Definiowanie i podział możliwości bojowych wojsk obrony powietrznej

The article discusses the theory of air defence forces combat potentials. Its main aim is to define basic notions and terms concerning air defence forces combat potentials. A great freedom with which various authors describe combat potentials causes different understanding and interpretation of this term. Therefore, a detailed analysis has been carried out in the article basing not only on Polish sources but also on foreign literature. On this ground, the term air defence forces „combat potential” and their components have been defined. Also factors determining real combat potentials have been pointed out. They have been divided into two groups: inner and outer factors. Also a combat potentials decomposition in a traditional, hitherto existing order has been conducted. It reflects combat potentials of respective air defence forces components. Assuming a new approach towards the problem of combat potentials defining and decomposition, a new division has been presented, resulting from air defence function. According to such an assumption, air defence forces combat potentials have been divided into executive and command potentials. Executive potentials have been further divided into basic and protective ones. Air defence forces combat potentials embrace potentials concerning firing and informing about enemy’s air assault means. Then, in turn, the firing potentials of air defence rocket forces and fighter planes firing potentials are the components of the air defence forces firing potentials. This article is an introduction to considerations of a very complicated practical problems which, undoubtedly, is the process of air defence forces combat potentials or their components defining and evaluation. The systemized theory of the problem under discussion is necessary for effective and credible evaluation of air defence units and subunits combat potentials.