How Did Technology Influence The Development Of Airpower

The invention of steel, gunpowder and other technologies of war changed the battlefields throughout the history, but none so dramatically as innovations of airpower. Those innovations are the main cause that gave birth of a unique military capabilities only airpower can provide; among other, to attack directly enemy targets from the air regardless of their location, and to observe from the air.1 Today’s includes all available relevant technology for commanders to use in air, space, and cyberspace. If there were no technology, there would be no airpower. Therefore, without a doubt we can say that technology had the most significant influence on the creation and development of airpower. Invention of the aircraft brought maneuver back to the battlefield giving the commanders possibility to act from the air, …show more content…
The most influential U.S. officer that argued for airpower development and an independent air force was General William “Billy” Mitchell as he saw aircraft to set aside all ideas of frontiers.12 Unlike Britain war perception of the aircraft, in the United States aviation was advancing in the civilian environment through technology during the interwar years. First air races and flying competitions triggered peoples’ imagination, but also draw attention to high-ranking army officers who started to realize aircraft’s combat potential.13 Recognizing the aircraft’s great potential U.S. military, trough the Director of Air Service, established an Army Air Service School of Application to develop and train tactics and techniques in the Air Service. The purpose was to explore and further develop offensive role of the aircraft and airpower trough curriculum that included pursuit, observation, bombardment, and aeronautical engineering among