The aircraft combat survivability discipline is dedicated to enhancing the survivability and effectiveness of aircraft that fly in man-made hostile environments. As a result of the US military's experience in the Viet Nam conflict during the mid 60's and early 70's with aircraft that were not specifically designed to survive in combat, survivability is now a critical system characteristic for military aircraft. A viable, cost-effective technology for enhancing survivability is available, a methodology exists for assessing survivability, an extensive survivability infrastructure has been developed, testing for survivability is mandated, quantified requirements on the survivability of US military aircraft are routinely specified, and education in survivability is available.
The fundamentals of the combat survivability discipline are applicable to manned aircraft, uninhabited air vehicles (UAVs), and guided/cruise missiles that fly in a man-made hostile environment, as well as civilian aircraft that may be attacked by terrorists.
