artillery spotting monoplane of the Romanian Army during the
Second Balkan War in 1913 in 1914 The first military uses of aviation involved
lighter-than-air balloons. During the
Battle of Fleurus in 1794, the French observation balloon ''l'Entreprenant'' was used to monitor Austrian troop movements. The use of lighter-than-air aircraft in warfare became prevalent in the 19th century, including regular use in the
American Civil War. Lighter-than-air military aviation persisted until shortly after
World War II, gradually being withdrawn from various roles as
heavier-than-air aircraft improved. Heavier-than-air aircraft were recognized as having military applications early on, despite resistance from traditionalists and the severe limitations of early aircraft. The
U.S. Army Signal Corps purchased a
Wright Model A on 2 August 1909 which became the first military aircraft in history. In 1911, the Italians used a variety of aircraft types in reconnaissance, photo-reconnaissance, and bombing roles during the
Italo-Turkish War. On October 23, 1911, an Italian pilot, Captain Carlo Piazza, flew over Turkish lines on the world's first aerial
reconnaissance mission, and on November 1, the first ever
aerial bomb was dropped by
Sottotenente Giulio Gavotti, on Turkish troops in
Libya, from an early model of
Etrich Taube aircraft. The
Turks, lacking
anti-aircraft weapons, were the first to shoot down an
airplane by
rifle fire. The earliest military role filled by aircraft was
reconnaissance, however, by the end of
World War I, military aviation had rapidly embraced many specialized roles, such as artillery spotting, air superiority, bombing, ground attack, and anti-submarine patrols. Technological improvements were made at a frenzied pace, and the first
all-metal cantilevered airplanes were going into service as the war ended. Between the major
world wars incremental improvements made in many areas, especially powerplants,
aerodynamics, structures, and weapons, led to an even more rapid advance in aircraft technology during World War II, with large performance increases and the introduction of aircraft into new roles, including
Airborne Early Warning,
electronic warfare,
weather reconnaissance, and flying lifeboats. Great Britain used aircraft to suppress revolts throughout the Empire during the
interwar period and introduced the first
military transports, which revolutionized
logistics, allowing troops and supplies to be quickly delivered over vastly greater distances.
VPB-103 PB4Y-1 Liberator long range maritime patrol aircraft While they first appeared during World War I, ground attack aircraft didn't provide a decisive contribution until the Germans introduced
Blitzkrieg during the
Invasion of Poland and
Battle of France, where aircraft functioned as mobile flying artillery to quickly disrupt defensive formations. The Allies would later use rocket-equipped fighters in the same role, immobilizing German armored divisions during the
Battle of Normandy and afterwards. World War I also saw the creation of the first strategic bomber units, however, they wouldn't be tested until the
Spanish Civil War where the perceived effects of mass bombardment would encourage their widespread use during World War II.
Carrier aviation also first appeared during World War I, and likewise came to play a major role during World War II, with most major navies recognizing the aircraft carrier's advantages over the
battleship and devoting massive resources to the building of new carriers. During World War II,
U-boats threatened the ability of the
Allies to transport troops and war materiel to Europe, spurring the development of very long range
Maritime patrol aircraft, whose capability of independently detecting and destroying submerged submarines was greatly increased with new detection systems, including
sonobuoys,
Leigh Lights, and
radar, along with better weapons including
homing torpedoes and improved
depth charges. This played a major role in winning the
Battle of the Atlantic. Aircraft also played a much expanded role, with many notable engagements being decided solely through the use of military aircraft, such as the
Battle of Britain or the
attack on Pearl Harbor, and the conclusion of the
Pacific War against Japan was marked by two lone aircraft dropping the
atomic bombs,
devastating the cities of
Hiroshima and
Nagasaki. The introduction of the
jet engine,
radar, early
missiles,
helicopters, and
computers are World War II advancements which are felt to the present day. Post World War II, the development of military aviation was spurred by the
Cold War stand-off between the super-powers. The
helicopter appeared late in World War II and matured into an indispensable part of military aviation, transporting troops and providing expanded anti-submarine capabilities to smaller warships, negating the need for large numbers of small carriers. The need to out-perform opponents pushed new technology and aircraft developments in the
U.S.S.R. and the
United States, among others, and the
Korean War and the
Vietnam War tested the resulting designs. Incredible advances in electronics were made, starting with the first electronic computers during World War II and steadily expanding from its original role of cryptography into communications, data processing, reconnaissance, remotely piloted aircraft, and many other roles until it has become an integral aspect of modern warfare. In the early 1960s, missiles were expected to replace manned interceptors and the guns in other manned aircraft. They failed to live up to expectations as
surface-to-air missiles lacked flexibility and were not as effective as manned interceptors, and fighters equipped only with
air-to-air missiles had limited effectiveness against opposing aircraft which could avoid being hit. Missiles were also expensive, especially against low-value ground targets. The 1970s saw the return of the gun-armed fighter, and a greater emphasis on maneuverability. The 1980s through to the present day were characterized by
stealth technology and other countermeasures. Today, a country's military aviation forces are often the first line of defense against an attack, or the first forces to attack the enemy, and effective military aviation forces (or lack thereof) have proved decisive in several recent conflicts such as the
Gulf War.
Airbus Helicopters Super Puma arrives for the 2014
Royal International Air Tattoo,
England. The Swiss Air Force uses it for transport, fire fighting and relief work. ==Categories==