Military aviation

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C-17A

transports on an air drop operation

Military aviation comprises military aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling aerial warfare, including national airlift (air cargo) capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a war theater or along a front. Airpower includes the national means of conducting such warfare, including the intersection of transport and warcraft. Military aircraft include bombers, fighters, transports, trainer aircraft, and reconnaissance aircraft.

History

Blériot XI-2 artillery spotting monoplane of the Romanian Army during the Second Balkan War

in 1913

The first military uses of aviation involved

improved.

Heavier-than-air aircraft were recognized as having military applications early on, despite resistance from traditionalists and the severe limitations of early aircraft. The

The earliest military role filled by aircraft was

all-metal cantilevered airplanes

were going into service as the war ended.

Between the major

, allowing troops and supplies to be quickly delivered over vastly greater distances.

US Navy VPB-103 PB4Y-1 Liberator

long range maritime patrol aircraft

While they first appeared during World War I, ground attack aircraft didn't provide a decisive contribution until the Germans introduced

Battle of Normandy

and afterwards. World War I also saw the creation of the first strategic bomber units, however, they wouldn't be tested until the Spanish Civil War where the perceived effects of mass bombardment would encourage their widespread use during World War II. Carrier aviation also first appeared during World War I, and likewise came to play a major role during World War II, with most major navies recognizing the aircraft carrier's advantages over the battleship and devoting massive resources to the building of new carriers.

During World War II,

are World War II advancements which are felt to the present day.

Post World War II, the development of military aviation was spurred by the

tested the resulting designs. Incredible advances in electronics were made, starting with the first electronic computers during World War II and steadily expanding from its original role of cryptography into communications, data processing, reconnaissance, remotely piloted aircraft, and many other roles until it has become an integral aspect of modern warfare. In the early 1960s, missiles were expected to replace manned interceptors and the guns in other manned aircraft. They failed to live up to expectations as surface-to-air missiles lacked flexibility and were not as effective as manned interceptors, and fighters equipped only with air-to-air missiles had limited effectiveness against opposing aircraft which could avoid being hit. Missiles were also expensive, especially against low-value ground targets. The 1970s saw the return of the gun-armed fighter, and a greater emphasis on maneuverability. The 1980s through to the present day were characterized by stealth technology and other countermeasures.

Today, a country's military aviation forces are often the first line of defense against an attack, or the first forces to attack the enemy, and effective military aviation forces (or lack thereof) have proved decisive in several recent conflicts such as the Gulf War.

Categories

provides advance warning of enemy activities to reduce the chance of being surprised. Many also have command functions that allow them to direct or vector friendly fighters onto incoming bogeys.

are capable of carrying large payloads of bombs and may sacrifice speed or maneuverability to maximize payload.

Experimental aircraft are designed to test advanced aerodynamic, structural, avionic, or propulsion concepts. These are usually well instrumented, with performance data telemetered on radio-frequency data links to ground stations located at the test ranges where they are flown.

. Speed and maneuverability are usually requirements and they carry a variety of weapons, including machine guns and guided missiles, to do this.

Forward Air Control

directs close air support aircraft to ensure that the intended targets are nullified and friendly troops remain uninjured.

attack enemy armor or troops and provide close air support

for ground troops.

Liaison aircraft are usually small, unarmed aircraft used to deliver messages and key personnel.

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

are used to control sea-lanes, and are often equipped with special electronic gear for detecting and sinking submarines, such as sonar. They are also used for search and rescue missions and fisheries patrols.

Multirole combat aircraft combine the capabilities of both a fighter or a bomber, depending on what the mission calls for.

unmanned aerial vehicles

.

Refueling aircraft are used to refuel fighters and reconnaissance aircraft, extending mission reach and flying range. These aircraft include but are not limited to the KC-135, KC-46, KC-767, A310 MRTT, and the KC-130J. These aircraft are a part of many countries' militant assets.^[7]

Training aircraft

are used to train recruits to fly aircraft and to provide additional training for specialized roles such as in air combat.

in flight. Helicopters and gliders

can transport troops and supplies to areas where other aircraft would be unable to land.

Air forces

Main article: Air force

An air force is the branch of a nation's armed forces that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from the army, navy, or other branches. Most nations either maintain an air force or, in the case of smaller and less well-developed countries, an air wing (see List of air forces). Air forces are usually tasked with the air defense of a country, as well as strategic bombing, interdiction, close air support, intelligence gathering, battlespace management, transport functions, and providing services to civil government agencies. Air force operations may also include space-based operations such as reconnaissance or satellite operations.

Other branches

USN F-14 fighter intercepting a Russian Tu-95

long range nuclear bomber

Other branches of a nation's armed forces may use aviation (naval aviation and army aviation), in addition to or instead of, a dedicated air force. In some cases, this includes coast guard services that are also an armed service, as well as gendarmeries and equivalent forces.

See also

• Civil aviation
• Military aviation occupations
• Military aircraft insignia

References

Footnotes

1. ISBN 1851094881
   . Retrieved 13 August 2014.
2. ^ "The 1909 Wright Military Flyer". Archived from the original on 2015-11-24. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
3. ISBN 1573565571
   . Retrieved 13 August 2014.
4. ^ Maksel, Rebecca. "The World's First Warplane". airspacemag.com. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
5. ^ U.S. Centennial of Flight Commission: Aviation at the Start of the First World War Archived 2008-05-11 at the Wayback Machine
6. ISBN 0275947920, Greenwood Publishing Group, page 9
7. ^ "The world's biggest aerial refuelling aircraft". Airforce Technology. 2013-11-10. Retrieved 2020-06-25.

Citations

• Aviation History. New York: Primedia Special Interest Publications, 1996. 15 Feb. 2006
• Gross, Charles Joseph. American Military Aviation: The Indispensable Arm. College Station Texas A&M University Press, 2002. 13 Feb. 2006
• Rusnac, Mircea, The Monument with a Propeller^{[dead link]}