EC Support for an Expeditionary Air Force

<p>The United States Air Force currently faces a shortfall in the type and number of Electronic Combat aircraft capable of operating with an Aerospace Expeditionary Wing. This has a direct impact on the Air Force's Global Attack core competency and undermines the combat power of any deployed AEW. Why have EC assets been allowed to deteriorate to this state? The answer begins with people who have a flawed understanding of the theory of airpower. Because the theory isn't understood correctly money isn't dedicated to the needed technology. Because the technology isn't developed or is lacking that community if you will fails to get representation at the higher levels of the leadership. This cycle of organizational behavior repeats itself over and over until acted upon by an outside forcein this case the shootdown of a U.S. F-117 during the Kosovo action. This isn't the first time that the U.S. Air Force has been through this cycle of organizational behavior. The almost exact same scenario played out in the famous pursuit vs. bombers debates of the 1930's. Pursuit lost out and thereby lost money technology and people in key leadership positions. It was not until the horrific bomber losses of 1943 that leaders fully realized the mistake they had made. This paper explores the connection between the two stories looks at the current state of Electronic Combat and offers some suggestions for the future.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>