Key targets for both sides

[gambit]

There are two ways to have an effective runway denial attack: Either obliterate the entire runway system. Or damage the runway system at key points.

Obliteratimg the entire runway system is feasible, even with imprecise munitions. It just take a lot more time, efforts and resources. Disabling the runway at key points require some type of precision munitions. The time and efforts are on the 'front end' of the task, meaning the training to proficiency of the use of these precision weapons. On the 'back end', meaning the mission itself, the resources are considerably less. The down side to using precision munitions is that the enemy can still repair the damages, no matter how extensive the damage at each of those key points. Simple, he is basically patching holes, not (re)building the entire runway system, so since he was able to build the whole runway, he will now be able to devote that level of resources to patching holes.

The point of runway denial missions, when precision munitions are used, is to divert one's finite resources to other vital organs of the enemy's war making capability. Once the runway system is disabled, not destroyed, if the goal is to dominate the enemy's airspace, it will be necessary to return occasionally to that airfield and apply pressures to keep him from flying. In the runway repair example above, 1500 meters is just enough to launch and recover an F-16. Some European fighters require even less. Granted, those aircrafts may not carry as much ordnance, but whatever they can carry can still inflict serious harm to one's own forces.