BLUF
Air control is no longer absolute. Nations must adapt to complex, contested skies where mutual denial, and flexible tactics define strategy. Small drones remain effective in denied airspace. Operational planning must accept partial superiority.Learning Outcomes
• Strategic Awareness — The article enhances understanding of how modern conflicts challenge conventional concepts of control, encouraging readers to recognise contested environments as the new norm.
• Technological Literacy — It explores the critical role of drones and layered defence systems, deepening knowledge of contemporary and future airpower tools.
• Military Strategy — Offers a new model for assessing air control that supports better-informed, flexible operational decisions.
