¥°. Introduction
The history of aviation is relatively shorter than other studies. About 100 years of studies on air power2) can be said a short period of time, but the importance of air power has been proven and been recognized in the wars such as the World War I and II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Gulf War. The air combat during the Korean War has more meaningful value in that it has employed jet fighters for the first time in the war history.3) And the satellite launch by the former Soviet Unions in 19574) has changed the concept of Air Power to Aerospace Power. In addition, looking from the perspective of strategical concept, the Gulf War was a perfect incident where the strategic bombing theory suggested by air power theorists of aviation history in 1920's such as Gulio Douhet5), Hughs Trenchard6), and Billy Mitchell7), has been proven and been changed the classic concept of the Clausewitzien absolute war thought by force destruction8).
¥±. Air Superiority through the New Aerospace Power Theories
During the Gulf War, surrender by Saddam Hussein with great military strength, who had no other choice under the pressure of american strategic paralysis and parallel warfare with the precision weapon systems and the strategical intelligence acquisition capability, also clearly showed us such theoretical changes.
Now, we experience new emerging air power theories in the main stream of our military studies include the concept of John Boyd's9) "OODA(observation, orientation, decision, action) loop theory". We have to observe enemy movement, orientate friendly forces, decide on a course of action, and then act. John Warden,10)one of the chief architects, of the Desert Storm air campaign, summed up the importance of modern aerospace power with "strategic five rings model theory" and simultaneous strategic paralysis through Parallel War.11) The goal of parallel war is to simultaneously attack enemy centers of gravity across all levels including strategic, operational and tactical of war. As a ROKAF fighter pilots over 30 years as well as an international politics professor, I am confident that these air power theories will be the dominant Aerospace Strategies in conducting future warfare.
¥². Strategic intelligence for the national security of the Republic of Korea
Todays, our discussion on ¡ºStrategic Intelligence & Air Superiority for the National Security¡» I would like to express my appreciation for such great work, specially, accomplished by non-military organizations. Now, going into the issues proposed by the organizer of this conference, what is most critical at the moment, would be how can we develop and incorporate the strategic intelligence acquisition capability for the Korean Air Force future.
Over the presentation by all participants, I felt very secured and safe and those presentations gave me confidence in developments of Korean Air Force. But, I also have to think about how can we drive our air power and thus achieve those objectives asserted over the presentation. I believe establishing the measures to achieve our proposed goals is more important and serious issue for several reasons. Among those reasons would be national economical and military structural circumstances.
Since 1998 Koreans have suffered from an economical crisis, and this has become one of primary causes for national defense budget cuts. Under these circumstances, how can we obtain such extremely expensive equipments necessary for valuable intelligence acquisition, is another issue requiring our deep consideration.
As a retired general who still desperately wishes for a strong national security as well as unification in the Korean Peninsula, I would like to mention two things as the national strategy. First, it is my firm belief that ROK and US must establish a system in which two countries can readily share strategic intelligence by further developing our long lasting ROK-US alliance. When I was a director of TACC(Theatre of Air Control Center) at OSAN Air Base, which was operated by both the ROK Air Force Operation Command and the US 7th Air Force Command, one of my primary responsibilities along with my US counter partner included 24-hour observation and reaction against all enemy activities displayed on LSD(Large Scale Display). Most concerned limitation of mine in that position was that I could not access some of important intelligence, and I felt this type of limitation could cause adverse effect on our decisive reaction to enemy's possible provocation. On occasional strategic information was very hard to obtain.
In 1966, General de Gaulle, the president of France, attempting to employ nation's independent policy under the cold-war international political system war between United States and Soviet Unions, has taken away French force from the NATO and forced US Forces in France to withdraw from its territory. But, what he could not stand alone from the reliance on US intelligence. No one in the world has as much intelligence acquisition capability as the US does. Korea and Unite States must put continuous efforts establishing more effective intelligence sharing system and developing subsequently necessary measures based on a much stronger ROK-US alliance.
As I learned, the US Forces operated 34 surveillance satellites and about 260 early warning reconnaissance aircrafts during the Gulf War. My assessment is that, during the 21th century, there will be no other country besides the United States, which will be capable of managing and controlling such enormous scale of equipments and budgets. In this sense, it is confident that we need to enhance such political, diplomatic, military, and intelligence systems that can take maximum advantage out of ROK-US relations.
Second, Korea aerospace industries development include the intelligence system building, is on high demand for the purpose of self-defense of Republic Of Korea as well as RMA(Revolution in Military Affairs) enlargement in broader sense. By efforts of General Billy Mitchell, USAF was born in 1947. Although independence of the USAF was about 150 years late compared to the other major components of US Armed Forces, if we look at where they are standing now, the US Air Force has developed so as to outweigh the others.
Korean Air Force fortunately has also become independent in 1949 but army-centered armed forces structure delayed real development of Korean Air Force. Moreover, struggling under difficult financial situation, reduction of the national defense budget has hinder improvement of the Korean Air Force. This type of circumstantial factors are why we are unable to have intelligence acquisition equipments such as AWACS(Airborne Warning and Control System), and the development of aerospace industry on space control and surveillance system around the Korean peninsula. As far as strategic intelligence is concerned, air force is in better position than the other forces. In case of United States, it is the Air Force that takes most front and superior position in the budgets allocation and manning for space operations.
¥³. Conclusion
Consequently, assuming strategic intelligence is the core of national security, it is obvious that air power must develop at a greater pace than others. It is Korean Air Force's mission to establish in the earliest future doctrines and concepts as an Aerospace Force at least by 2015, it should be so equipped as to initiate and conduct aerospace operations.
In summary, I would like to emphasize how important the conferences of this nature. We can take this opportunity to change people's view and especially to make the national leaders recognize the importance of the issues discussed in today's panels. I believe this is the most important objective of holding this type of conferences.
We observe a light of better and improved relation between the South and North Korea after the South - North Summit Meeting last year. However, I worried about that this favorable turn in the relation between the South and North, could slacken our discipline. Thus, all of us must realize that now is really the time we need to frame defense policy required for stronger national security. Strong national security must be guaranteed in advance for the Peninsula to be unified as a liberal democratic system and furthermore to play a leading role as a unified Korea in the East Asia with the four great powers such as the United States, Japan, China, and Russia.
Aerospace power has come to dominate military operations because it best exploits the information available through modern technologies.12) Strong security will call for strong national defense system, and in the future, such national defense will not be achievable without high tech systems of strategic intelligence and ensured air superiority. It is time for us to tighten our belt and stay aware of everything around us to ensure our future security.(¡Ù)
1) This article is presented by myong-sang Choe for the 4th International Conference on Korean Air Power which is organaized by the RAND and the Center for International Stusies, GSIS, on August 30 2001 at the Millennium Hall of Yonsei University
2) The American Wright brothers succeed their first flight with Kitty Hawk on 3rd December 1903 for the first time in the world. 3) Between the American F-80, F-86 and the Soviet Union MIG-15 had the first air combat over the Korean peninsula. US Air Force created 39 Aces during the Korean War. 4) The former Soviet Union launched the first man-made satellite "Sputnik" in 1957. It was a big shock for the United States which accelerated the development of US aeronautic industry and organized the NASA. 5) Guilo Douhet was the General of Italian Army, but he created the first Italian aviation units. He wrote the famous "The Command of the Air" after World War ¥° in 1921. 6) General Hughs Trenchard was the first chief of staff of Royal Air Force. He did the great role for the independence of Royal Air Force. He is called the father of British Air Force. 7) General William Mitchell was the Brigadier General of US Army Air Corps. He did a great role for the independence of US Air Force. He is called the father of the USAF. 8) Carl von Clausewitz was the maker of modern strategy. He was the prisoner during the Napoleon War. But afrter the war, General Shornhorst selected him as the superintendent of the Prussian first military Academy. He wrote the great book "On War" in 1840 after the long studies of the Napoleon War. General Moltke had the great victory by Clausewitz's strategy during the France-Prussia War 9) Johy Boyd was the fighter pilot with F-86 during the Korean War. He wrote a lots of articles concerned the Air Power. He is a retired Colonel of US Air Force. 10) John A. Warden ¥² was a member of war planning board of the Gulf War. He was the commander of the Air Command & Staff College of US Air University in Alabama. 11) The term of Parallel War was coined by Colonel John A. Warden ¥², USAF. It came into general use after the Gulf War. 12) Jeffery R. Barnett, " An Era of Aerospace Dominance"
Future War, (US Air University, 1998) p. 38 |
