Stephen P Luxion

Break Free from the Sea: A Study of Employing Carrier Airpower from the Beach Stephen P Luxion

Publisher Marketing: In 1992, the US Navy shifted its doctrinal concept of warfighting on the open seas to employing naval power in the littorals as part of a joint "sea-air-land" team. The Navy called its new doctrine "From the Sea." For airpower, the service's focus was on providing control and firepower to the littorals short of putting forces ashore. Historical analysis of air operations in the 1990s and theoretical studies indicate that this doctrine fails to tap airpower's full potential and indicates that the Navy needs to expand its doctrine to include an ability to conduct and sustain air operations "from the beach." Interviews with carrier aviators, including a current Commander-in-Chief and former Deputy Coalition Forces Air Component Commander along with operational and academic study helped determine the impetus for conducting naval tactical air operations "from the beach," the requirements to do it effectively, and the present shortfalls and limitations to such actions. Despite logistical impediments, the concept of carrier aircraft conducting operations "from the beach" can increase the power, flexibility, and efficiency of naval airpower. However, to take advantage of airpower's latent potential, interoperability at the logistical support level must be improved. Expanding the "From the Sea" doctrine to include the ability to conduct and sustain operations "from the beach," when appropriate, will drive the necessary changes in training, logistics, and operations. In turn, this change would serve to improve our nation's ability to conduct joint operations.