Burczynska, Maria Ewa (2019) the Potential and Limits of Air Power In
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THE POTENTIAL AND LIMITS OF AIR POWER IN CONTEMPORARY MULTINATIONAL OPERATIONS: THE CASE OF THE UK, POLISH AND SWEDISH AIR FORCES Maria Ewa Burczynska, BA, MA Thesis submitted to the University of Nottingham for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy September 2018 Abstract This thesis investigates the potential and limits of European air power in multinational operations and assesses how potential problems encountered in the course of multinational cooperation may be overcome. Looking specifically at the cases of the UK, Poland and Sweden, it argues that the benefits European air forces gain from their participation in multinational operations outweigh the challenges they face when involved in that form of military activity. Ultimately, the thesis demonstrates that, considering the significant capability and capacity limitations experienced by European air forces, developing multinational cooperation is essential for maintaining national security and defence of all states involved. Multinational operations have become the dominant form of Western military intervention in the post-Cold War period and this trend is likely to continue. The main objective of the thesis is to provide a deeper understanding of the potential and limitations of European air forces in multinational operations, a subject which has, to date, been understudied. Air power scholarship remains heavily dominated by studies of the US Air Force and US experience in air warfare. As such, the thesis makes a significant contribution to knowledge in providing a systematic study on European air power in multinational operations. The analysis revolves around three case studies – British, Swedish and Polish air power. All three countries experienced similar challenges in building air forces fit for the post-Cold War security environment, but their efforts were also coined by specific geopolitical, financial and political circumstances. Framed within relevant concepts from international relations, strategic studies and military sociology, the analysis is based on the extensive analysis of relevant documentary materials as well as on fieldwork research conducted in all three countries. In its empirical part, the thesis gives a perspective on the state of the British, Polish and Swedish Air Forces in the post-Cold War period, showing that each of them underwent a process of concentration and transnationalisation, adapting them to participation in multinational operations. This took the form of their increased participation in various forms of multinational cooperation ranging 1 from expeditionary military operations, through pooling and sharing initiatives to collective trainings and exercises. All of these processes have raised interoperability and interdependence between European air forces. However, as the thesis also shows, multinational cooperation is complex and poses various problems for the involved air forces which, to large extent, stem from their cultural background. These are inevitable, but may be minimised by even more intensive multinational cooperation. 2 Acknowledgements One of my peers once said: ‘it takes a village to raise a Doctor.’ Here, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my very own ‘village’ of people who made it possible for me to complete this thesis. First and foremost, I would like to express sincerest gratitude to my supervisors, Bettina Renz and Wyn Rees. I cannot say how much I appreciate your continuous support and encouragement as well as invaluable advice and endless patience. Furthermore, I would like to thank Andrew Mumford and David Gill, who acted as my annual reviewers, for all the constructive feedback they gave me. I would also like to express my appreciation to Andrzej Glen, who as my MA supervisor, encouraged me to take up doctoral studies and supported me all the way during my doctoral journey. Not least, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my wonderful husband and daughters who were as much involved in this endeavour as I was. It would be impossible to complete this thesis without your unconditional love and support. At this point, I would also like to apologise for all those little sacrifices, missed days out and the chronic lack of time which you never complained about. I am also grateful to the wonderful ladies in the #DoctoralMomsLife Facebook group for all their support, encouragement and space to vent. It is a privilege to be a part of such a like-minded community. Finally, it would not be possible to complete this thesis without the Sir Francis Hill Scholarship awarded to me by the University of Nottingham as well as a generous Emergency Grant from the educational charity, Funds for Women Graduates and the prestigious RAF Centenary PhD Bursary in Air Power Studies from the Royal Air Force Museum, which altogether provided the much-needed financial support during the past four years. 3 List of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................ 1 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................ 3 List of Contents .................................................................................................. 4 List of Abbreviations and Acronyms .................................................................. 6 List of Figures ..................................................................................................... 9 List of Tables .................................................................................................... 10 Chapter 1: Introduction ..................................................................................... 11 1.1 The post-Cold War strategic context of the UK, Poland and Sweden ... ............................................................................................................ 14 1.2 Methodology....................................................................................... 25 1.3 Structure of the thesis ......................................................................... 30 Chapter 2: Studying air power in multinational operations .............................. 34 2.1 European air power and multinational operations .............................. 35 2.1.1 The growing significance of multinational operations for European air forces in the post-Cold War period........................................... 37 2.2 European air power – towards concentration and transnationalisation .. ............................................................................................................ 46 2.2.1 Concentration ................................................................................. 47 2.2.2 Transnationalisation ....................................................................... 49 2.3 The complexity of multinational operations – challenges and difficulties ........................................................................................... 52 2.3.1 Potential challenges in multinational operations ........................... 54 2.3.2 Cultural implications for effective multinational cooperation ....... 59 2.4 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 69 Chapter 3: European air forces in the post-Cold War era – towards concentration and transnationalisation .................................................................... 72 3.1 Post-Cold War transformation of European air forces ....................... 73 3.1.1 Changes in the size of European air forces .................................... 74 3.1.2 Changes in air forces’ structure and organisation .......................... 78 3.2 Towards concentration and transnationalisation – development of the British, Polish and Swedish air doctrines ........................................... 87 4 3.2.1 Military concentration in development of post-Cold War British, Polish and Swedish air doctrines ................................................... 87 3.2.2 Similar process, different outcomes – cultural influences on the character of British, Polish and Swedish air doctrine .................... 91 3.2.3 European air power in allied context – doctrinal perspective ........ 95 3.3 Conclusion .......................................................................................... 99 Chapter 4: Transnationalisation of European air power – different forms of multinational cooperation............................................................... 102 4.1 Multinational cooperation – parallel concepts of pooling and sharing capabilities in NATO and EU........................................................... 103 4.2 Multinational cooperation – cost- and burden-sharing initiatives in European air forces ........................................................................... 106 4.3 Multinational cooperation – capability building initiatives in European air forces ........................................................................................... 111 4.3.1 Air transport ................................................................................. 112 4.3.2 Air-to-air refuelling...................................................................... 121 4.3.3 Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance ............................. 126 4.4 Conclusion ........................................................................................ 131 Chapter 5: The challenges for European air forces of multinational cooperation .......................................................................................................