OverviewUnderstand the evolution of military aviation from the

end of the Vietnam War to Operation Desert StormComprehend the changes to United States National

Security Strategy as a result of world events between the end of the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm

The Falklands War began on April 2, 1982, when Argentine troops landed in the Falkland Islands. Fighting ended on June 14, 1982 following the British liberation of the islands' capital, Port Stanley, and the surrender of Argentine forces in the Falklands

May 1: the HMS Conqueror sinks the ARA General Belgrano.

May 3: An Argentine Super Étendard fighter, struck HMS Sheffield with an Exocet anti-ship missile.

The conflict marked the introduction of the Harrier attack aircraft

Falklands War

On the night of May 21, British forces landed on the northwest coast of East Falkland. When the landings had finished, approximately 4,000 men, had been put ashore. Over the next week, the ships supporting the landings were hit hard by Argentine aircraft. HMS Ardent (May 22), HMS Antelope (May 24), and HMS Coventry (May 25) were sunk, as was MV Atlantic Conveyor (May 25) with a cargo of helicopters and supplies.

June 14, 1982 with the fall of Port Stanley Argentina surrenders

Falklands War

Libyan President Muammar Qaddafi openly supported and aligned with terrorist groups to sponsor attacks against Israel and the United States

On April 5, 1986, a bomb exploded in a disco in Berlin frequented by United States service personnel. Of the 200 injured, 63 were American soldiers; one soldier and one civilian were killed.

President Reagan authorized the U.S. Air Force and Navy to strike targets in Libya following an American intelligence interception of a message from Gadaffi ordering an attack on Americans "to cause maximum and indiscriminate casualties.“

On April 14th, 1986, Air Force F-111s launched from their base in England…

Operation El Dorado Canyon

Marked a distinct change in U.S. strategy of countering state sponsored terrorism

Preview of change in U.S. Air Operations (version 1.0) Nighttime strike (2:00 am) Heavy reliance on Electronic Warfare to blind an enemy’s air defense

system Long-range air strike from secure bases Synchronized target strikes to overwhelm enemy Flashes of precision weapons

Operation El Dorado Canyon

Goldwater Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986

The Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 caused a major shift in the Department of Defense’s organizational structure; the most significant change since the National Security Act of 1947.

Operational authority was centralized through the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs as opposed to the service chiefs. The chairman was designated as the principal military advisor to the president, National Security Council and secretary of defense. The act significantly streamlined the operational chain of command from the president to the secretary of defense to the unified commanders in the field.

Established Combatant Commands (COCOMS) across the worldEstablished policy on U.S. joint operations and training

Goldwater Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986

In 1989, Manuel Antonio Noriega was a corrupt dictator heading a narcomilitaristic regime in Panama. He was involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, money laundering, and the ruthless oppression of his people. He also systematically violated the American-Panamanian Canal treaties and harassed U.S. forces and institutions in Panama.

U.S. actions in Panama began on 20 December 1989, at 0100 local time. The operation involved 27,684 U.S. troops and over 300 aircraft—including AC-130 Spectre gunships, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and F-117A Stealth Fighters

Following the U.S. invasion, Noriega surrendered on January 3, 1990. He was taken to the US, tried, convicted and jailed on drug trafficking charges

Panama: Operation Just Cause

ThemesFirst small test of Goldwater-

NicholsThe first significant use of U.S.

military in a law/drug enforcement role

Introduction of previously unknown/tested aircraft and capabilities F-117 AC-130 Gunship Night Operations

Panama: Operation Just Cause

Marking Period 3 Presentation Objective: Understand the mission, organizational structure and capability of a modern military air force. Comprehend and evaluate the roles and missions of the United States Air Force through a

comparison study examining another nation’s air force. Background: Students will be divided in teams of two/three students. Each student team will select a national air force other than the United States (i.e. China, Russia,

United Kingdom, etc) to conduct their research on. Students will present their findings via an oral presentation and country fact sheet

Assignment Guidelines: Presentations will be at 10 -15 minutes in length. All students will have roughly an equal part of the

presentation (i.e. 1 student will not singularly present the material) While visual aids are not required, students may include them in their presentation as long as they

do not occupy more than 25% of their presentation, in other words do not use a 5 minute video as part of your 10 minute presentation. SHORT FILM OPTION

Students will turn in a country fact sheet on the day of their presentation. Performance will be graded on depth of material, organization and presentation. Assignment Specifics

This is really a two part assignment. Part one; through research in the IMC, examine and explore

another national air force. Part 2: Class Presentation and Fact Sheet. Presentations on 8-9 April