Denying flight
Subtitle: strategic options for employing no-fly zones
By: Karl P. Mueller
Publisher: RAND Corporation
Published: 2013
Place of publication: Santa Monica, CA
Language: eng
Number of pages: 15
ISBN-13: 9780833081780
Copyright date: 2013
Subjects: Air warfare; Case studies; Air power; International Air traffic rules; Military policy
Other titles: Strategic options for employing no-fly zones
Description: In recent years, discussions about external military intervention in local conflicts have often included consideration of no-fly zones (NFZs) as a policy option. In the past two decades, the U.S. Air Force has participated in three contingencies involving NFZs over Bosnia, Iraq, and Libya, and NFZ proposals have been proffered for some time as an option for intervention in the Syrian civil war that would avoid placing Western troops on the ground. This paper provides a preliminary look at NFZs as a strategic approach in such situations. It evaluates the possible objectives of NFZs, including (1) preventing the use of airpower, (2) coercing adversaries, (3) preparing future battlefields, (4) weakening potential enemies, (5) political posturing, and (6) signaling or creating commitment, and discusses the potential utility and probable limitations of each.
Notes: "RAND Project Air Force"--Title page.

"Prepared for the United States Air Force."--Title page.

"Approved for public release; distribution unlimited."--Title page.

"RR-423-AF"--Cover.

Includes bibliographical references (page 15).

"The research described in this report was sponsored by the United States Air Force under Contract $b FA7014-06-C-0001."--Verso of title page.