Ground Attack Aircraft
Ground Attack Aircraft.World War I established the requirements for ground attack airplanes: armored aircraft, capable of high speed but also maneuverable and agile at low speeds and altitudes, equipped with multiple machine guns and bomb delivery capability. In World War II, the German Ju‐87 “Stuka” dive‐bomber spearheaded the early success of blitzkrieg operations and triggered increased interest in ground attack aircraft. Improved air defense capabilities and changes in battlefield doctrine created a less permissive operating environment, making the advantages of designated ground attack aircraft less obvious as World War II progressed. The Korean War revived the controversy over fast versus slow air speeds, high‐ versus low‐altitude strikes, air‐ground communication, and air control links.
In recent years, the U.S. Air Force has preferred to build air‐ground capabilities into its...
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