Journal of Defense Management
Open Access

Abstract

Lanchester Law, Shock and Awe Strategies

Magdi Ragheb

The theory developed by the English engineer Frederick Lanchester based on the study of air battles in the First World War is simply presented and its implications are discussed, based on a description initially suggested by Lewis. It was successfully applied in the two “Shock and Awe” campaigns against Iraq, even though it was initially meant to be used against the Warsaw Pact nations during the Cold War. The strategy is raising new interest and is worthy of investigation in the management and understanding of current conflicts as it is being increasingly adopted by global world competitors leading to new multi-players Game Theory configurations and asymmetric warfare. Its application potentially enables a small force to possibly overwhelm a superior force in numbers. The application of the theory can be expanded from defense applications to safeguards, business, sports, politics and other socioeconomic realms.