SECRET UK EYES A
with the aid of AAR, from forward bases, or with VSTOL aircraft from ships. Strategic transports offer the option of rapid deployment of forces at light scales, supplemented as necessary by aircraft from the civil register, though the
latter will probably be constrained by their design to the
carriage of passengers and container freight. However, the core of any air transport operation will have to be met by tactical aircraft which offer both general purpose freight lift, and the ability to undertake both air-landed and
parachute operations over extended ranges. The same aircraft
may offer mobility in-theatre, together with SH, which would need be robust and able with the minimum of preparation to deploy by air. The force as a whole should be capable of night operations, able to make autonomous silent approaches with the use of GPS NAVSTAR, supported as necessary by ECM, stand-off defence suppression and deception measures. Surveillance of sea and airspace may be provided by MPA and AEW respectively, while both may undertake their full ranges
of operational rôles as necessary including, in the case of AEW, fighter control. ADGE control facilities, however, will
not be tactically mobile. In combat aircraft multi-rôle capabilities and VSTOL, underpinned by AAR, will be important to meet the possible range of AD and offensive tasks.
facilities may be provided by ELINT, SIGINT, AEW aircraft and tactical reconnaissance. There will be increased emphasis on
stealth and the use of unmanned and stand-off systems to
minimize casualties, and of smarter warheads to achieve the
optimum effect with minimum force. At the other end of the
spectrum, given the requisite base facilities or AAR, TNW could be deployed.
STAR
47.
Air Force Packages. The nature of the assets planned to be available would enable the UK to deploy a balanced force OOA, tailored to the envisaged tasks. Among combat aircraft Harrier would be particularly suitable because of its range of
mb.1s2
25
UK EYES A
SECRET