The 20 th century had seen various advancements in the realm of technology. Starting from the inception of first powered flight by Wright brothers in 1903 to the space expedition and even beyond. Wright brothers' invention deeply rooted to the advent of air power as Italy-Turkish war in 1911 had been intensified its significance. Therefore, air power since then has been able to generate massive impact on warfare as well as the aviation industry. Besides, numerous air power theorists have been defined application of air power in quest of furthering national objectives, predominantly in the sphere of warfare ranging from Italian General Giulio Douhet to US air power strategist Billy Mitchell. The unique core characteristic of air power, the height which allows to operate swiftly in the third dimension enhanced the interconnectedness between regions/continents invariably abetted to augment the globalisation.
It is pertinent to be underpinned that Charles Lindenberg's Transatlantic flight in 1927 opened new windows in the spectrum of diplomacy as the novel notion of air diplomacy had emerged. Air power invariably played a pivot role in view of facilitating movements of diplomats in furthering diplomacy. The contemporary world has seen global/regional Air Forces have been outstretching air power as tool of foreign policy respective states. This has been extensively employed amidst of the global pandemic as a supportive tool to attain country's foreign policy imperatives.
Air diplomacy is a proactive approach to preventing conflict by employing airpower in non-kinetic operations as an instrument of national power. It can be critical in supporting the foreign policy of a country in the years to come. For the Air Force to remain relevant in a dynamic international environment, it must turn away from using an ad hoc and often disparate approach and move toward conducting deliberate diplomatic missions aimed at conflict prevention. The service needs a strategy to guide its diplomatic contribution to national objectives, consolidate its diplomatic missions, and maximize the utility of air diplomacy. After developing the air diplomacy concept, the Air Force should then promote it as a cost-effective alternative to the reactive use of hard power. Air diplomacy can also reduce a large overseas presence while maintaining relationships built over more than half a century.
Maintaining a favourable balance of military power in Asia is critical to regional stability as well as global security. In order to shape a friendly international environment in the region world powers are trying to develop more high quality diplomatic and military relations in Asian region. Regional Air Power Capability to enhance the Air Diplomacy is one of the recognized method in order to face the challenges that may occur in future. Utilizing the Air Forces to gain significant access and influence through regional engagement to ensure the building of partnership, will make the stability in the region.
Following are some of the identified research areas need to be considered in achieving Air Diplomacy to enhance the regional stability.
Famous Diplomatic Historian and Strategist of Sri Lanka George I.H Cooke mentioned following areas in his paper article about 'An Air Diplomacy Policy for Sri Lanka' on 02 March 2021. Besides to the above, the following areas have been underscored by George I.H Cooke and insights would be given by authors on the same in par with the theme of 'Air Diplomacy to enhance the regional Stability'.