Over the last century air power has developed from infancy to an integral element of war fighting. Some commentators suggest that it has revolutionised warfare. This module examines this rapid growth in the context of wider military, ethical and legal frameworks and thinking. The approach will be broadly chronological, albeit that some themes such as ethics, international law and doctrinal development will be dealt with thematically. A series of case studies will be utilised to allow the students to enquire and explore the basic concepts of air power in historical context. The studies will be chosen to examine, in particular, the interfaces between the use of air power in conjunction with land and sea forces and with the wider political and diplomatic arenas. A major theme will be the exploration of whether air and space power has matched the rhetoric that has invariably preceded its introduction.