for overcoming time conflicts between political and military imperatives, the evidence also points to the prominence of airpower’s role in that strategy. This link between time-based strategies and airpower has important implications for both the airpower theorist and the airpower strategist. [Maj Thomas E. Griffith, Jr., USAF / 1994 / 68 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-171228-161-134.PDF

    Strategic Paralysis

    Maj Jason B. Barlow, USAF
    The method or objective of Strategic Paralysis is to selectively attack or threaten those strategic or national level targets that most directly support the enemy’s war-making efforts and will to continue with his current behavior. Strategic Paralysis warfare should result in a change in the enemy’s behavior at a lesser cost to both sides as Airpower assets are the primary weapons --not ground troops. Why Airpower? It is the only weapon that can provide the near simultaneous shock to the enemy’s central nervous system necessary to induce paralysis. To achieve success Strategic Paralysis requires four key ingredients: 1) Correctly identifying the enemy’s National Elements of Value, 2) High technology, 3) An enemy dependent upon a well developed, modern and vulnerable infrastructure, and 4) Aerospace Control. The bulk of this study is devoted to defining this strategy and bettering our understanding of the first ingredient, that of choosing the best targets for attack. [Maj Jason B. Barlow, USAF / 1992 / 133 pages / ISBN: AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-171227-226-279.PDF

    Sustained Coercive Air Presence

    Maj George D. Kramlinger
    Major Kramlinger examines the theoretical, historical, operational, and technological aspects of Sustained Coercive Air Presence (SCAP) and illustrates how air operations over Iraq and Bosnia demonstrated the problems associated with long-term air presence and suggest the need for doctrine that adapts combat airpower to the SCAP mission. He focuses on the determination of the mechanisms, strengths, and limitations of how combat airpower can persuade determined belligerents to stop fighting and then maintain a secure environment to facilitate the continuing diplomatic process. [Maj George D. Kramlinger / 2000 / 78 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: T-26]
  •  AFD-171229-692-014.PDF

    Taking Down Telecommunications

    Maj Gerald R. Hust, USAF
    Information is one of the most, if not the most, essential elements of combat capability. Because telecommunications affects every aspect of a society, and is probably the most important medium which military information is exchanged, this thesis provides an understanding of the telecommunications system and how best to exploit it across the spectrum of conflict. I examine the system’s vulnerabilities to both lethal and nonlethal attack mechanisms. While the ability to employ nonlethal technologies are currently limited, I recommend pursuing a strong research and development program to acquire this capability. The reason is that they provide additional policy options to deal with conflict, they are cheap, and because research may not only discover unanticipated capabilities for the US, but also identify countermeasures to protect our own systems. This thesis concludes by offering guidelines to help determine whether to exploit telecommunications with either lethal or nonlethal attack strategies. [Maj Gerald R. Hust, USAF / 1993 / 88 pages / ISBN: AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-180102-158-028.PDF

    Targeting for Effect

    Maj Scott G. Walker, USAF
    This study analyzes the use of airpower against enemy ground forces including the author’s counterland analysis framework. [Maj Scott G. Walker, USAF / 1998 / 84 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-171228-007-106.PDF

    Targeting Organizations

    Maj Edward B. Schmidt, USAF
    Major Schmidt analyzes the evolution of targeting organizations to identify their strengths and evaluate their impact on future organizations. He discusses both strategic and tactical targeting with primary emphasis on strategic targeting. Because Desert Shield/Desert Storm revealed that centralized targeting of a conventional war from the United States could also work well, Major Schmidt proposes creation of a centralized targeting organization. He indicates that a centralized strategic-targeting agency could ensure ready access to strategic target lists, thus allowing the United States to strike at the heart of the enemy at a moment's notice. [Maj Edward B. Schmidt, USAF / 1993 / 48 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: T-33]
  •  AFD-171229-869-050.PDF

    The Air Refueling Receiver that Does Not Complain

    Maj Jeffrey L. Stephenson, USAF
    This study focuses on the development of aerial refueling methods and procedures for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The author states the need for UAVs, lists assumptions, and gives a brief background on them. His discussion of the three current Air Force UAV systems (Predator, DarkStar, and Global Hawk) is followed by some proposed methods and procedures for rendezvous and aerial refueling of these UAV platforms. The author rounds out his discussion by comparing and analyzing both the current UAV systems and the methods of air refueling. After proposing the UAV system best suited for air refueling, the most effective type of rendezvous for this UAV system, and the best method for con-trolling the UAV during the air refueling, the author concludes with a brief review of the implications for the Air Force and airpower enthusiasts. [Maj Jeffrey L. Stephenson, USAF / 1999 / 48 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code:]
  •  AFD-171229-435-056.PDF

    The Airship’s Potential for Intertheater and Intratheater Airlift

    Lt Col Donald E. Ryan Jr., USAF
    The airship is recommended as a suitable solution to the mid-term strategic transportation dilemma. The fundamentals of airship operation are described, its history in both war and peace discussed, and some current private and military airship activities mentioned. Recent technological breakthroughs in materials technology are discussed and the potential for government-sponsored research and development yielding equally great propulsion and cargo capacity dividends explored. A discussion of the potential threat environment of the early twenty-first century shows the airship, properly constructed and used, would likely be no more vulnerable than jet air lifters while offering transportation capabilities currently unavailable. [Lt Col Donald E. Ryan Jr., USAF / 1992 / 89 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code:]
  •  AFD-171229-936-020.PDF

    The Counterair Companion

    Maj James M. Holmes, USAF
    This paper is designed to provide future joint force commanders a basic understanding of counterair doctrine, strategy, forces, and issues by demonstrating the continuing importance of rapid air supremacy, identifying problem areas that may limit future counterair effectiveness, and recommending solutions. To accomplish this goal, the author analyzes service and joint counterair doctrine, examines the counterair strategy process, discusses counterair force options, describes current interservice issues that affect counterair forces, and uses service visions of war to show why counterair forces will continue to play a critical role in American joint operations. [Maj James M. Holmes, USAF / 1995 / 78 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-171228-248-147.PDF

    The Diffusion of Military Technologies to Foreign Nations

    Maj William J. Delgrego, USAF
    The purpose of this paper is to recommend that the United States government maintain the defense technological and industrial base (DTIB) by aggressively supporting the US defense industry in the arms transfer process. Ironically, this recommendation is contrary to the position held at the onset of this research and analysis effort. It is written for the microlevel reader (the young pilot, tank operator, etc.), the macrolevel reader (US government staffers and above in the State and Defense departments), and senior government officials (generals, congressmen, and senators) to inform and enhance their ability to understand the DTIB and how arms transfers can help in its preservation. [Maj William J. Delgrego, USAF / 1996 / 43 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-171228-535-149.PDF

    The DOD Operational Requirement and Systems Concepts Generation Processes

    Maj Robert D. Dillman, USAF
    Operational requirements generation and system concepts generation are the crucial processes by which the US decides what weapon systems it needs to develop and acquire to sustain the military national instrument of power for the sake of achieving national security objectives. This paper asserts that the current operational requirements and system concept generation processes can and should be significantly improved. To develop that assertion, the paper examines the evolution of the processes since the President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Defense Management (the "Packard Commission") made its recommendations in 1986. [Maj Robert D. Dillman, USAF / 1992 / 67 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-171229-481-017.PDF

    The Failure of Third World Air Power

    Maj Douglas A. Kupersmith, USAF
    The Iraqi Air Force failed to live up to its prewar billing during Operation Desert Storm. Touted by many sources as an experienced, aggressive power before the war, Saddam’s air force turned out to be quite the opposite. This paper explains why the Iraqi performance in Desert Storm was predictable: Nonindustrialized, third world nations are incapable of fielding a decisive, conventional air force. To illustrate the point, this essay studies Iraq’s performance in the war against Iran. During the conflict, the Iraqi air force obtained all the equipment and training money could buy, but after eight years of combat experience it still made only minor contributions in a war effort against an equal foe. Each country is unique, but the same vulnerabilities that restrained Iraq’s forces affect every other nonindustrialized nation. The inability of third world nations to independently organize, train, and equip air forces to decisive levels is inevitable. Avoiding large, wasted sums of money fielding a force of questionable value should lead these countries to alternative forms of aerial warfare. [Maj Douglas A. Kupersmith, USAF / 1993 / 61 pages / ISBN: AU Press Code: ]
  •  AFD-171227-576-284.PDF

    The Future of NATO’s Tactical Air Doctrine

    Linda E. Torrens
    This study analyzes the need for changes to NATO airpower doctrine to reflect current Post–Cold War realities. NATO air doctrine does not yet reflect the actuality of today’s operations, nor does it anticipate the probable future employment of NATO’s airpower. Out–of–area operations and PFP participation in NATO operations will have profound effects on combined doctrine, training, organizational structures, exercises and employment of forces. NATO’s tactical doctrine revision process served the alliance well during the Cold War. But today, the international environment has drastically changed: both the nature of the threat and the use of NATO airpower during conflict have changed. The current doctrinal revision process has proven too slow and cumbersome to provide adequate direction for air strategists during ongoing operations. There are many new doctrinal areas that must be thoroughly addressed so that NATO can chart a course for the future that in the end provides the best, most effective mix of forces. [Linda E. Torrens / 1996 / 77 pages / ISBN: / AU Press Code: T-21]
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