Military Aviation

Heavier-than-air aircraft were first used in the military in the Italo-Turkish War in the libyan theatre. Those aircraft were used mainly for reconnaissance, since they didn’t have the weapon technology that we do today. Since then, aircraft have been able to take on a wide variety of missions. The last two decades were characterized by incredible advances in electronics, stealth technology, and both offensive and defensive systems. Today, the Air Force is the first line of defense against an attack in high technological warfare. They are also usually the first to engage an enemy.

Bombers are usually big, heavy, and have low maneuverability. They are capable of carrying large weapons. Their mission is to drop bombs onto their targets. They are not fast enough or agile enough to take on enemy fighters. Most bombers require at least two crew members to operate. Some bombers have stealth capabilities that keep them from being detected by enemy radar.

Fighters are fast, highly maneuverable, and capable of destroying enemy aircraft and ground targets. They are capable of carrying a large number of weapons, including machine guns, cannons, rockets, guided missiles, and bombs, depending on the mission. They can also be used to provide support for friendly ground troops. Some fighters, called fighter-bombers, are able to carry conventional or nuclear weapons far behind enemy lines to strike priority ground targets. Many fighters can attack enemy fighters from a great distance, before the enemy even sees them.

Today, aircraft conceptors tend to design planes with multi-role abilities, with both bomber and fighter qualities, so the distinction is getting relative or obsolete for new aircraft.

Reconnaissance aircraft are primarily used to gather intelligence. They are equipped with photographic, infrared, radar, and television sensors. These aircraft may be specially designed or may be modified from a basic fighter or bomber type. Some are equipped with special electronic gear for detecting submarines, and others can give early warnings of enemy approach. Reconnaissance aircraft include the fastest plane in the military, the SR-71 Blackbird.

Transport aircraft are primarily used to transport troops and war supplies. Cargo can be attached to pallets, which are easily loaded, secured for flight, and quickly unloaded for delivery. Cargo also may be discharged from flying aircraft on parachutes, eliminating the need for landing. The aerial tanker can refuel fighters, bombers, and helicopters while in flight. This means that an aircraft can go to any point on the globe without landing even once.
Helicopters can be used to transport troops, attack targets, provide support, deliver supplies, and search and rescue. Their vertical takeoff and landing gives them the ability to land in small areas that airplanes would not be able to land.

Research aircraft are occasionally designed, assembled, and tested in order to experiment with advanced aerodynamic, structural, avionic, or propulsion concepts that must be validated before they can be applied to other aircraft designs. Research aircraft 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.

The military of different countries may have an arm dedicated to aviation (an Air Force ) or may distribute military aviation between other arms such as the Army , Navy or Marine Corps . Even when a country has a dedicated air force, the other arms will generally also have aviation elements.

AIR FORCE

Where they exist, air forces are usually tasked with the air defence of a country, as well as strategic bombing, ground attack and transport functions. A majority of western Air Forces consist mainly of fixed-wing aircraft. Air Force operations also include space-based operations, including reconnaissance, satellite launches, as well as missile testing.

SEE ALSO

REFERENCE

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 .
The Military Aviation Webring. 6 Feb. 2006. 16 Feb. 2006 .

Information About

Military Aviation