US Air Force pilots have been refueling their F-22 stealth fighters with KC-135 tankers before engaging enemy targets, a practice that’s been going on for years but has been recently highlighted.
Air power critics often claim that bombers can’t win wars on their own. But this cliché is based on a flawed assumption: that air power was ever meant to win wars without other military capabilities.
What we’re getting wrong about air power
Modern warfare is about using the right tool for the job. In the case of air power, its primary role has never been to win wars outright, but to support other branches of the military in their objectives. This includes providing close air support, conducting reconnaissance, and disrupting enemy logistics.
When air power is used alone, it can be counterproductive. Without ground troops or special operators to secure key terrain or gather intelligence, bombing campaigns can create more problems than they solve. This was the case in Vietnam, where the US military dropped enormous amounts of ordnance without achieving its goals.
F-22 refueling: a normal part of modern air power
The recent image of an F-22 refueling from a KC-135 tanker is a reminder that air power is often used in conjunction with other military assets. The F-22’s advanced stealth capabilities make it an ideal choice for deep strikes against high-value targets, but it needs to be refueled mid-mission to maintain its reach.
This practice is not new, but it’s an important part of modern air power operations. By combining the capabilities of different aircraft and platforms, military commanders can achieve complex objectives that would be difficult or impossible with a single type of asset.
The key takeaway:** Air power is often misunderstood as a standalone solution. In reality, its effectiveness depends on its integration with other military capabilities. By recognizing this, we can appreciate the nuances of modern warfare and the roles that different assets play in achieving military objectives.
