About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 [1] (November 1, 2024)

handle is hein.crs/govereg0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service informing the ieg~sIat~ve debate since 1914 November 1, 2024 Defense Primer: United States Military Aviation Background Military aircraft provide the United States a range of military capabilities, including deterrence against attack, power projection, situational awareness, air defense, and logistical support to U.S. forces around the world. The Department of Defense (DOD) employs more than 13,000 aircraft across military branches (see Table 1). Congress funds the development, acquisition, and sustainment of all U.S. military aviation, sets policies regarding those platforms, and provides oversight of programs as well as a range of supporting activities. ocnnt Ar Operations Each military service has its own aviation assets, personnel, and training. In an operational theater, a Joint Force Commander oversees joint air operations, which involve more than one military service, on behalf of the joint fighting force. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, a Joint Force Commander will direct the desired degree of control of the air, which can range from no control to a neutral situation, to air superiority of a specific area, or to air supremacy of an entire area. U.S. Ar Force The U.S. Air Force controls most of U.S. airpower, defined in doctrine as the ability to project military power through control and exploitation in, from and through the air. The Air Force has five core functions: air superiority; global strike; rapid global mobility; intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR); and command and control (C2). Its fleet of about 5,000 aircraft includes advanced fighters, long-range bombers, aerial refueling tankers, cargo haulers, ISR, and C2 aircraft. The Air Force also supports other military branches and allies. For example, Air Force cargo aircraft carry troops, and aeromedical transports evacuate forces injured in battle. Air Force ISR aircraft provide strategic and tactical intelligence, and Air Force combat aircraft work with ground forces to deliver weapons on targets. U.S. Navy Naval officials envision an aviation force that enables sea control and joint warfighting. Naval aircraft support aircraft carrier air wings with aircraft for strike, maritime patrol, ISR, electronic attack, vertical lift, and defense missions. According to the DOD Annual Aviation Inventory and Funding Plan FY2022 report, the Department of the Navy (including the Marine Corps) operates about 4,000 aircraft. The Navy has nine carrier air wings that operate on aircraft carriers. Each air wing consists of more than 60 aircraft. U.S. Marine Corps The Marine Corps uses aviation to provide fires (the use of weapons), fire support, and mobility to Marine forces. The six functions of Marine aviation are air reconnaissance, anti-air warfare, electronic warfare, offensive air support, assault support, and control of aircraft and missiles. The Marines' 2022 Aviation Plan states that the Marines had 1,262 aircraft in its inventory. Reportedly, the Marines plan to publish their next Aviation Plan in December 2024. U.S. Army The Army states that its aviation mission is to find, fix and destroy any enemy through fire and maneuver and to provide combat support and combat service support in coordinated operations as an integral member of the combined arms team. Army supports other military services, combatant commands, multinational forces, and partner governments with air assault, attack, reconnaissance, special operations, and sustainment aircraft. According to data in a September 2024 Congressional Budget Office report on the Availability and Use of Army Aircraft, about 80% of Army aircraft are manned rotorcraft. Table I. DOD Annual Aviation Inventory for All Services, FY2025-FY2035 Projections Source: Department of Defense, Annual Aviation Inventory and Funding Plan FY2022 report, accessed on InsideDefense.com. Notes: These Department of Defense projections are based on aircraft category. Inventory levels may change based on operational needs, industrial base considerations, and budget constraints. Long-term projections are less accurate.

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Contact us for annual subscription options:

Contact Us

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most