Air or missile combat operations
(1) (c) “Air or missile combat operations” mean air or missile operations designed to injure, kill, destroy, damage, capture or neutralize targets, the support of such operations, or active defence against them.
[Commentary]
- Air combat operations include attacks by aircraft on other aircraft and on surface targets (on land or at sea).
- Missile combat operations include attacks on aircraft, surface targets (on land or at sea) or on other missiles by missiles from land or sea based platforms, as well as surface-to-surface missile strikes.
- Air or missile combat operations are not confined to those aircraft or missiles conducting an “attack” (see Rule 1 (e)). Air combat operations typically include multiple elements, e.g., refueling; jamming of enemy radars; suppression of enemy defences by attacking enemy radar stations and anti-aircraft artillery or missile sites; use of airborne warning and control systems; bombing; fighter escort and fighter sweeps preceding bomber attacks. Operations integral to ground or naval combat against the enemy, such as dropping an airborne force or using airborne platforms to control attacks on enemy naval vessels, are likewise included in the scope of the term.
- The targets of air or missile combat operations can be persons or objects. Rule 10 (b) explains which targets may lawfully be attacked.
Categories: Section A: Definitions
