Air Power in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific: Understanding Regional Security Dynamics

Description

This book examines the security dynamics of the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific, concentrating upon an analysis and evaluation of the air power capabilities of the various powers active in the two regions. The volume is designed to help improve understanding of the heritage and contemporary challenges confronting the global community in the Indian Ocean and the Western Pacific, as well as to illuminate the policies of the various powers involved in the affairs of these regions, and the military capabilities that are available in support of those policies. The 16 individual chapters examine both the traditional and the non-traditional threats that confront the various Indian Ocean and Western Pacific powers, and assess the roles played by land-based and naval, fixed-wing and rotary-wing, manned and unmanned aircraft, as well as by offensively and defensively capable ballistic and cruise missiles in addressing these challenges. In doing so, the various chapters analyze and evaluate the air power doctrine, capabilities, deployment patterns, and missions of the respective states. In addition, they assess the future issues, challenges, and responses involving air power as it, acting in concert with other military instruments, seeks to contribute to securing and promoting the interests of the state. This book will be of much interest to students of air power, strategic studies, Asian and Middle Eastern politics, and International Relations. Cover Half Title Series Page Title Page Copyright Page Table of Contents List of illustrations List of contributors Introduction I II III IV V VI VII Notes References Part I: The global powers Chapter 1: Russia Russian air power and air power strategy Russian air power in Pacific Asia: organization and the ongoing modernization Major exercise activity Out of area aerial operations Conclusion Notes References Chapter 2: The People's Republic of China Evolution of the PLAAF’s thinking on air power The PLAAF’s quest for modern weapon systems The PLAAF’s 2017 organizational reforms The PLAAF’s preparation for modern warfare Conclusion Notes References Chapter 3: The Unites States Containing China: emergence of the strategic problem for US airpower Building the US airpower response Tactical problem sets for US airpower in the 2020s Problems III and IV: Ensuring US power projection and concentrating for air superiority China’s long-range power projection Strengthening the force A note on how doctrine affects airpower in multi-domain operations Notes References Chapter 4: The European powers Strategies, plans, and objectives European airpower and commercial interests in the Indo-Pacific region Geopolitical interests, bases, and partnerships Gulf, Horn of Africa, and Arabian Sea Western and Southern Indian Ocean The Eastern Indian Ocean, East Asia, and the South Pacific Conclusion Notes Bibliography Part II: The Western Pacific Chapter 5: North Korea Introduction North Korean politics and strategic culture Party and state goals KPAAF missions and order of battle Surface-to-air missiles Conclusion Notes References Korean references Chapter 6: Republic of Korea I Introdution II Missions and organization III Capabilities IV Challenges V Conclusion Notes References Chapter 7: Japan Introduction Japan’s geographic situation Japan’s military-industrial posture Contemporary threat environment The postwar evolution of Japanese airpower strategy Current airpower missions, capabilities, and order of battle Contemporary issues in Japanese airpower Conclusion Notes Bibliography Chapter 8: Southeast Asia Complex security concerns and state legitimacy Calibrated responses to a spectrum of security challenges Singapore’s total defense Vietnam’s anti-access/area denial strategy Indonesia as the global maritime fulcrum Conclusion Notes References Chapter 9: New Zealand New Zealand strategic context Contemporary New Zealand airpower The modernization imperative Use of airpower Challenges and change Conclusion Notes References Part III: The Eastern Indian Ocean and the Indian sub-continent Chapter 10: The Eastern Indian Ocean China’s expanding naval footprint: from the South China to the Indian Ocean India’s anti-China “counteroffensive” in the Eastern IOR The US military in the Eastern IOR Other players in the Eastern IOR Other factors in the Eastern IOR affecting the regional security environment Conclusion Notes References Chapter 11: India Indian Air Force Maritime air Inferences Notes References Chapter 12: Pakistan The geopolitical landscape Pakistan’s military doctrine Early years of Pakistan Air Force Kashmir Liberation War of 1965 PAF re-equips in the face of US sanctions Indo-Pak War of 1971 Incessant US sanctions Pakistan Air Force today Other components of air power PAF’s transnational exposure Future challenges Conclusion Notes Bibliography Part IV: The Western Indian Ocean Chapter 13: Iran Strategic context Conventional airpower Conclusion Notes References Chapter 14: The Gulf Cooperation Council Introduction The Arabian Peninsula and the Gulf region The Iranian ideological challenge GCC airpower development Contemporary airpower doctrine Future issues, challenges, and responses involving airpower Notes References Chapter 15: The Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden Overthrowing a monarchy and establishing a republic The emergence of an Arab communist state Yemeni unification and the first Gulf War – 1990–91 Disunited – a civil war in Yemen (1994) The Houthi wars (2004–10) Drones and al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula The Arab Spring Saudi air campaign (2015) The Horn of Africa Terrorism and drones Red Sea arms market Conclusion Notes References Chapter 16: South Africa Introduction Background: the post-1994 South African military and security landscape Budgetary constraints, the demands of secondary tasks, and the upgrading of the SAAF Further perspectives on the modernization of the SAAF since 1990 The SAAF and the need for improved budgetary and political support to the military Conclusion Notes References Conclusion Note Index