Air and Space Power Journal

Air and Space Power Journal was the flagship English-language professional and scholarly journal associated with the United States Air Force and Air University. Established in 1947, it provided a forum for research, debate, and professional exchange on airpower, space operations, military strategy, doctrine, leadership, technology, and national security. The publication was issued by Air University Press, the academic publishing arm of Air University, and was headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama. The journal operated under several titles during its history, including Air University Quarterly Review, Air University Review, Airpower Journal, and Aerospace Power Journal. The title Air and Space Power Journal was used from 2001 through 2021, reflecting the United States Air Force's expanding institutional emphasis on both air and space capabilities. As a military professional journal, it combined analytical essays, historical studies, doctrinal discussion, operational commentary, and reviews of defense-related literature. Its readership included military officers, civilian defense officials, researchers, academics, and international security specialists. The publication developed a multilingual profile alongside its English edition. A Spanish-language edition began in 1949, followed by a French edition in 2005 and a Chinese-language edition in 2007. Portuguese- and Arabic-language editions were later suspended in 2013 amid broad reductions in defense spending. In 2018, the Mandarin-language edition was replaced by The Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, an English-language publication oriented toward the strategic and security issues of the Indo-Pacific region. In 2021, the journal adopted the name Air & Space Operations Review, ending the Air and Space Power Journal identity while continuing the broader institutional role of publishing professional military analysis. The publication's website preserved electronic versions of its earlier issues and articles. Budget reductions also led to a temporary suspension of the print edition in 2022. Accordingly, the Air and Space Power Journal name is best understood as a historical publication brand within the continuing Air University Press journal program rather than as a current independent commercial media company. Its principal significance lies in its role as an official platform for airpower scholarship and professional military debate.

The publication that became Air and Space Power Journal began in 1947 as an English-language United States Air Force professional journal. Its early titles included Air University Quarterly Review and Air University Review, linking the publication to Air University and its role in advanced military education. The journal was designed to circulate research and professional discussion on air operations, military theory, force development, command, and national security among officers, educators, and defense specialists. A Spanish-language edition was introduced in 1949, extending the journal's reach to air forces and defense communities in Spanish-speaking countries. Over subsequent decades, the publication changed titles as the vocabulary and institutional priorities of the United States Air Force evolved. Airpower Journal and later Aerospace Power Journal preceded the adoption of Air and Space Power Journal. These changes reflected the service's growing attention to aerospace capabilities and, eventually, to the strategic importance of space operations. The French edition began in 2005, and a Chinese-language edition followed in 2007. These editions formed part of a wider effort to communicate professional military analysis to international audiences. The journal's multilingual program was affected by reductions in defense spending. In 2013, the Portuguese and Arabic editions were mothballed. In 2018, the Mandarin edition was replaced by The Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, an English-language publication with a more specific regional and strategic orientation. From 2001 through 2021, Air and Space Power Journal served as the publication's principal English-language title and was described as the flagship journal of the Department of the United States Air Force. It remained a quarterly scholarly publication issued by Air University Press. Its subject matter covered airpower and spacepower theory, operational art, military history, technology, doctrine, leadership, international security, and professional military education. In addition to printed issues, its website hosted electronic versions of historical publications, allowing the journal's research archive to remain accessible beyond the circulation of individual issues. In 2021, the title changed to Air & Space Operations Review. This change ended the Air and Space Power Journal brand as the journal's current name but continued the underlying publication function within Air University Press. The print edition was temporarily suspended in 2022 because of budget cuts, while the electronic archive continued to provide access to earlier material. The journal was based at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, the home of Air University. Its documented ISSN was 1554-2505. The publication is therefore best treated as a historical official journal brand and as part of the United States Air Force's continuing professional and scholarly publishing system.

• 2022

  Print publication temporarily suspended

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  Budget cuts led to a temporary suspension of the print edition, although the online archive remained available.

• 2021

  Renamed Air & Space Operations Review

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  The journal adopted the name Air & Space Operations Review, ending the Air and Space Power Journal title.

• 2018

  Mandarin edition replaced

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  The Mandarin edition was replaced by The Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs.

• 2013

  Portuguese and Arabic editions suspended

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  The Portuguese and Arabic editions were mothballed amid widespread defense-spending cuts.

• 2007

  Chinese-language edition established

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  A Chinese-language edition was introduced.

• 2005

  French edition established

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  A French-language edition was added to the journal's multilingual publishing program.

• 2001

  Air and Space Power Journal title adopted

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  The flagship English-language journal began using the Air and Space Power Journal name.

• 1949

  Spanish edition launched

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  A Spanish-language edition was established, expanding the journal's international readership.

• 1947

  English-language journal established

  [1]Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org

  The publication was established in English as a United States Air Force and Air University professional journal.

An official United States Air Force and Air University platform for scholarly, professional, historical, and doctrinal discussion of airpower, spacepower, military operations, and national security.

• Scholarly military journal · 1947

  English-language quarterly journal

  The principal edition published research and professional analysis on airpower, spacepower, military operations, doctrine, strategy, technology, history, leadership, and national security. It served as the flagship English-language journal associated with the United States Air Force and Air University and was published quarterly under the Air and Space Power Journal title from 2001 through 2021.

• Multilingual journal edition · 1949

  Spanish edition

  The Spanish-language edition began in 1949 and extended the journal's professional military and airpower scholarship to Spanish-speaking readers and defense communities.

• Multilingual journal edition · 2005

  French edition

  The French-language edition was established in 2005 as part of the journal's international publishing program.

• Multilingual journal edition · 2007

  Chinese-language edition

  The Chinese-language edition began in 2007. Its Mandarin edition was later replaced in 2018 by The Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs.

• 2022

  Temporarily suspended the print editionOther

  Background

  Budget cuts affected the journal's physical publishing operations.

  Action taken

  The print version was temporarily suspended while electronic versions of past issues remained hosted online.

  Aftermath

  The publication's digital archive continued to provide access to its historical content.

  Source

• 2021

  Renamed Air & Space Operations ReviewGeneration change

  Background

  The Air University Press journal continued while its title and editorial identity were updated.

  Action taken

  Air and Space Power Journal was replaced by the name Air & Space Operations Review.

  Aftermath

  The Air and Space Power Journal brand became a historical name, while the publication function continued under the successor title.

  Source

• 2018

  Replaced the Mandarin editionStrategy

  Background

  The publication adjusted its international editorial structure and regional focus.

  Action taken

  The Mandarin edition was replaced by the English-language The Air Force Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs.

  Aftermath

  The successor publication placed greater emphasis on Indo-Pacific affairs.

  Source

• 2013

  Mothballed Portuguese and Arabic editionsStrategy

  Background

  Widespread cuts in defense spending constrained the journal's multilingual publishing program.

  Action taken

  The Portuguese and Arabic editions were suspended.

  Aftermath

  The journal continued with a more limited language portfolio.

  Source

• 2001

  Adopted the Air and Space Power Journal titleStrategy

  Background

  The publication had previously appeared under titles including Air University Quarterly Review, Air University Review, Airpower Journal, and Aerospace Power Journal.

  Action taken

  The English-language flagship journal was issued under the Air and Space Power Journal name.

  Aftermath

  The title remained in use through 2021 and became associated with the Air Force's professional discussion of air and space power.

  Source

1. 1Air and Space Power Journalen.wikipedia.org