Philippine Air Force Basic Doctrine

• Philippine Air Force Basic Doctrine

Objective

• Comprehend the fundamental principles and concepts governing the functions, operations, and other undertakings of the PAF in the attainment of national and military objectives

Definition of PAF Doctrines

• Derived from knowledge gained through experience, research, analysis, and test
• Evolved from national objectives and policies
• Considers the changing military environment, technology, and continuing changes of military operations
• Designed for continuing applicability in war and in peace
• Sets forth the fundamental principles for the successful employment of PAF forces
• Categorized due to the wide range of missions and responsibilities assigned to military

Categories of Doctrines

• Basic Doctrines: States the fundamental concepts that guide civil and military authorities in employing military forces to attain national objectives
• Operational Doctrines: Guides major services and AFPWSSU in organizing and employing their forces during conflict
• Functional Doctrines: Provides guidance for specialized military activities in personnel, intelligence, training, logistics, planning, comptrollership, and other administrative and technical services
• Joint Doctrine: Provides guidance for employing AFP forces engaged in joint operations, whether by a single major service or between two or more services
• Combined Doctrines: Establishes the principle governing the application of military power and guides its development

PAF Mission

• Conduct prompt and sustained air operations supporting the AFP mission and national government objectives

PAF Functions

• Organize, train, and equip air forces for prompt and sustained air operations, specifically to defend against air attacks, gain and maintain air superiority, and control vital air areas
• Organize, train, and equip air forces for close support of surface forces
• Develop doctrines, procedures, tactics, techniques, organization, and equipment for joint operations involving the air force
• Develop doctrines, procedures, tactics, techniques, and equipment in coordination with other major services for joint operations
• Furnish aerial photography for cartographic purposes in coordination with government agencies

Characteristics, Capabilities, and Composition of the Air Force

PAF Forces Characteristics:

• Speed: Reduces mission time significantly by moving forces by air
• Range: Enables the Air Force to operate over great distances, unimpeded by terrain
• Maneuverability: Derived from speed and range, allowing free movement in three dimensions, which are attributes of air power

National Power and Military Instrument

• National Interest: What the government considers important for the nation's maintenance
• National interest refers to the general concept of national security and well-being, as contained in the Preamble of the Constitution
• National Objectives: Fundamental aims, goals, or purposes of a nation
• National Strategy: The government must develop and use political, economic, psycho-social, techno-scientific, and military powers to secure national objectives.
• National Policy: Outlines specific courses of action and guidance for attaining national objectives
• Military Objectives: The Armed Forces is responsible to civil authorities for supporting the Constitution, upholding sovereignty, and defending the Republic's territory against all enemies.

PAF Forces Capabilities

• Flexibility: A fusion of all aerospace forces characteristics, enabling rapid execution of various missions and quick commander adaptation
• Readiness: Achieved through training and force posturing, allowing the Air Force to rapidly deploy forces across the country; ensures equipment and personnel are capable and available
• Responsiveness: Allows forces to react quickly with a wide range of options in any crisis or armed conflict
• Presence: The Air Force must quickly deploy air forces country-wide and sustain deployment forces for extended periods
• Survivability: Enhances the ability of strike forces to survive in complex and hostile environments through self-protection systems
• Mobility: Forces can move across natural boundaries to accomplish missions, protecting air power anywhere in the country to combat threats

PAF Forces Composition

• People: Consists of active, reserve, and civilian personnel
• Weapon System: Requires the use of weapon systems to carry out missions and tasks and must meet the needs of the national strategy
• Facilities: Designed to support warfare systems, function at all conflict levels, and meet force distribution needs
• Organizational Structure: Constantly adapts to fulfill assigned functions

Organizing, Training, Equipping, and Sustaining PAF Forces

PAF Forces Organization

• Major Commands include:
  • Operating Units: Composed of strategic, tactical, or defense forces; or flying forces directly supporting such forces
    • Performs basic operational missions like air defense, airlift, close air support, air interdiction, counter air, aerial surveillance, reconnaissance, and special combat operations
  • Support Units: Activities providing aircraft control and warning, weapons systems, supplies, maintenance, surface transportation, administration, personnel training, advanced education, communications, and special services
  • Separate Units: Units assigned with specialized missions, not necessarily related to the overall PAF mission

Echelon of Command

• Air Division
• Wing Command
• Group
• Squadron
• Flight
• Element

PAF Forces Training and Education

• Military Training: Provides a smooth transition for civilians to a military lifestyle
• Technical Training: Provides the minimum skills required for integration into the ready force
• Operational Training: Designed to meet the requirements of assigned missions
• Professional Military Education: Develops necessary skills and education for effective leadership
• Academic Education: Education not normally taught in military schools

PAF Forces Equipping

• Self-Reliance Defense Posture: The Air Force maintains self-reliance to ensure adequate aerospace material availability for employment
• Weapon System Acquisition includes
  • Cost Effectiveness: Considers acquisition and direct operating costs compared to mission assignment and system/equipment effectiveness
  • Maintainability: Aims for the lowest costs and man-hour requirements to maintain operational status
  • Commodity with other equipment: Reduces costs and man-hours related to training on new equipment and minimizes inventory of different spares
  • Supportability: Should guarantee availability of spares for service life sustainment
  • Performance Characteristics: Should satisfy the needs of the PAF
  • Reliability: Should provide wide utilization by the whole defense establishments

Principles for Employing PAF Forces

Fundamental to the Success of Operations

• Centralized Control: Air operations must operate under a single commander
• Centralized control allows commanders to direct air forces toward a central objective and redirect forces in response to contingency requirements
• Centralized control enables more flexible use of the principles of war in directing the employment of air power
• Decentralized Execution: Higher echelons of command define missions and tasks then direct lower echelons to actions
• Decentralized execution allows lower echelon commanders to maintain a responsive and effective force and higher ups can focus on achieving overall mission goals, and wider use of judgement
• Coordinated Effort, Common Doctrine, and Cooperation: Vital for coordinated operations, enabling friendly forces to collaborate in joint operations for a common objective
• Cooperation is fundamental to teamwork, subordinating self or local interest; success depends on cooperation within alliances to integrate plans for combined operations

Spectrum of War

• The spectrum encompasses the full range of conflict, from cold to limited to general war, reflecting the nature and magnitude of violence

PAF Forces Employment in Conventional War

• Definition: A non-nuclear military conflict between the AFP and an armed force of another nation on a clearly defined front
• Concept of Defense: Defense in depth
• Method of Employment: Includes active and passive defense, and containment

PAF Forces Employment in Unconventional War

• Definition: A guerilla-type operation against an occupying force or aggressor
• Concept of Employment:
  • AFP to reconfigure to smaller units
  • Forces to strike on all fronts
• Conduct of Operations:
  • Ensure local populace support
  • Vary from clandestine active or passive resistance

PAF Forces Employment in International Security Operations

• Definition: Two-pronged operations against dissident forces consisting of both active military operations and non-military assistance
• Concept of Operations: Triad concept
• Role of PAF:
  • Perform tactical missions
  • Perform Socio-Economic missions

Joint Operations PAF Responsibilities

• Provide surface forces with close air support, air mobile operations, airborne and naval operations support
• Conduct individual and unit training of forces
• Develop doctrines, procedures, tactics, and techniques in coordination with major services
• Participate with other services in joint training and joint exercises