All articles tagged with #air power
The piece argues that modern air campaigns rarely win wars on their own; without ground forces or internal upheaval inside Iran, Trump’s Iran campaign is unlikely to achieve its goals, a conclusion supported by historical analyses such as Robert Pape’s Bombing to Win.
Israel’s air force is conducting a high-intensity, multi-wave campaign against Iran in Operation Roaring Lion, flying three missions per day with stimulant-assisted endurance and strong American refueling and airpower support. By midweek the IAF had dropped about 5,000 munitions in four days—far faster than in the prior operation—while ground crews, including women, helped minimize turnaround times. The goal is to reduce Iran’s launch capability to manageable levels and to demonstrate unprecedented Israeli-American air collaboration, all while acknowledging Iran’s determination and reserves.
The piece summarizes a White House/Pentagon briefing about Operation Epic Fury against Iran, claiming overwhelming U.S. air power, rapid degradation of Iran’s missile and drone capabilities, sinking multiple ships, and the killing of senior Iranian leaders, framed as a decisive victory; independent verification is not provided in the article.
US CENTCOM will hold multi-day readiness airpower exercises in the Middle East to demonstrate the ability to deploy, disperse and sustain combat airpower as tensions with Iran rise, with a carrier strike group led by USS Abraham Lincoln in the region; the drills aim to deter aggression, bolster regional partnerships, and rehearse a flexible response.
In the event of an extended armed conflict between Israel and Iran, Israel's military would have to contend with potential involvement of Iran's non-state allies such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi militia in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq. Israel has been preparing for such a scenario by expanding defense systems, developing offensive capabilities, and building regional and international alliances. While Iran has numerical superiority in manpower and armored vehicles, Israel holds air power superiority. However, the threat posed by Hezbollah's substantial rocket arsenal and potential attacks from Syrian territory presents a significant challenge for Israel's defense systems.
Russia has significantly increased its air power effectiveness in the Ukraine war by using Soviet-era glide bombs fitted with wings and guidance systems, contributing to recent battlefield successes such as the capture of Avdiivka. These bombs have added destructive firepower to Russia’s campaign, posing a significant challenge for Ukrainian forces. The most effective counter, according to Ukrainians, would be the acquisition of U.S.-made F-16 fighter planes. Despite claims of downing Russian aircraft, the use of glide bombs continues to pose a threat, with Russian forces increasing their use in the Kharkiv region.
Ukrainian pilots have implored the West to supply them with F-16 fighter jets, as they describe the difficulties of fighting against Russia's dominant air power. The pilots say that the counteroffensive would be "more effective and much safer" with F-16s, as the country's aged Soviet-era Su-25s can't compete with Russia's Su-35s, their radars, and long-range missiles. Some pilots believe the US-made F-16 fighter jets would be a "game changer." However, a Pentagon spokesman recently said sending F-16s to Ukraine is a "long-term" endeavor and "will not be relevant to the upcoming counteroffensive."
Ukrainian pilots have implored the West to supply them with F-16 fighter jets, as they describe the difficulties of fighting against Russia's dominant air power. The pilots say that the counteroffensive would be "more effective and much safer" with F-16s, as the country's aged Soviet-era Su-25s can't compete with Russia's Su-35s, their radars, and long-range missiles. Some pilots believe the US-made F-16 fighter jets would be a "game changer." However, a Pentagon spokesman recently said sending F-16s to Ukraine is a "long-term" endeavor and "will not be relevant to the upcoming counteroffensive."
Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister has announced that an offensive is "taking place in several directions," heightening speculation that a major push to recapture land held by Russia's occupying forces could be getting underway. Recent weeks have seen Ukraine's military stepping up shaping operations, which typically precede a major advance by ground forces. Both Ukraine and Russia have engaged in intense information campaigns to sway public opinion and mislead their opponents about their battle plans. Ukrainian President Zelensky has spent months courting Western allies to provide Kyiv with fighter jets and weapons to help control the skies and limit the number of casualties to Ukrainian fighters during any potential counteroffensive.