P. MINASYAN, Lt. Col. (Ret.), Research Fellow, Center for Research on Operational Art, NDRU, MOD, RA

SUMMARY

Based on the analysis of factual evidence regarding the role and means of implementation of aviation during the Korean (1950–1953), Vietnam (1955–1975), Afghan (1979–1989), Arab-Israeli (1967, 1973, 1982–1983) wars, in the Anglo-Argentine conflict (the Falklands War) (1982), as well as Chechen wars (1994–1996, 1999–2009) and a number of other conflicts and operations at the end of the 20th century, the following regularities have been defined: 1) the role and significance of the Air Force in military operations steadily grow, the air strikes tend to gradually predetermine not only the course but also the outcome of the armed struggle; 2) the spheres of application and stationing of air-borne threats widen, encompassing not only land, sea and air, but also the near-Earth space; 3) the equipping of heavier-than-air aircrafts by continuously improving weapons and technical support facilities has resulted in adding cyberspace to the combat action domains, this turning information into a disastrous weapon, significantly magnifying the range of action, strength, precision and surprise of the strikes; 4) the ways of using assault aviation and air defense means interinfluence greatly predetermining the main ways of their development; 5) along with the manned (conventional) aviation the UAVs will increasingly be used in the combat actions, this greatly complicating the air defense, but with a view on the perpetual struggle of “sword and shield”, a “remedy” against them is likely to be soon invented.