Title: Night Air Combat: A United States Military-Technical Revolution
Subject: Night air combat, as a specialized type of combat in which the United States military retains a distinct advantage due to technology, training, and application, fits the characteristics of MTR theory—and is part of the continuing greater Revolution in Military Affairs.
Author(s): Merrick E. Krause; Budd A. Jones Jr. (Faculty Advisor)
DTIC Keywords: NIGHT WARFARE
Abstract:
Night fighting is one competency in which the United States possesses global
superiority. After witnessing the devastating effect of twenty-four hour flight
operations during Operation DESERT STORM, many tacticians now promote initiating
offensive air combat operations at night to exploit our apparent advantage over
potential adversaries. Understanding how the United States reached the critical
jump in military effectiveness through the application of night air combat
technologies is critical to project future military revolutions based on
technical innovations. Although previous wars and conflicts have had limited
night aerial operations, it is possible to detect a revolutionary shift in the
effectiveness of night air combat and in the frequency of night airpower
employment. This paper explores the development and non-linear maturation
process of night air combat, examining this capability with regard to the theory
of the military technical revolution (MTR).
An investigation of the MTR concept begins this study, followed by a historic
review of night air combat. Finally, this paper links theory and history to
provide conclusions. Night air combat, as a specialized type of combat in which
the United States military retains a distinct advantage due to technology,
training, and application, fits the characteristics of MTR theory-and is part of
the continuing greater Revolution in Military Affairs.