Publisher's Synopsis
This document is the Air Force's premier statement of warfighting principles and beliefs, updated in late 2011. It is the senior doctrine publication from which all other Air Force doctrine flows. Historically, airpower has been associated with its more familiar and visible aspects, such as air-to-air combat, strategic bombing, and long-range heavy airlift. However, airpower has many less visible but equally important missions across the range of military operations: providing close air support and tactical mobility to our ground forces; positioning and resupplying remote forces; obtaining and providing detailed and timely intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; providing humanitarian relief; projecting world-wide command and control; and training of coalition partners in the use of airpower, just to name a few. Also, while many parts of the Air Force are visibly engaged in overseas expeditionary operations, other aspects of the Air Force are quietly at work day-to-day, overwatching the homeland. These include nuclear forces on alert; ground- and space-based national warning systems; cyberspace forces monitoring the security of military networks; and fighters on call to defend sovereign airspace. Much has transpired in the world since the previous edition of AFDD 1 was published in 2003. Irregular warfare and homeland defense have taken on more importance; the Air Force has recognized cyberspace as an operational domain and has renewed its commitment to nuclear operations; and we are now investing heavily in unmanned aircraft systems. Seven years ago, we could not have accurately foreseen these changes; looking forward, the future is equally unpredictable. While we cannot accurately predict where and how we'll next be engaged, doctrine provides a leg up, outlining the basics of organization and command, providing guidance on how to think about and plan for different types of operations and missions. These foundational basics allow us to respond more quickly, freeing commanders and planners to think about larger issues such as strategy, operational art, and objectives. Contents: Chapter One - Doctrine * Chapter Two - Airpower * Chapter Three - War * Chapter Four - Principles And Tenets * Chapter Five - Air Force Functions * Chapter Six - Commanding And Organizing Air Force Forces * Chapter Seven - The Air Force Component Within The Joint Force
