Air Force Strategy For The Long Haul

An Air Force Strategy
for the Long Haul

S T R A T E G Y F O R T H E L O N G H A U L
BY THOMAS P. EHRHARD
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1. REPORT DATE
2009
2. REPORT TYPE
3. DATES COVERED
00-00-2009 to 00-00-2009
4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE
An Air Force Strategy for the Long Haul
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6. AUTHOR(S) 5d. PROJECT NUMBER
5e. TASK NUMBER
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7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)
Ehrhard, Thomas P. Center for Strategic and Budgetary
Assessments,Washington,DC
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION
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15. SUBJECT TERMS
16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION OF
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II CSBA > Strategy for the Long Haul
ABOUT CSBA
About the Center for Strategic
and Budgetary Assessments
The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments (CSBA)
is an independent, nonpartisan policy research institute es-
tablished to promote innovative thinking and debate about
national security strategy and investment options. CSBAs
goal is to enable policymakers to make informed decisions on
matters of strategy, security policy and resource allocation.
CSBA provides timely, impartial and insightful analyses
to senior decision makers in the executive and legislative
branches, as well as to the media and the broader national
security community. CSBA encourages thoughtful partici-
pation in the development of national security strategy and
policy, and in the allocation of scarce human and capital
resources. CSBAs analysis and outreach focus on key ques-
tions related to existing and emerging threats to US national
security. Meeting these challenges will require transform-
ing the national security establishment, and we are devoted
to helping achieve this end.
About the Author
Thomas P. Ehrhard served as Senior Fellow for CSBA from
April 2006 to July 2009. He is an expert on aerospace defense
issues, East Asia security, future technology, unmanned aer-
ial vehicles, and national security interagency coordination.
Prior to his retirement from the Air Force in 2006, Colonel
Ehrhard worked in key Air Staff assignments, including one
as chief of the Strategy, Concepts, & Doctrine Division and as
a division chief on the Air Forces 2001 QDR staff. His recent
published works include Range, Persistence, Stealth, and
Networking: The Case for a Carrier-Based Unmanned Com-
bat Air System, and The Unmanned Combat Air System Car-
rier Demonstration Project: A New Dawn for Naval Aviation
(both coauthored with Robert Work). He earned his Ph.D. in
international relations at the Johns Hopkins School of Ad-
vanced International Studies. Dr. Ehrhard currently serves
as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force.
S T R AT E G Y F O R T H E L O N G H A U L
AN AIR FORCE STRATEGY FOR THE LONG HAUL
By Thomas P. Ehrhard
2009
ABOUT THE STRATEGY FOR THE LONG HAUL SERIES
ThIsreorLIsoneInuserIescomrIsIngCSBAsSLruLegyIorLheongHuuIInLended
LoInIormundshueLhenexLudmInIsLruLIonsdeIensesLruLegyrevIew.
THE CHALLENGES TO US NATIONAL SECURITY.TrunsIuLesLherIncIuIchuIIenges
LoUSsecurILyInLoureresenLuLIveseLoIconLIngencIesInorderLodeLermInewhuL
resources wIII be requIred, und how Lhey shouId be uorLIoned umong Iorces und
cuubIIILIes.
US MILITARY POWER AND CONCEPTS OF OPERATION.ProvIdesLheconnecLIveLIs-
suebeLweenLheLhreuLsLoUSsecurILyundLhecuubIIILIesundIorceeIemenLsneeded
LouddressLhenewchuIIengesconIronLIngLhenuLIon.
THE DEFENSE BUDGET.OvervIewsLhebudgeLenvIronmenLundexIoresurungeoI
oLIonsLomukeLheServIcesIunsmoreuIIordubIe.
THE DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE. Addresses Lhe US deIense IndusLrys roIe us u
sLruLegIcusseL,undhowILcunbesLserveInLhuLroIe.
MANPOWER. ExumInes recruILmenL und reLenLIon oI quuIILy eoIe In suIhcIenL
numbersuLunucceLubIecosL.
TRAINING, OPERATIONAL ART, AND STRATEGIC COMPETENCE.AssessesLheneed
IorunoverhuuIoILruInIngundeducuLIonoIAmerIcusservIceersonneIundLheIm-
orLunceoIsLruLegIcLhInkIngInsenIorIeuders.
RESTRUCTURING THE US ALLIANCE PORTFOLIO.ConsIdersLhenuLureundLyeoI
uIIIunces Lhe UnILed SLuLes needs In order Lo meeL exIsLIng und emergIng securILy
chuIIenges.
GROUND FORCES. ExIores how Lhe US Army und MurIne Cors mIghL besL be
orgunIzed, sLrucLured, modernIzed, und osLured Lo meeL exIsLIng und emergIng
chuIIengesLoUSsecurILy.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES. Addresses Lhe exunsIon und growIng roIe oI US
SecIuIOeruLIonsorces.
MARITIME FORCES. Addresses how US murILIme Iorces mIghL besL be orgunIzed,
sLrucLured, modernIzed, und osLured Lo meeL exIsLIng und emergIng chuIIenges Lo
USSecurILy.
AIR AND SPACE FORCES.ExIoreshowAIrundSuceorcesmIghLbesLbeorgunIzed,
sLrucLured, modernIzed, und osLured Lo meeL exIsLIng und emergIng chuIIenges Lo
USSecurILy.
STRATEGIC FORCES.ExumInesLhecIrcumsLuncesunderwhIchnucIeursLruLegyund
IorceosLuredecIsIonsmusLbemudeLoduy.
MODERNIZATION STRATEGIES.ExIoresoLenLIuImodernIzuLIonsLruLegIesLhuLcun
besL suorL Lhe US deIense osLure In un eru oI greuL geooIILIcuI uncerLuInLy und
ruIdLechnoIogIcuIchunge.
ORGANIZING FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.AssesseshowLheUnILedSLuLesGovernmenL
cun besL orgunIze ILseII Lo ensure eIIecLIve sLruLegIc IunnIng und execuLIon oI
sLruLegy.
A GRAND STRATEGY FOR THE UNITED STATES. SynLhesIzes Lhe hndIngs und InsIghLs
oILhesLudyserIes.
zooqCenLerIorSLruLegIcundBudgeLuryAssessmenLs.AIIrIghLsreserved.
CONTENTS
vii Preface
xi Executive Summary
1 Introduction
5 Chapter 1. State of the Air Force
31 Chapter 2. Implications of the Future Security Environment for the Air Force
47 Chapter 3. Assessment and Recommendations
97 Conclusions and Way Ahead
101 Glossary
CHALLENGES TO US NATIONAL SECURITY
TheUnILedSLuLesIucesLhreerImuryexIsLIngundemergIngsLruLegIcchuIIengesLhuL
uremosLIIkeIyLoreoccuysenIordecIsIon-mukersInLhecomIngyeurs:
1
> DeIeuLIng boLh Lhe SunnI SuIIh-TukhrI und ShIu KhomeInIsL brunds oI vIoIenL
sIumIsLrudIcuIIsm;
> HedgInguguInsLLherIseoIuhosLIIeormoreoenIyconIronLuLIonuIChInuundLhe
oLenLIuIchuIIengeosedbyuuLhorILurIuncuILuIIsLsLuLes;und
> PreurIngIoruworIdInwhIchLhereuremorenucIeur-urmedregIonuIowers.
AddressIng Lhese secIhc chuIIenges shouId be uL Lhe IoreIronL oI Lhe IncomIng
udmInIsLruLIons sLruLegIc cuIcuIuLIons, urLIcuIurIy durIng Lhe zooq QuudrennIuI
DeIense RevIew (QDR), whIch wIII heI shue US deIense sLruLegy, IunnIng, und
IorcesLrucLureoverLhenexLLwenLyyeurs.
AILhoughnoneoILhesesLruLegIcchuIIenges,IndIvIduuIIy,rIvuIsLhedungerosed
byLheSovIeLUnIondurIngLheCoIdWur,LheyurecerLuInIygruverLhunLheLyesoI
LhreuLs LhuL revuIIed ImmedIuLeIy uILer Lhe CoId Wur, durIng Lhe erIod reIerred
Lo by some us Lhe unIoIur momenL, when Lhe ower oI Lhe UnILed SLuLes wus uL
ILseukundILsdomInuncehudnoLyeLbeenuLLoLheLesL.TheyureuIsoquILedII-
IerenL Irom Lhe LhreuLs Lhe UnILed SLuLes conIronLed LhroughouL Lhe LwenLIeLh cen-
Lury (merIuI Germuny, NuzI Germuny, merIuI Juun, und Lhe SovIeL UnIon),
uII oI whIch ossessed mIIILurIes LhuL, by und Iurge, were very sImIIur Lo Lhe US
1
or un overvIew oI Lhese sLruLegIc chuIIenges, see Andrew KreInevIch, RoberL MurLInuge, und RoberL
Work, The Challenges to US National Security, Lhe hrsL monogruh oI Lhe CenLer Ior SLruLegIc und
BudgeLuryAssessmenLsserIesLhuLresenLsuSLruLegyIorLheongHuuI.
PREFACE
viii CSBA > Strategy for the Long Haul
mIIILuryboLhInLermsoILheIrsLrucLureundLheIrmodIoerundI.orexumIe,boLh
Lhe Germun und SovIeL urmIes Iocused rImurIIy on conducLIng combIned urms
mechunIzed Iund oeruLIons, us dId Lhe US Army. ThuL Is noL Lhe cuse wILh resecL
Lo Loduys LhreuLs und oLenLIuI rIvuIs, who InsLeud Iocus LheIr rIncIuI eIIorLs on
exIoILIngusymmeLrIesLoguInunudvunLuge.
RudIcuI sIumIsL movemenLs, Ior exumIe, use Lerror und subversIon, enguge In
modernIormsoIIrreguIurundInsurgencywurIure,undursueweuonsoImussde-
sLrucLIon (WMD) Lo InIcL cuLusLrohIc dumuge on Lhe UnILed SLuLes und ILs uIIIes.
ChInu,who,oILheLhreechuIIenges,resenLsLhemIIILuryIorcesmosLsImIIurLoLhe
USmIIILury,IsemhusIzIngconvenLIonuIIyurmedbuIIIsLIcmIssIIes,InIormuLIonwur-
IurecuubIIILIes,unLI-suLeIIILeweuonry,submurInes,hIgh-seedcruIsemIssIIesund
oLher cuubIIILIes LhuL couId LhreuLen Lhe UnILed SLuLes uccess Lo Lhe gIobuI com-
mons oI suce, cybersuce, Lhe uIr, Lhe seus und Lhe underseu, und ossIbIy Lo US
uIIy und urLner nuLIons In Juun, SouLh Koreu und TuIwun. HosLIIe und oLenLIuIIy
unsLubIe counLrIes IIke NorLh Koreu und run huve deveIoed or muy soon deveIo
nucIeurursenuIswILhwhIchLheycouIdInLImIduLeAmerIcusuIIIesundchuIIengeLhe
US mIIILurys ubIIILy Lo roLecL vILuI nuLIonuI InLeresLs. Moreover, II Lhese counLrIes
succeedIndeveIoIngnucIeurursenuIs,LheycouIdsuroLhersLoIoIIowsuIL.
THE KEY ROLE OF MILITARY POWER
MIIILuryowerIscenLruILoLheUnILedSLuLesubIIILyLomeeLLhesesLruLegIcchuIIeng-
essuccessIuIIy,wheLherInsuorLoIdIIomuLIcundoLhereIemenLsoIUSsecurILy
oIIcy, or used In ucLuuI conIcL. L IoIIows, LhereIore, LhuL Lhe mIIILury meuns musL be
comuLIbIeundcommensuruLewILhLhenuLIonssecurILyends.
GIven Lhe Iong execLed servIce IIIe oI mosL oI ILs mujor usseLs, Lhe US mIIILury
IorcesLrucLure,whIchunderIIesLheconceLsoIoeruLIonLhuLdrIveLheUSwuyoI
wur,IssLIIIbusedrImurIIyonLheremIsesundexerIenceoILheCoIdWurundILs
ImmedIuLeuILermuLh.ArguubIy,muchoILhecurrenLProgrumoIRecord(LheIorces
Lhe DeurLmenL oI DeIense seeks Lo ucquIre In comIng yeurs) remuIns sImIIurIy reec-
LIve oI LhuL erIod. YeL Lhe IoomIng sLruLegIc chuIIenges Iook Lo be sIgnIhcunLIy dIIIer-
enL.ThusLhereIsudungerLhuLmunyoILheIorcesLhuLLheDeIenseDeurLmenLIuns
LoucquIremuyroveLobeunsuILubIeIordeuIIngwILhIuLureLhreuLs.
ThIs monogruh, und severuI oLhers In Lhe serIes comrIsIng Lhe Strategy for
the Long Haul rojecL, exumInes Lhe reudIness oI Lhe Iour ServIces, Lhe SecIuI
OeruLIonsorces,undLhesLruLegIcIorcesLodoLheIrurLsInmeeLIngLheemergIng
securILychuIIenges.Euchmonogruh:
> DescrIbesLhecurrenLsLuLeoIuServIceorIorce;
> DIscusseswhuLLhuLServIceorIorcemusLbeubIeLodoLoheImeeLLheemergIng
sLruLegIcchuIIengessuccessIuIIy;und
An Air Force Strategy for the Long Haul ix
> AssessesrobIemuLIcureusundIssuesInLheServIcesorIorcesProgrumoIRecord
undrecommendsmeusuresLouddressLhem.
WhIIeLhesemonogruhsuddressurLIcuIurServIcesorIorces,ILmusLbekeLIn
mInd LhuL Lhe US mIIILury hghLs us u joint force. AccordIngIy, euch ServIce or Iorce
musLensureLhuLLheIorcesILucquIresundLheoeruLIonuIconceLsILemIoysureIn-
LeroerubIewILhLhoseoILheoLhers,und,equuIIyImorLunL,LhuLLhereIsnoLumujor
mIsmuLchbeLweenLhesuorLoneServIceussumesLhuLILcunexecLIromunoLher,
undwhuLIsucLuuIIyLhecuse.TheseconcernshuvehIsLorIcuIIybeenrobIemuLIcIor
LheUSmIIILury,undLhusmerILurLIcuIurIycIoseuLLenLIon.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
TITLE > Subtitle US DEFENSE BUDGET > Options and Choices for the Long Haul
ThIsmonogruhdIscussesLhecurrenLsLuLeoILheUnILedSLuLesAIrorceundhow
IL cun beLLer uIIgn ILs InsLILuLIonuI IdenLILy und Iorce osLure Lo Lhe IuLure securILy
envIronmenL. L oIIers u hscuIIy-consLruIned menu oI recommenduLIons Ior how LhuL
reuIIgnmenLmIghLbereuIIzedoverLhenexLLwenLyyeurs,wILhuIurgerIorceosLure
In mInd. ThIs uer suggesLs chunge mechunIsms LhuL wIII IosLer u breuk Irom Lhe
IncremenLuIIsmLhuLhusIuguedLheenLIrenuLIonuIsecurILyesLubIIshmenLsInceLhe
endoILheCoIdWur.ThechungeoIresIdenLIuIudmInIsLruLIonsundLheQuudrennIuI
DeIenseRevIewresenLunoorLunILyIorAIrorceIeudersLoInjecLIresh,sLruLegIc
LhInkIngInLoLheIrIunnIngLobeLLerosLureLheIrServIceIorexIsLIngundemergIng
chuIIenges.
ChuLer1begInswILhurevIewoILhecommund,IunnIng,unddecIsIon-mukIng
sLrucLuresoILheAIrorce,undLhenhIghIIghLskeyoeruLIonuIconsLrucLs,esecIuIIy
LheveryuseIuIAIrundSuceExedILIonuryorceconceL.orcesLrucLureIsexum-
Ined,wILhemhusIsonLhehundIcusoIugIngusseLs,dImInIshedIoreIgnbusIng,und
cosLIyexcessdomesLIcbusesLrucLure.IscuIconsLruInLs,IncIudIngbudgeLressure
undrIsIngcosLsoIIueIundheuILhcure,uredIscussedusserIousbudgeLuryundoeru-
LIonuIconsLruInLsLhuLureunIIkeIyLodImInIsh.AboveuII,LwoduunLIngchuIIenges
ure osed: Lhe urgency oI recuILuIIzuLIon und modernIzuLIon desILe severe hscuI
consLruInLs; und Lhe crIsIs oI InsLILuLIonuI conhdence LhuL hus uIIecLed Lhe ServIce`s
InLernuI dynumIcs und Inuence.
ChuLer z exumInes Lhe IuLure securILy envIronmenL und hIghIIghLs emergIng
chuIIenges IncIudIng Lhe rIse oI ChInu, Lhe roLrucLed conIcL uguInsL sIumIc ex-
LremIsL grous, und Lhe growIng rIsk oI nucIeur roIIIeruLIon. ChInu, In urLIcuIur,
osesuucIngchuIIengeLoLheAIrorce.NoLonIyIsLheChInusmIIILuryuggressIveIy
ursuIngunLI-uccessJureudenIuIcuubIIILIes,ILIsuIsoLukIngsLesLodenyIreeuse
oI Lhe gIobuI commons, encomussIng InLernuLIonuI uIrsuce, InLernuLIonuI wuLers,
suce,undcybersuce.TheeIIecLsoIChInusmIIILurybuIIduurenoLIImILedLoo-
LenLIuIcombuLscenurIos.nIucL,LheImucLonUSdIIomuLIcIeverugemIghLbemore
xii CSBA > Strategy for the Long Haul
ImorLunL, us BeIjIng`s buIIdu weukens Lwo ImorLunL IIIurs oI PucIhc regIonuI se-
curILy:deLerrenceundcrIsIssLubIIILy.ToboIsLerLheseIIIurs,LheAIrorceurgenLIy
needs Lo Imrove ILs sLruLegIc reuch und Iorce survIvubIIILy, Lo IncIude consLrucLIng
moreundhurderbuses.
The reorL`s mosL sIgnIhcunL hndIng In meusurIng currenL Iuns uguInsL IuLure
chuIIengesIsLhuLLheAIrorceIsbuIIdIngumIddIe-weIghLIorcesLrucLureLhuLIs
much Loo sohIsLIcuLed und exensIve Ior reIuLIveIy Iow-end or IrreguIur conIcLs,
whIIesImuILuneousIyIuckIngneededcuubIIILIesundcuucILIesLouddresschuIIenges
uL Lhe hIgh-end oI Lhe mIIILury comeLILIon. By wuy oI exumIe, Lhe - IghLnIng
by Iur Lhe ServIces mosL exensIve modernIzuLIon eIIorLreresenLs u cIussIc
mIddIecuubIIILyLhuLIuckscrILIcuIerIormuncechurucLerIsLIcs(e.g.,runge)need-
ed Lo meeL hIgh-end chuIIenges, whIIe IL Is over-secIhed und overrIced Ior Iow-end
chuIIenges.
ChuLeroIIersLhreemuInrescrILIonsconsIsLenLwILhLheoverurchIngLhemeoI
reducIngLhemIddIe-weIghLIorcesundImrovIngAIrorcecuubIIILIesundcuucI-
LIes uL boLh Lhe Iow und hIgh ends oI Lhe conIcL secLrum:
> ReInvIgoruLIng und reesLubIIshIng Lhe ServIce us un InuenLIuI Iorce In Lhe deIense
oIIcydebuLe;
> ChungIngLheServIcesIorcesLrucLureundIuLIormIuns;und
> AduLIngLheServIcesbusIngIuns.
SecIhcuIIy, Lhe AIr orce musL overhuuI ILs reseurch und deveIomenL und ucquI-
sILIoncommunILIesLoresLoreLheLechnIcuIexerLIseundroIessIonuIexceIIenceIosL
In Lhe yeurs IoIIowIng Lhe CoId Wur. A uruIIeI InILIuLIve Ior Lhe AIr orce nucIeur
enLerrIse wouId resLore Lhe dIscIIIne und rIde LhuL hud been huIImurks oI Lhe
SLruLegIcAIrCommund.
Moreover,LheAIrorceshouIdbegInuIong-LermeIIorLLocommunIcuLeILseLhos
und docLrIne wILh oLher key orgunIzuLIons, Lo IncIude ILs sIsLer ServIces. Advunced
educuLIon uL hrsL-ruLe InsLILuLIons oI hIgher IeurnIng musL become u rIorILy Ior se-
nIor AIr orce oIhcers. The ServIce shouId uIso rovIde more comrehensIve oIhcer
educuLIon on Lhe US nuLIonuI securILy InsLILuLIons, sLurLIng wILh LheIr own und Lhe
oLherLhreeServIces.
One oI Lhe besL wuys Lo exerL greuLer Inuence In joInL Iorce munugemenL und em-
IoymenLIsLodeveIoundudvocuLecomeIIIngIdeus.AIrorceIeudersmusLbegIn
LodeveIouseLoIuILernuLIveoeruLIonuIconceLsLhuLsLukeouLImorLunLersec-
LIvesonLheenLIresecLrumoIjoInLmIIILuryoeruLIons,noLjusLonesreIuLIngLouIr
undsuce.oursLrongcundIduLemIssIonureusIorconceLuuIInnovuLIonure:hIgh-
end, usymmeLrIc wurIure; IrreguIur wurIure; counLer-roIIIeruLIon; und homeIund
deIense. n euch oI Lhese ureus, Lhe AIr orce hus un oorLunILy Lo Luke u IeudIng
An Air Force Strategy for the Long Haul xiii
roIe In InnovuLIon und docLrIne. n urLIcuIur, Lhe servIce shouId be Lhe uLhhnder Ior
InsLILuLIonuIIzIngIong-LermUnmunnedAerIuIVehIcIe(UAV)InLegruLIon.
Tunker modernIzuLIon musL be susLuIned. The combIned rIsks oI Lunker eeL sys-
LemIc IuIIure, shrInkIng overseus busIng oLIons LhuL munduLe greuLer mIssIon en-
durunce,undLhegrowIngneedIorexLremeIyIong-rungeuIroeruLIonsInIrreguIur
wurIureundoosedhIgh-endwurIureresenLucomeIIIngcuseIorLunkermodern-
IzuLIon. Towurd LhuL end, AIr orce shouId reIormuIuLe ILs KC-X rogrum Lo uddress
uerIuI LunkIng In Lhe mosL demundIng ureu oI oeruLIon, Lhe PucIhc LheuLer, under
LheussumLIonLhuLmosLuIrundseubusesInsIdez,ooonuuLIcuImIIesoILheAsIun
muInIundwIIIbeheIduLrIsk.
TheNexL-GeneruLIonBomber,orB-,IsInLendedLoserveusLhebuckboneoILhe
AIrorcesIong-rungebomberIorceoverLheIonghuuI.AIongwILhuerIuIreIueIIng,
sLeuILhy InLeIIIgence, surveIIIunce und reconnuIssunce (SR), und denIed-ureu com-
munIcuLIons,LheB-wIIIconsLILuLeucrILIcuIundIndIsensIbIeeIemenLoIAmerIcus
Iong-runge eneLruLIng surveIIIunce und sLrIke cuubIIILy Ior decudes Lo come.
RecenLIy,however,DeIenseSecreLuryRoberLGuLescunceIIedLherogrum,evIdenL-
Iy Lo rehne B- requIremenLs, such us wheLher IL shouId be unmunned. ThIs reorL
mukesLhecuseIorIuII-ruLeroducLIonoILweIveuIrcruILeryeurIromzo18Lhrough
zoz;, rogressIng Lhrough hve bIock ugrudes, Lhe IusL Iour beIng unmunned desIgns
InorderLoLurnILInLouLruIygIobuIsurveIIIunce-sLrIkeusseL.
TheAIrorceshouIdconLInueLoexundunduduLILsuIrborneInLeIIIgence,sur-
veIIIunce,undreconnuIssunceIorceLomeeLLheneedsoIexIsLIngLhreuLsundemerg-
Ing chuIIenges. DesILe ILs uggressIve heIdIng oI PreduLor UAVs In recenL yeurs, Lhe
ServIce musL heId u more muILI-dImensIonuI SR Iorce ubIe Lo surveII u vurIeLy oI
mobIIe LurgeLs rungIng Irom IndIvIduuIs Lo hIgh-end sysLems In denIed ureus. L
shouIdsLurLbyInILIuLIngdeveIomenLuIrogrumsIorsLeuILhyIoIIow-onsysLemsLo
Lhe MQ-q Reuer und Lhe RQ-q GIobuI Huwk wILh Lhe gouI oI heIdIng u robusL, Lhree-
LIered sLeuILhy SR UAV eeL, Lhe LhIrd LIer consIsLIng oI SR-oLImIzed BIock o
RB-sIordee,cIundesLIneeneLruLIonInLohIgh-LhreuLenvIronmenLs.
AswILhLheAIrorcesuIrborneSRIorces,LheUSmIIILuryIncreusIngIydeends
on AIr orce suLeIIILe sysLems. The ServIce musL work Lo uccomIIsh u mInImum oI
hve objecLIves In Lhe suce urenu: (1) reverse Lhe uLrohy In Lhe US suce desIgn und
IndusLrIuI buse, und ILs ussocIuLed munower buse; (z) uddress Lhe IoomIng dehcIL In
LhejoInLIorcesubIIILyLoLrunsmILcrILIcuIInIormuLIonLodeIoyedIorcesInoosed-
neLworkenvIronmenLsvIuIong-huuI,hIghbundwIdLhroLecLedsuLeIIILecommunIcu-
LIons;()ImroveroLecLIonIoruIIcurrenLundIunnedsuceusseLs,evenLhoseIn
geo-sLuLIonuryorbIL;(q)deveIoLhemeunsLoruIdIyreIenIshdesLroyedordIsubIed
suLeIIILes;und()LuckIeLheIuckoIsucerecIrocILyInDeurLmenLoIDeIenseLhuL
Ieuds Lo requIremenLs goId-IuLIng und IrucLured hscuI IncenLIve sLrucLures.
IkeLheoLherServIces,LheAIrorcecouIdhuvebeenmoreuggressIveInuduLIng
LoLhedemundsoIIong-duruLIonIrreguIurwurIure.WILhLhenoLubIeexceLIonoILhe
xiv CSBA > Strategy for the Long Haul
PreduLor UAV, IL oeruLes wILh u eeL desIgned Ior 1q8os mujor combuL oeruLIons, uc-
comIIshIngIrreguIurwurIureLusksuLununsusLuInubIecosLInIueIunducceIeruLed
uIrIrumeweur.ThIsreorLudvocuLesLhuLLheAIrorceconsIderexundIngILsIrregu-
IurwurIorcesLoIncIudeurmedreconnuIssunceundshorL-LukeoII,IIghLuIrIIILuIrcruIL.
GIven Lhe runge oI IuLure oeruLIonuI chuIIenges ouLIIned In ChuLer z, emerg-
IngLhreuLsemIoyIngunLI-uccessJureu-denIuIcuubIIILIeswIIIIIkeIyIorceunevoIu-
LIon uwuy Irom mussed oeruLIons InvoIvIng shorL-runge, muILI-roIe hghLer-bombers.
ndeed, uL some oInL over Lhe nexL Lwo decudes, shorL-runge, non-sLeuILhy sLrIke
uIrcruILwIIIIIkeIyhuveIosLunymeunIngIuIdeLerrenLundoeruLIonuIvuIueusunLI-
uccessJureudenIuIsysLemsroIIIeruLe.TheywIIIuIsoIucemujorIImILuLIonsInboLh
IrreguIurwurIureundoeruLIonsuguInsLnucIeur-urmedregIonuIudversurIesdueLo
LheIncreusIngLhreuLLoIorwurduIrbusesundLheroIIIeruLIonoImodernuIrdeIens-
es.ALLhesumeLIme,suchsysLemswIIIremuInover-desIgnedundIurLooexensIve
Lo oeruLe-Ior Iow-end LhreuLs. n shorL, Lhe so-cuIIed Luc-uIr shorLIuII or hghLer
gu Is onIy u robIem II one beIIeves LhuL (1) Lhe Iegucy Iorce hghLer-bomber sLruc-
Lure reIucemenL Is uIIordubIe; und (z) ILs uLIIILy wIII endure In Lhe IuLure securILy
envIronmenL. SLeuILhy uIr suerIorILy cruILeven Lhose wILh reIuLIveIy shorL runge,
such us Lhe -zz-muy reLuIn sIgnIhcunL uLIIILy over Lhe nexL LwenLy yeurs, however,
urLIcuIurIyInLheneurLerm,gIvenLheroIIIeruLIonoIsohIsLIcuLedRussIunuIrde-
IensesysLems.
On Lhe oLher hund, Lhere Is u sLrong cuse Ior reducIng Lhe LoLuI -A rocure-
menL.TheAIrorceshouIdconsIdercuLLIngILsIunnedbuyLoIreeuresourcesIor
oLherhIgher-rIorILyrequIremenLs.ReducIngLheAIrorceIunLobuy1,;6-As
LhroughzoqbyjusLoverhuII,Lo88-As,undIncreusIngLherocuremenLruLe
LoendInzozowouIdbeurudenLuILernuLIve.ThIswouIdrovIdeqocombuL-coded
-As on Lhe rum, or LhIrLy squudrons oI -s by zoz1 In LIme Lo uIIow Lhe AIr
orcebudgeLLoubsorboLherrogrumrum-usIIkeNGB.
BeyondrogrummuLIcs,muchmoreuLLenLIonmusLbegIvenLobusIng,whIchhus
beenuIIowedLouLrohyInLwowuys.IrsL,LheAIrorcehusexcessCONUSbusecu-
ucILyIorILsIunnedIorcesLrucLure.AnoLherBuseReuIIgnmenLundCIosure(BRAC)
roundInLhezo1zLImeIrumewouIdbeLLerenubIeLheAIrorceLouchIeveLherecom-
menduLIonsouLIInedInLhIsreorL.Second,LheemergenceoIAsIuusLhenewcenLer
oI geosLruLegIc gruvILy suggesLs u druw-down oI Euroeun buses und un exunsIon
oIAsIunbuseaccess.TheexundIngChIneseIong-rungesLrIkeundSRcuucILywIII
IIkeIyIucesomeUSIorwurdbusesuLrIsk,IorcInguuIIbuckIromLhosebusesdurIng
u crIsIs. ThIs couId overwheIm uvuIIubIe cuucILy uL Lhe mujor US ower-rojecLIon
busesInAIusku,HuwuII,undGuum.AccordIngIy,jusLusLheydIdInLheCoIdWur,US
sLruLegIsLsmusLonceuguInreLhInkLhemIIILurysIorwurd-busIngosLure,Incoro-
ruLIngLheIourmosLImorLunLosLureconsIderuLIons:(1)busedIsersuI(hysIcuIIy
undoeruLIonuIIy);(z)busehurdenIng;()ucLIvedeIenses;und(q)survIvubIewurn-
IngsysLems.
An Air Force Strategy for the Long Haul xv
TheroosuIsconLuInedInLhIsreorLreresenLunuILernuLIveLoLhecurrenLAIr
orce rogrum und reecL reuIIsLIc IuLure budgeL consLruInLs. TheIr ImIemenLu-
LIon wouId resuIL In u zoz8 AIr orce LhuL Is beLLer reured Lo uddress boLh Lo-
duysLhreuLsundLhechuIIengesoILheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL,undLhuLIsmuch
more cuubIe oI yIng und hghLIng Irom Iong runge or uguInsL IrreguIur Ioes. Under
currenL AIr orce Iuns, onIy 6 ercenL oI ILs zoz8 AIr orce uIr urm wIII consIsL
oI Iong-runge surveIIIunce-sLrIke sysLems. The Iun resenLed here wouId see LhuL
ercenLuge uImosL LrIIe, Lo 1; ercenL oI Lhe sLrIke urm, heIdIng one hundred ud-
dILIonuI bombers und eIghLy uddILIonuI Iong-runge SR IuLIorms, mosL oI Lhem oI
Iow-observubIedesIgns.
ThIsIunrovIdesIorumuchmoresLeuILhyundsurvIvubIeIorceucrossILsLoLuI
rungeoIcuubIIILIes.romuIorceLhuLInzooqhusIow-observubIeorsLeuILhyIuL-
Iorms In onIy ercenL oI ILs hghLer Iorce, zo ercenL oI ILs bomber Iorce, und none oI
ILsSRIorce,LhIsIunresuILsInuzoz8AIrorcewILhIow-observubIeIuLIormsIn
8o ercenL oI ILs hghLer Iorce, over 6o ercenL oI ILs bomber Iorce, und over o ercenL
oIILsSRIorce.SubsLunLIuIIorcesLrucLureuddILIonsInLheIormoIIIghLuIrcruILund
UAVsmukeLhIsAIrorcemuchmoreuseIuIundsusLuInubIeInroLrucLed,dIsLrIb-
uLedIrreguIurwurIureenvIronmenLs.
ThIsIunwouIduIsoLrunsIormLheServIcessuceIorces,whIchurecomIngun-
dergreuLerLhreuL.TheIuLuresuceIorce,wILhbeLLersucesILuuLIonuwurenessund
suLeIIILeuLLuckwurnIng,ImrovedussIveunducLIvedeIensesIorsuLeIIILesoeruLIng
u Lo geosynchronous orbILs, und comrIsIng new oeruLIonuIIy resonsIve LucLIcuI
reIucemenLsuLeIIILes,wouIdbemuchmoresuILedLouIuLureInwhIchoosedsuce
oeruLIonsseemvIrLuuIIyguurunLeed.
n summury, Lhe AIr orce needs Lo underLuke u comrehensIve, Iong-Lerm u-
rouch Lo uduLIng ILs Iorce osLure Lo meeL sLruLegIc needs und hscuI reuIILIes. By
LukIngboIdsLessuchusLhosesuggesLedInLhIsreorL,LheAIrorcecunbeLLeruIIgn
ILseIIwILhLheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL,undbecomeudrIvIngIorceInshuIngIL
usweII.
INTRODUCTION
AsmIIILuryschoIurEIIoLCohenobservedoverudecudeugo,TheudvenLoIuIrower
...IsoneoILhegreuLrevoIuLIonsInLheconducLoIwurwhIch...nowermeuLesuII
modern mIIILury orgunIzuLIons...
1
Muny nuLIons huve been churucLerIzed us Iund
owers, und oLhers huve been noLubIe seu owers; buL onIy one nuLIonLhe UnILed
SLuLeshusmunugedLoudoLuIrowerInsuchucomrehensIveunddomInunLIush-
Ion.
z
AsevIdencedbyLheIorcesLrucLuresoILheArmy,Nuvy,undMurIneCors,uIIoI
whIch oeruLe sIgnIhcunL uIr Iorces, LhIs wouId sLIII hoId even II Lhe UnILed SLuLes AIr
orcehudnoLbeencreuLedbyLheNuLIonuISecurILyAcLoI1qq;.
Even so, Lhe UnILed SLuLes AIr orce hus been Lhe worIds IeudIng roonenL
und rucLILIoner oI Lhe sLruLegIc und oeruLIonuI uIIcuLIon oI uvIuLIon In wurIure.
SLurLIngInWorIdWurundbuoyedbyuwuveoImodernLechnoIogy,LheIeudersoI
Lhe edgIIng AIr orce begun Lo deveIo u more comrehensIve, sysLemIc urouch Lo
uIrower.WhIIeLheoLherLhreeServIcesdeveIoeduvIuLIonLorovIdedIrecLsuorL
LoLheIrrImurymIssIons(IorLheArmy,susLuInedcombuLoeruLIononIund;IorLhe
Nuvy, susLuIned combuL oeruLIons on Lhe seu; und Ior Lhe MurInes, exedILIonury
oeruLIonsInsuorLoInuvuIcumuIgns)ILwusLheAIrorceLhuLsoughLLodeveIo
undemIoyumoreInLegruLedurouchLouIrwurIure.
ALLheLImeoIILsgenesIsIn1qq;,LhuLmeunLrovIdIngreconnuIssunce,esLubIIsh-
IngersIsLenL,susLuInubIeuIrsuerIorILy,conducLInguwIderungeoIbombIngmIs-
sIons, und oeruLIng vusL LucLIcuI und sLruLegIc uIrIIIL und uerIuI Lunker eeLs. BuL
wILhudvuncesInuerosuceLechnoIogy,LheconceLexundedInLooLherdImensIons
us weII. n Lhe IuLe 1qos, InLerconLInenLuI buIIIsLIc mIssIIes were IncororuLed InLo
Lhe US sLruLegIc nucIeur ursenuI, und soon LhereuILer Lhe IuunchIng oI mun-mude
1
EIIoLA.Cohen,TheMeunIngunduLureoIAIrPower,Orbisq,no.z(SrIng1qq),.18q.
z
TheLermuIrowerIsusedInILsroergenerIcsense,meunIngLhesLruLegIcundoeruLIonuIImIIcu-
LIons oI emIoyIng IuLIorms cuubIe oI susLuIned, muneuverIng, owered IghL. L Is noL synonymous
wILhLheAIrorce,ussomewouIdhuveIL.
2 CSBA > Strategy for the Long Haul
suLeIIILes heruIded Lhe uge oI uIr und suce ower. AmerIcus sLruLegIc comeLILIon
wILhLheSovIeLUnIonrovIdedLheImeLusIorLheexIoILuLIonoIsuce,buLLheIn-
IormuLIonugeevenLuuIIyLurnedsuceInLoucenLeroIgIobuImIIILuryundcommercIuI
ucLIvILy. ndeed, by Lhe IrsL GuII Wur In 1qq1, Lhe US joInL Iorce hud come Lo reIy
heuvIIyonboLhmIIILuryundcommercIuIsuceIorcommunIcuLIons,LImIng,nuvIgu-
LIon,undLurgeLIngInIormuLIon.AsuresuIL,uccessLoundconLroIoILheorbILuIsuce
commonsemergedusunuLIonuIsecurILyImeruLIve,undLheAIrorceudoLedun
uddILIonuIcommIssIonususLewurdoILhenuLIonssuceower.
ByLheLImeSenuLorSumNunnuskedInLheeurIy1qqoswhyAmerIcuneededIour
uIrIorces,
uIrowerhudbecomesoIndIsensIbIeLoUSmIIILuryoeruLIonsundIor-
eIgnoIIcyLhuLnosIngIeServIcecouIdossIbIyrovIdeLheIuIIdImensIonuIILyoIuIr-
owersconLrIbuLIonLoLheAmerIcunWuyoIWur.AIrowerhudbecomeLooImor-
LunLIorjusLenoughLobeurudenLoIIcy.TogeLherLheIourServIcesbrundIshedu
duunLInguIrowerursenuILhuLudversurIescouIdnoLmuLch,undLhuLAmerIcusuIIIes
counLedonIorroLecLIon.
However,chungesInLhesLruLegIcenvIronmenLsInceLhe1qqosnowseemLochuI-
Ienge Lhe unIque udvunLuge rovIded by uIr und suce ower, und esecIuIIy Lhe
roIe Iuyed by Lhe US AIr orce In ILs uIIcuLIon. NeverLheIess, Lhe hrsL underIyIng
remIseoILhIsuerIsLhuLuIrundsuceowerwIIIconLInueLoIncreuseInImor-
Lunce Lo US nuLIonuI securILy over Lhe comIng decudes, und LhuL Lhe UnILed SLuLes
AIrorcewIIIconLInueLoIuyucenLruIroIeInunysLruLegyIorLheIonghuuI.The
secondremIseIsLhuLcurrenLIunsIorLheIuLureoILheAIrorcecouIdundshouId
be Imroved, yIeIdIng u sLronger Iorce beLLer muLched Lo evoIvIng LhreuLs und hscuI
consLruInLs.
AccordIngIy,LhIsuerdIscussesLhecurrenLsLuLeoILheUnILedSLuLesAIrorce
undhowILcunbeLLermuLchILsInsLILuLIonuIIdenLILyundIorceosLureLoLheIuLure
securILy envIronmenL. L Lhen oIIers u secIhc menu oI recommenduLIons Ior how LhuL
reuIIgnmenLmIghLbereuIIzedoverLhenexLLwenLyyeurs.ThechungeoIresIdenLIuI
udmInIsLruLIonsundLheQuudrennIuIDeIenseRevIewresenLunoorLunILyIorAIr
orceIeudersLoInjecLIresh,sLruLegIcLhInkIngInLoLheIrIunnIngsousLobeLLeros-
LureLheIrServIceIorLhechuIIengesLhuLIIeuheud.ThIsuersuggesLschungemech-
unIsmsLhuLwIIIencourugeubreukIromLheIncremenLuIIsmLhuLhusIuguedLheAIr
orce,IInoLLheenLIrenuLIonuIsecurILyesLubIIshmenL,sInceLheendoILheCoIdWur.
ThIsuerIsdIvIdedInLoLhreechuLers.ChuLer1dIscussesLhecurrenLsLuLeoI
LheAIrorcewILhregurdLoILsrIncIuIroIesundmIssIons,orgunIzuLIonuIsLrucLure,
On Lhe oor oI Lhe SenuLe In JuIy 1qqz, SenuLor Sum Nunn (D-GA) suId, We`re Lhe onIy mIIILury In
Lhe worId wILh Iour uIr Iorces...LhIs redunduncy und duIIcuLIon Is cosLIng us bIIIIons every yeur.
PresIdenL WIIIIum CIInLon ugreed, suyIng, ugree wILh SenuLor Nunn LhuL IL Is LIme Lo Luke u Iresh
Iook uL Lhe busIc orgunIzuLIon oI our urmed Iorces. or u good dIscussIon oI Lhe Issues surroundIng
LhesesenLImenLs,seeMIchueIR.Gordon,ReorLByPoweIIChuIIengesCuIIsLoRevIseMIIILury,New
York Times,December1,1qqz,uccessedonz8MurchzooquLhLL:JJwww.nyLImes.comJ1qqzJ1zJ1J
usJreorL-by-oweII-chuIIenges-cuIIs-Lo-revIse-mIIILury.hLmI?n=ToJReIerenceJTImes%zoToIcsJ
PeoIeJNJNunn,%zoSum&ugewunLed=1.
An Air Force Strategy for the Long Haul 3
munnIng, Iorce sLrucLure, busIng osLure, budgeL sLuLus, recuILuIIzuLIon und mod-
ernIzuLIon Iuns, und InsLILuLIonuI IdenLILy. ChuLer z summurIzes Lhe AIr orces
LwenLy-yeur sLruLegIc dIrecLIon us AIr orce Ieuders conceIve IL Loduy, und Lhe hLness
oILhuLIunreIuLIveLoLheLhreesLruLegIcchuIIengesLhuLserveusLheIocuIoInLoI
CSBA`s SLruLegy Ior Lhe ong HuuI. The hnuI chuLer resenLs u number oI wuys Lo
beLLeruIIgnLheAIrorceLoLhesechuIIenges.ThegouIIsLosLImuIuLeuvIgorousund
LhoughLIuI debuLe LhuL resuILs In un AIr orce und u joInL Iorce beLLer ubIe Lo shue
undresondLoLheemergIngsecurILyenvIronmenLoverLhenexLLwenLyyeurs.
UILImuLeIy,LhIsuerIsunurgumenLIorenhuncIngLhecurrenLAIrorcesLruLegIc
Iun.LuImsLoseLucourseLhuLwIIIheILheAIrorcereuIrLheeIIecLsoIseveruI
decudes oI DeurLmenL oI DeIense-wIde IncremenLuIIsm, und reInvIgoruLe ILs
LrudILIonuIcommILmenLLocruILIngInnovuLIveurouchesLoexIsLIngundemergIng
chuIIengesLonuLIonuIsecurILy.
CHAPTER 1 > STATE OF THE AIR FORCE
ThIschuLerresenLsunovervIewoILheAIrorceusuServIceILschurucLerIsLIcs,
IuncLIons,orgunIzuLIons,undurouchLomukIngdecIsIons.LservesusLheoInLoI
deurLureIorunewLwenLy-yeursLruLegIcIunLhuLunIoIdsoverLhenexLLwochu-
Lers,undbegInswILhLheAIrorcesIounduLIonInUSIuw.
PRINCIPAL ROLES AND MISSIONS
By vIrLue oI US Code, TILIe 1o, Lhe AIr orce . . . shuII be orgunIzed, LruIned, und
equIedrImurIIyIorromLundsusLuInedoIIensIveunddeIensIveuIroeruLIons.
q
The IILeruI meunIng oI Lhese words, whIch huve noL chunged sInce Lhe AIr orce
wusIormedbyLheNuLIonuISecurILyAcLoI1qq;,conLuInsonIyLheroughouLIIneoI
AIr orce roIes und mIssIons us Lhey huve evoIved over sIx decudes. DeurLmenL oI
DeIense DIrecLIve (DODD) 1oo.1, Functions of the Department of Defense and its
Major Components, uIso dIrecLs Lhe AIr orce Lo conducL...romL und susLuIned
oIIensIveunddeIensIvecombuLoeruLIonsInLheuIrundsuce;LoguInundmuIn-
LuIn generuI uIr und suce suremucy; und Lo rovIde Iorces Ior sLruLegIc uIr und
mIssIIewurIure,umongnumerousoLherIuncLIons.
TwowordsInTILIe1oundDODD1oo.1merILIurLhereIuboruLIon.ThereIerence
Lo romL uIr oeruLIons rovIdes Lhe munduLe Ior Lhe hIsLorIcuIIy hIgh IeveIs oI
reudIness LhuL euch AIr orce unIL sLrIves Lo muInLuIn. AddILIonuIIy, susLuIned uIr
oeruLIons suggesLs LhuL Lhe AIr orce shouId be sLrucLured, munned, und ouLhLLed
LoconducLersIsLenL,hIgh-LemouIr(undsuce)oeruLIons.Assuch,LheAIrorce
q
UnILed SLuLes Code, 1qqq edILIon, voIume q, (WushIngLon DC: US GovernmenL PrInLIng OIhce, 1qq)
TILIe1o,SubLILIeD,ChuLer8o;,SecLIon8o6z(c):6;.
DODD 1oo.1, Functions of the Department of Defense and its Major Components, 1 AugusL zooz,
SecLIon 6.6.., uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJodumJomJubsJGuIdeBookJPdIJ1ooo1.dI
onqNovemberzoo8.
LrudILIonuIIyresIsLsLhebudgeLuryreIIeIuIIowedbyLIeredreudInesswherebysome
oI ILs unILs wouId ucceL non-mIssIon cuubIe sLuLus us Lhe rIce Ior combuL-reudy
IeveIsuchIevedbyoLhers.
6
TheAIrorceshIghIeveIoImIssIonreudInessundendur-
unceucrossLheIorceIsnoLonIysuggesLedbyIuw,ILIsembeddedInAIrorcecuILure.
Operational Functions
BeyondsLuLuLoryunddIrecLedmIssIons,AIrorcedocLrInedeIIneuLessevenLeeno-
eruLIonuI IuncLIons LhuL dehne Lhe oeruLIonuI consLrucLs AIrmen use Lo uIy uIr
und suce ower Lo uchIeve objecLIves.
;
ThIs IIsL does u beLLer job oI cuLurIng Lhe
muILILude oI mIssIons Lhe AIr orce reures ILseII Lo execuLe usIng uIr und suce
Iorces.Theyure:
1. NucIeurDeLerrenceOeruLIons
z. AIrSuerIorILy
. SuceSuerIorILy
q. CybersuceSuerIorILy
. CommundundConLroI
6. GIobuInLegruLednLeIIIgence,SurveIIIunce,undReconnuIssunce
;. GIobuIPrecIsIonALLuck
8. SecIuIOeruLIons
q. RuIdGIobuIMobIIILy
1o. PersonneIRecovery
11. AgIIeCombuLSuorL
1z. BuIIdIngPurLnershIs
These ure Lhe mosL recenL chunges (zooq) Lo whuL AIr orce BusIc DocLrIne dehnes
usLhebroud,IundumenLuI,undconLInuIngucLIvILIesoIuIrundsuceower.
8
The
6
TheonIyexceLIonLoLhIshusbeenLheAIrExedILIonuryorce(AE)conceL,udoLedIn1qqqInre-
sonse Lo Lhe ersonneI Lemo und reLenLIon sLress IevIed by u serIes oI mujor conIcLs Irom DeIIberuLe
orceLoAIIIedorce,InLerjecLedsomereudInessIeveIdIIIerenLIuLIondeendIngonuunILsosILIonIn
LheAEroLuLIon.
;
ADD-1, Air Force Basic Doctrine, uge q. Accessed uL hLL:JJwww.e-ubIIshIng.uI.mIIJshuredJ
medIuJeubsJADD1.dIonqOcLoberzoo8.
8
ADD-1,ugeq.
The Air Forces high
level of mission
readiness and
endurance across
the force is not only
suggested by law, it
is embedded in Air
Force culture.
IIsLedIuncLIonsmuynoLnecessurIIybeunIqueLoLheAIrorce,buLLheyencusuIuLe
whuLLheAIrorcemusLreureundosLureILseIIIoroverLheLwenLy-yeursunoI
LhIssLudy.
ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE
The AIr orce cun uIso be dehned by Lhe eoIe IL romoLes InLo IeudershI osILIons,
undLhesLrucLuresLheseIeuderscreuLeLobesLuccomIIshussIgnedundImIIedmIs-
sIons.ThIssecLIonservesusuguIdeLoundersLundIngLheorgunIzuLIonuIunddecIsIon-
mukIngbehuvIorLhuLshuedLheAIrorce.
Leadership
The AIr orce hus whuL cun be cuIIed u monurchIc or cenLruIIzed orgunIzuLIonuI
sLrucLure,usILhusbeenIedIurgeIybyoneoILwosubgrousLhroughouLILshIsLory.
q
DurIngmuchoILheCoIdWur,LheAIrorcewusheudedbybomberIIoLsIromLhe
SLruLegIc AIr Commund, LyIhed by GeneruI CurLIs eMuy. Then, wILh Lhe uoInL-
menLoIGeneruIChurIesGubrIeILoLheosILIonoIchIeIoIsLuIIIn1q8z,LheAIrorces
Lo IeudershI Lorch hud been ussed Lo Lhe hghLer generuIs.
1o
WILhLhesIngIeexce-
LIon oI Lhe mosL recenL chIeI oI sLuII, GeneruI NorLon SchwurLz, who hus u secIuI
oeruLIonsuIrIIILbuckground,everychIeIoIsLuIIsInceGeneruIChurIesGubrIeIwusu
hghLer IIoL In hIs IormuLIve yeurs.
Renowned bureuucrucy schoIur Jumes Q. WIIson hus suggesLed LhuL LhIs sorL oI
cenLruIIzed sLrucLure uIIecLs Lhe AIr orces worIdvIew und Lhe wuy IL urouches
chunge. WIIson observed LhuL uny Ideu embruced und sonsored by Lhe domInunL
subgrou dIcLuLes Lhe Lyes, robubIIILIes, seed, und deLh oI chunge In whIch IL
Is IIkeIy Lo enguge.
11
Toduy`s hghLer communILy, heuvIIy Inuenced by ILs IormuLIve
exerIenceInLheTucLIcuIAIrCommunddurIngLheIuLLerdecudesoILheCoIdWur,
hus exerLed decIsIve Inuence on Lhe AIr orce`s currenL condILIon. ndeed, Lhere Is
reusonLobeIIeveLhuLGeneruISchwurLzsnomInuLIonsLemmedIromLhesecreLuryoI
deIense`s desIre Lo shuke u Lhe LrudILIonuI hIerurchy by endIng Lhe sLrIng oI hghLer
IIoLchIeIsoIsLuII.
q
TheMurIneCorscenLruIIzesuroundLheInIunLrysubgrou;LhusLheCommundunLuIwuyscomesIrom
LheInIunLry.TheNuvyundArmy,byconLrusL,huvemoredecenLruIIzedorgunIzuLIonuIsLrucLureswILh
owerIuIburons(e.g.,surIucewurIureorurmor)whoroLuLeLhroughLheLoosILIon.
1o
MIke Wurden (now u hghLer generuI) cuLured LhIs LrunsILIon In hIs book, The Rise of the Fighter
Generals: The Problem of Air Force Leadership (MuxweII AIr orce Buse, A: AIr UnIversILy Press,
1qq8).
11
WIIsonuIsosuggesLedLhuLcenLruIIzedbureuucrucIesrequIreexLernuIsourcesLosLImuIuLeInnovuLIve
Ideus, sInce Lhey Iuck Lhe sume cuIIber oI InLernuI comeLILIon us more decenLruIIzed orgunIzuLIons.
JumesQ.WIIson,nnovuLIonInOrgunIzuLIon:NoLesTowurduTheory,Approaches to Organizational
Design,ed.JumesD.Thomson(PILLsburgh,PA:UnIversILyoIPILLsburghPress,1q66)1qz16.
There is reason
to believe that
General Schwartzs
nomination
stemmed from
the secretary of
defenses desire
to shake up the
traditional hierarchy
by ending the string
of fghter pilot chiefs
of staff.
Command Structure
TheAIrorcecommundsLrucLurehusuLILsuexLhePenLugon-busedHeudquurLers
AIrorce(HA,coIIoquIuIIycuIIedLheAIrSLuII),heudedbyLheSecreLuryoILheAIr
orce, Lhe AIr orce ChIeI oI SLuII, und LheIr resecLIve sLuIIs. TogeLher Lhey dIrecL
LheTILIe1omun,orgunIze,LruInundequIroIesoILheAIrorce,undreureLhe
ServIcesbudgeLsubmIssIonLoLhesecreLuryoIdeIenseundCongress.
TheyuIsomunugesevenoeruLIonuIundLwosuorLcommunds,euchheudedby
u Lhree or Iour-sLur generuI. our-sLur generuIs Ieud hve oI Lhe seven oeruLIonuI com-
munds,IncIudIngAIrMobIIILyCommund(AMC),AIrCombuLCommund(ACC),AIr
orce Suce Commund (ASPC), und Lhe Lwo mosL ImorLunL regIonuI communds,
PucIhc AIr orces (PACA) und US AIr orces In Euroe (USAE). our-sLur gener-
uIsuIsoIeudLwokeysuorLcommunds:LheAIrorceMuLerIeICommund(AMC)
undLheAIrEducuLIonundTruInIngCommund(AETC).Three-sLur(IIeuLenunL)gen-
eruIs Ieud Lhe Lwo remuInIng oeruLIonuI communds: AIr orce SecIuI OeruLIons
Commund (ASOC) und AIr orce Reserve Commund (ARC).
1z
AddILIonuIIy, AIr
orce Ieuders recenLIy unnounced ILs Iun Lo sLund u GIobuI SLrIke Commund by
SeLember zooq In resonse Lo Lhe nucIeur mIssLes LhuL Ied Lo Lhe hrIng oI ILs cIvII-
Iun und mIIILury Ieuders.
1
GIobuI SLrIke Commund wIII IncIude Lhe AIr orces In-
LerconLInenLuI buIIIsLIc mIssIIe (CBM) und nucIeur bomber unILs.
1q
Euch commund
exerLsuuLhorILyoversubordInuLenumbereduIrIorcesLhuLhuveeILherIuncLIonuI
orregIonuIconcenLruLIons,wILhsomenumbereduIrIorcesservIngusAIrorcecom-
onenLsLoLheveryowerIuIregIonuIcombuLunLcommunds(COCOMs).
1
Strategic Decision-Making Structure

The zoo8 AIr orce SLruLegIc PIun rovIdes Lhe overurchIng sLruLegIc guIdunce und
rocessIorInIormIngdecIsIonsmudebyLheSecreLuryoILheAIrorceundchIeIoI
sLuII.
16
TheAIrorceProcessCouncII,chuIredbyLheSecreLuryoILheAIrorceund
LhechIeIoIsLuII,overseesLheImIemenLuLIonoILheSLruLegIcPIunundrevIewsLhe
quurLerIyreorLsIromvurIousPrIorILyChumIonsconsIsLIngoIsenIoruoInLed
oIhcIuIs who Iocus on Lhe InsLILuLIonuI rIorILIes esLubIIshed In Lhe SLruLegIc PIun. n
Lhe currenL Iun, Lhe AIr orce`s hve sLuLed rIorILIes ure:
1z
TheAIrorceuIsoconLuInsseveruIdIrecLreorLIngunILssuchusLheAIrorceAcudemy,undover
LwenLy heId oeruLIng ugencIes, such us Lhe AIr orce AudIL Agency, LhuL do noL beIong Lo uny mujor
commund.
1
orunovervIewoILheIncIdenLsundLheIruILermuLh,seehLL:JJen.wIkIedIu.orgJwIkIJzoo;_UnILed_
SLuLes_AIr_orce_nucIeur_weuons_IncIdenL,uccessedonAugusL,zoo8.
1q
MIchueIHoIImun,USAUnveIIsGIobuISLrIkeCommund,Defense News,zqOcLoberzoo8,uccessed
uLhLL:JJwww.deIensenews.comJsLory.h?I=;8;z;oonOcLoberzoo8.
1
TheAIrorcesusendedILsIunLosLunduunAIrorceCyberCommundundIunsInsLeudLomuke
ILunumbereduIrIorce.
16
MIchueIB.DonIeyundNorLonA.SchwurLz,zoo8AIrorceSLruLegIcPIun,OcLoberzoo8.
1. ReInvIgoruLeLheAIrorceNucIeurEnLerrIse
z. PurLnerwILhLheJoInLundCouIILIonTeumLoWInToduysIghL
. DeveIoundCureIorAIrmenundTheIrumIIIes
q. ModernIzeOurAIrundSucenvenLorIes,OrgunIzuLIons,undTruInIng
. AcquIsILIonExceIIence
The AIr orce CouncII, chuIred by Lhe chIeI munugemenL oIhcer oI Lhe AIr orce
(LheundersecreLuryoILheAIrorce)undLhevIcechIeIoIsLuII,husresourcereson-
sIbIIILy Ior ensurIng Lhe uccomIIshmenL oI Lhe hve SLruLegIc PIun rIorILIes. n oLher
words,LheAIrorceCouncIIrecommendsLoLhesecreLuryundchIeIoIsLuIIhowLhey
mIghL creuLe hscuI buIunce beLween Lhe hve rIorILIes. The zoo8 AIr orce SLruLegIc
PIun udded u chIeI munugemenL oIhcer (CMO), who ucLs us Lhe execuLIve secreLury oI
LheAIrorceProcessCouncIIundLheenLerrIserocesschumIon,uroIeInwhIch
heorsherecommendsuIIgnmenLundImrovemenLsLoLheoveruIIImIemenLuLIonoI
LheSLruLegIcPIun.
nLhIsrocess,LhevurIouscouncIIsundchumIonsconcernLhemseIveswILhLwo
dIIIerenL Iorce sLrucLure Iuns. The hrsL Is Lhe hscuIIy-consLruIned AIr orce Progrum
oI Record or Progrummed orce LhuL IuIIs wILhIn Lhe currenL hscuI yeur deIense
Iun(YDP).Thesecond,cuIIedLheProgrummedorceExLended,movesLhuLIorce
ouLLwenLyyeurs,coIncIdIngwILhLheLImehorIzonoILhecongressIonuIIy-munduLed
QuudrennIuI DeIense RevIew. The Progrummed orce ExLended consIders how Lhe
Iorce mIghL Iook gIven u reIuLIveIy IncremenLuI sLruLegIc und hscuI envIronmenL - LhuL
Is,nomujorerLurbuLIonsInLheIssuesIucIngLheServIce.YeLunoLherAIrorceIun-
nIngconsLrucL,LhePIunnIngorce,IsuIow-LomedIum-rIskIorcerojecLIonLhuL
uLLemLsLoLukeuresource-InIormedersecLIveuIIowIngmoresecuIuLIonubouL
IorceIeveIsInLheouL-yeurs.
Air and Space Expeditionary Forces (AEFs)
The AIr orce dIvIdes ILs deIoyubIe Iorce InLo Len AEs. AEs resenL roLuLIonuI
uckuges oI uIr und suce ower Lo Lhe joInL Iorce communder. The AIr orce hus
usedLhIsroLuLIonuIconsLrucLLodeIoyunILssInceILsInceLIonIn1qqq.AccordIngLo
hIsLorIunRIchurdDuvIs,
WILhLheEAConceLundAESLrucLure,LheUSAuLLemLedLoremedyLwoserIous
concerns. The hrsL revoIved uround ImuIred reudIness - Lhe overLuxIng oI muLerIeI und
unILs In currenL oeruLIonswhIch derIved Lhe unILs oI resources und LruInIng LIme
needed Lo muInLuIn LheIr cuubIIILIes uL Lhe requIred IeveIs. The second InvoIved Inud-
equuLe recruILmenL und reLenLIon - u IuIIure Lo uLLrucL suIhcIenL new recruILs und un In-
ubIIILyLoreLuIncurrenLersonneI.
1;
The AE sLrucLure cuLuIyzed u cuILuruI shIIL Lo u Iorce-wIde exedILIonury men-

LuIILy whIIe rovIdIng u weIcome ImrovemenL In deIoymenL redIcLubIIILy Ior AIr
orceersonneILhuLresoIvedreLenLIonIssues.
18
The Len AEs ure dIvIded InLo hve deIoyubIe AE uIrs, enubIIng Lhem Lo resond
LoLwodIIIerenLconLIngencIessImuILuneousIy,wheLherLheyuredIIIerenLsLeudy-sLuLe
deIoymenLs,orLwomujorconLIngencyoeruLIons.TheAEucLsusuvIrLuuIcombuL
wIngbrIngIngLogeLhergeogruhIcuIIydIsersedunILsInLounAEbuckeLLhuLcun
conIormLooneormorejoInLIorcecommunderrequesLs.MosLAIrorcedeIoyubIe
unILs ure ussIgned Lo one oI Lhe Len AEs. Euch AE conLuIns sImIIur cuubIIILIes,
wILh euch AE uIr nomInuIIy consIsLIng oI ubouL 18o hghLer und bomber uIrcruIL,
6o mobIIILy uIrcruIL (InLru-LheuLer uIrIIIL und uerIuI reIueIIng), und z6 reconnuIs-
sunceundsuorLIuLIormssuchusLheE-AIrborneWurnIngundConLroISysLem
(AWACS), RC-1 RIveL JoInL sIgnuIs InLeIIIgence (SGNT) uIrcruIL, U-z reconnuIs-
sunce uIrcruIL, PreduLor unmunned uerIuI sysLems (UAS), und combuL seurch-und-
rescue(CSAR)heIIcoLers.EuchAEemIoysoverz,oooAIrmen.
The AE consLrucL und Iorce IIsLs do noL cuLure Lhe AIr orces LoLuI deIoy-
ubIe combuL ower, however. nLer-LheuLer mobIIILy IuLIorms, such us Lhe C-1;
GIobemusLer or KC-1 SLruLoLunker uerIuI reIueIer, ure noL In Lhe AE sLrucLure.
nLer-LheuLer uIrIIIL Iorces, whIch uL uny gIven LIme huve huII LheIr Iorce deIoyed
deIIverIngLhesIckundwoundedLohosILuIs,deIIverIngcurgoLoLheIronLIInesund
dIsLrIbuLIonhubs,droIngruId-reucLIonuIrborneLrooIormuLIons,underIorm-
Ing oLher crILIcuI IogIsLIcuI IuncLIons LhuL kee Lhe US mIIILury uL euk reudIness,
consLILuLeLheIurgesLsecIuIuIrcurrIerInLheworId.NordoLheAEsIncIudecom-
mund und conLroI or InLeIIIgence ersonneI, who deIoy reguIurIy, or Lhe chuIuIns
und medIcuI ersonneI who conLrIbuLe ImmeusurubIy Lo Iorce ersIsLence und sus-
LuInmenL.AIILheseeoIeundLheIrequImenLIuIIunderLheAIrorceumbreIIu,buL
noLuIIbeIongLoAEs.
Non-Deployable Forces
MunyAIrorceeIemenLsdonoLdeIoybuLuresLIIIvILuILoexecuLIngLheAIrorce
mIssIon.NucIeurInLerconLInenLuIbuIIIsLIcmIssIIes(CBMs)remuInonuIerLusLheydId
durIngLheCoIdWur,unduorLIonoILhebomberIorceremuInsreudyLogeneruLeIor
nucIeuruIerLshouIdLheNuLIonuICommundAuLhorILyorderIL.BoLhheIunderwrILe
Lhe US sLruLegIc deLerrence osLure. As dIscussed eurIIer, Lhe AIr orce oeruLes u
1;
RIchurd G. DuvIs, Anatomy of a Reform: The Expeditionary Aerospace Force (WushIngLon, DC: AIr
orceHIsLoryundMuseumsProgrum,zoo),uge11.
18
AdumJ.HeberL,EIghLy-sIxCombuLWIngs,AIrorceMuguzIne,VoI.8q,no.1z,Decemberzoo6,uc-
cesseduLhLL:JJwww.uIu.orgJmuguzIneJdeczoo6J1zo6wIngs.dIonoSeLemberzoo8.
huge suLeIIILe consLeIIuLIon rungIng Irom Lhe GIobuI PosILIonIng SysLem (GPS) Lo
vurIous crILIcuI sensors und communIcuLIons IuLIorms. AILhough Lhe suLeIIILes ure
consLunLIydeIoyed,LhemenundwomenwhooeruLeLhemremuInIurgeIyonUS
LerrILory. InuIIy, u vusL urruy oI AIr orce suorL ugencIes such us IuboruLorIes,
LruInIngundLesLIngugencIes,educuLIonuIInsLILuLIons,deoLs,InLeIIIgenceIuncLIons
undheudquurLerssLuIIscomrIseLhenon-deIoyubIeIounduLIonIromwhIchLheAIr
orce oeruLes every duy. n concerL wILh roLuLIonuI deIoymenL Iorces In Lhe AE
sLrucLure,LheseeIemenLsmukeuLoduysUSAIrorce.
FORCE MANNING, FORCE STRUCTURE
AND BASING POSTURE
ThIs secLIon rovIdes u concIse overvIew oI Lhe reIevunL usecLs oI Lhe AIr orces
munnIng, Iorce sLrucLure (equImenL und unILs), und gIobuI busIng osLure. L ro-
vIdesusummuryussessmenLoILheIrcondILIonusubuseIIneIorLhesLruLegIcunuIysIs
InLhenexLchuLer.
Manning
TheAIrorceoeruLesLoduyuLuhIsLorIcnudIrInLermsoImunower.TherevIousIy
uuLhorIzed ersonneI IeveI oI jusL over 16,ooo AIrmen wus Lhe IowesL sInce 1qq;,
Lhe yeur un IndeendenL AIr orce wus creuLed.
1q
WILh Lhe recenL ush Ior greuLer
munnIngucrossLheServIces,LhecurrenLIuncuIIsIorunIncreuseLooverz,ooo
AIrmenInzo1o.
zo
Active-Duty Force
OIhcers muke u ubouL zq ercenL oI Lhe ucLIve-duLy AIr orce runks. ConLrury Lo
ouIur beIIeI, Lhe AIr orce oIhcer cors does noL consIsL muInIy oI IIoLs: Lhey muke
u Iess Lhun zo ercenL oI Lhe oIhcer runks und onIy q ercenL oI Lhe overuII ucLIve-
duLy AIr orce. IghLer IIoLs comrIse onIy z ercenL oI Lhe AIr orce IIoL Iorce,
mukIng Lhem onIy ubouL 1 ercenL oI Lhe ucLIve-duLy AIr orce. The resL oI Lhe oI-
hcer cors consIsLs oI nuvIguLors (ubouL ercenL und decIInIng, due Lo udvunces In
modern nuvIguLIon LechnoIogy), suce und mIssIIe oeruLors, und Lhose servIng In
InLeIIIgence, uIrcruIL muInLenunce, communIcuLIons und comuLer heIds, Lhe medIcuI
cors,unduwIdevurIeLyoIoLhersecIuIIzedroIes.
1q
NuLIonuI DeIense BudgeL EsLImuLe, Y zooq, . z. The ucLuuI AIr orce munnIng IeveI decIIned Lo
ubouLz,ooobeIoreLhe16,ooomunduLewusoverLurned.
zo
ErIk HoImes, ncreuse In uIrmen requIres more InsLrucLors,Air Force Times, Junuury q, zooq, uc-
cesseduLhLL:JJwww.uIrIorceLImes.comJnewsJzooqJo1JuIrIorce_Iusu_o1o8oqJonArII1,zooq.
Contrary to popular
belief, the Air Force
offcer corps does
not consist mainly of
pilots: they make up
less than 20 percent
of the offcer ranks
and only 4 percent
of the overall active-
duty Air Force.
TheAIrorceenIIsLedcorssLundsouLInconLrusLLoLheoLherServIces.Whereus
Lhe oLher ServIces cun be suId Lo be recruILIng-cenLrIc, enIIsLIng u Iurge number oI
recruILswhoserveonIyuIewyeurs,LheAIrorceInvesLsmoreInreLenLIon,LurgeL-
Ing recruILs who generuIIy score hIgher on Lhe Armed ServIces VocuLIonuI ALILude
BuLLery (ASVAB), und who LyIcuIIy esLubIIsh u Ionger mIIILury cureer Lhun LheIr
counLerurLs.
z1
Onuveruge,ubouL8oercenLoIAIrorcenewuccessIonsInLheIusL
decudewereconsIderedhIghquuIILycomuredLoLhecross-ServIceuverugeoI6o
ercenL.
zz
Some 6o ercenL oI AIrmen re-enIIsL uILer Lhe hrsL Lerm, und oI Lhose, over
qo ercenL muke u cureer enIIsLmenL decIsIon uILer LheIr second Lerm, IeudIng Lo u
hIgh uveruge enIIsLed uge oI LwenLy-nIne (US mIIILury uveruge: LwenLy-seven), wILh
un uveruge LIme In servIce oI nIne yeurs (mIIILury uveruge: seven yeurs).
z
AbouL zo
ercenL oI Lhe AIr orce`s enIIsLed cudre works In Lhe uIrcruIL muInLenunce heId, Lhe
IurgesLenIIsLedsecIuILy.AbouL6oercenLoIAIrorceenIIsLeduremurrIed(com-
uredLozercenLDoD-wIde),undover;oercenLursuecoIIegecredILs,conLrusLed
wILh 1o ercenL or Iess oI Lhe enIIsLed runks In oLher ServIces huvIng some coIIege
exerIence.
zq
AIcohoI und drug ubuse ure uIso sIgnIhcunLIy Iower In Lhe AIr orce.
z
EnIIsLedreLenLIonIsLheIIIebIoodoILheAIrorce.norderLoreLuInLhecuIIberoI
enIIsLedersonneIrequIredLosuorLuIorceemIoyIngIeudIng-edgeuIrundsuce
LechnoIogy,LheAIrorceInvesLsheuvIIyInIucIIILIesundhumunservIcesdesIgnedLo
uLLrucLundreLuInhIghIyeducuLedLechnIcuIroIessIonuIs.AIrorceIeudersLendLo
emhusIze quuIILy-oI-IIIe InvesLmenLs (such us medIcuI und denLuI servIces) Ior AIr
z1
SecreLury oI Lhe AIr orce MIchueI W. Wynne und ChIeI oI SLuII oI Lhe AIr orce GeneruI T. MIchueI
MoseIey,AIrorcePosLureSLuLemenLzoo8,PresenLuLIonLoLheHouseArmedServIcesCommILLee,
z;ebruuryzooq:ugez1zz.
zz
HIgh QuuIILy meuns Lhe recruIL scores In AQT CuLegorIes -A (oLh ercenLIIe und ubove) und
Is u hIgh schooI gruduuLe. PouIuLIon ReresenLuLIon In Lhe MIIILury ServIces, Yzoo6 OIhce oI Lhe
UndersecreLuryoIDeIense,PersonneIundReudIness,AendIxD,TubIeD-q,hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJ
rhomeJPoRe_Yo6JuendIxdJd_oq.hLm,uccessedzSeLemberzoo8.
z
AIrorceDemogruhIcs,AIrorcePersonneICenLer,RundoIhAIrorceBuse,Texus.hLL:JJwww.
uIc.rundoIh.uI.mIIJIIbruryJuIrIorceersonneIsLuLIsLIcs.us, uccessed 1z SeLember zoo8. The AIr
orce hus Lhe hIghesL ercenLuge oI ILs enIIsLed Iorce over Lhe uge oI o In Lhe DeurLmenL, und Lhe
hIghesLercenLugeoIwomenInILsenIIsLedrunks.PouIuLIonReresenLuLIonYzoo6AendIxB,
TubIeB-zz,hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJrhomeJPoRe_Yo6JuendIxbJb_zz.hLm,undAendIx
D, TubIe D-, hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJrhomeJPoRe_Yo6JuendIxdJd_o.hLm, AendIx
D, TubIe D-1z, hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJrhomeJPoRe_Yo6JuendIxdJd_1z.hLm, uccessed z
SeLemberzoo8.
zq
PouIuLIon ReresenLuLIon Yzoo6 AendIx B, TubIe B-z, hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJrhomeJ
PoRe_Yo6JuendIxbJb_z.hLm, und PouIuLIon ReresenLuLIon In Lhe MIIILury ServIces,
ChuLer , hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJrhomeJorezoo1JchuLerJchuLer_.hLm, uccessed z
SeLemberzoo8;TheAIrorceInucLsundIgures,Air Force Magazine,zoo8USAAImunuc(Muy
zoo8),.q81.
z
AIrorceuIcohoIconsumLIon,IIIIcILdrugusuge,undIncIdencesoIhosILuIIzuLIonIorunInLenLIonuIIn-
jurIeswereubouLhuIILheDoDuveruge,wILhercenLugeoIsmokersuLubouLzJLheDoDuveruge.zoo
DeurLmenL oI DeIense Survey oI HeuILh ReIuLed BehuvIors Among AcLIve DuLy MIIILury PersonneI,
AssIsLunL SecreLury oI DeIense (HeuILh AIIuIrs), OIhce oI Lhe SecreLury oI DeIense: December zoo6,
TubIes q.1, .z, 6.1, und Igure 8.1. Accessed on z SeLember zoo8 uL hLL:JJwww.hu.osd.mIIJ
secIuI_reorLsJzoo_HeuILh_BehuvIors_Survey_1-o;.dI.
The Air Force enlisted
corps stands out in
contrast to the other
Services. Whereas
the other Services
can be said to be
recruiting-centric
the Air Force invests
more in retention.
orce members und LheIr IumIIIes, whIch ure reecLed In Lhe quuIILy und ukee oI
IucIIILIesuLAIrorceInsLuIIuLIons.TheUSAzoo8PosLureSLuLemenLreInIorcedLhuL
oInL,sLuLIng,BecuuseLhenuLureoIourAIrorcemIssIondemundsuhIghIyeducuL-
ed,LruIned,undexerIencedIorce,werecognIzeLhedIrecLIInkugesbeLweenquuIILy
oIIIIeIssuesundLheIrImucLonourrecruILIng,reLenLIon,unduILImuLeIy,ourmIssIon
cuubIIILy.
z6
ThechuIrmunoILheJoInLChIeIsoISLuII,AdmIruIMIkeMuIIenrecenLIy
LesLIhed, us benchmurk ServIce suorL Ior IumIIIes, Lhe AIr orce does IL besL.
z;
However,doIngILbesLhusresuILedInersonneIcosLsLhuLIncreusedoveroercenL
In Lhe IusL decude, uccordIng Lo one senIor AIr orce oIhcIuI, rImurIIy due Lo sourIng
medIcuIcosLs.
z8
BecuuseoIILsemhusIsonreLenLIon,LheAIrorceuysumurgInuIIy
hIgherremIumIormunower,evenusmunowercosLssourucrossLhebourd.
Air Reserve Component (ARC)
The AIr orce Reserve Commund (ARC) und AIr NuLIonuI Guurd (ANG) muke u
Lhe AIr Reserve ComonenL, und LheIr munnIng uIso reecLs Lhe hIgh quuIILy und
roIessIonuIIsm oI AIr orce ersonneI. The ARC counLs uroxImuLeIy ;z,ooo
AIrmen In ILs runks und oeruLes more Lhun LhIrLy yIng wIngs und hundreds oI vurI-
ous mIssIon suorL unILs, wILh mosL oI ILs unILs erIormIng uIrIIIL mIssIons. The
ANG uccounLs Ior ubouL 1o;,ooo AIr orce ersonneI who ure ussIgned Lo LheIr re-
secLIve sLuLe governors durIng euceLIme, wILh u wIde vurIeLy oI yIng unILs IncIud-
Ing hghLer, reconnuIssunce, und uerIuI reIueIIng mIssIons. NoLubIy, Lhe ANG Is Lhe
rImuryugencyresonsIbIeIorcurryIngouLconLInenLuIuIrdeIense,uroIeLhuLhus
Luken on greuL sIgnIhcunce sInce qJ11. Armed ANG hghLer uIrcruIL sIL on sLrI uIerL
uLeIghLeensLruLegIcuIIyIocuLedUSbusesunderLheoeruLIonuIconLroIoILheNorLh
AmerIcun Aerosuce DeIense Commund, und ANG hghLers huve conducLed mIssIons
underOeruLIonNobIeEugIesInceqJ11,ensurIngLhesecurILyundsuIeLyoIAmerIcun
uIrwuys.
zq
AIrReserveComonenLunILsnoLonIyrovIdeumujorercenLugeoILheLucLIcuI
uIrIIIL, uerIuI reIueIIng, und hghLer Iorces, muny ure uIso InLegruLed wILh ucLIve-duLy
z6
SecreLury oI Lhe AIr orce MIchueI W. Wynne und ChIeI oI SLuII oI Lhe AIr orce GeneruI T. MIchueI
MoseIey,AIrorcePosLureSLuLemenLzoo8,PresenLuLIonLoLheHouseArmedServIcesCommILLee,
z;ebruuryzooq:uge1q.
z;
ScoLL KnuLeson, JoInL ChIeIs chuIr hIghIIghLs keys Lo deIense, seech uL AIr UnIversILy uccessed uL
hLL:JJwww.ueLc.uI.mIIJnewsJsLory.us?Id=1z1z1861on1OcLoberzoo8.
z8
MujorGeneruIrunkuykes,quoLedInSLewMugnuson,AgIngAIrcruIL,WurCosLsWeIghHeuvIIyIn
uLureBudgeLs,National Defense,Junuuryzoo;,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.nuLIonuIdeIensemuguzIne.
orgJurchIveJzoo;JJunuuryJPugesJAgIngAIrcruILz;.usxonqNovemberzoo8.
zq
By mId-zoo;, Lhe AIr orce hus conducLed over qq,ooo NobIe EugIe sorLIes und over z,ooo quIck-
resonsesorLIesscrumbIedIromsLrIuIerLInresonseLoLhreuLenIngucLIvILIes,uLunesLImuLedcosL
oI $z; bIIIIon. OLLo KreIsher, The Yeurs oI NobIe EugIe, Air Force Magazine,Junezoo;,uccesseduL
hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo;JJune%zozoo;Jo6o;eugIe.usx on
qNovemberzoo8.
The ANG is the
primary agency
responsible for
carrying out
continental air
defense, a role
that has taken on
great signifcance
since 9/11.
unILs.orexumIe,LheAIrNuLIonuIGuurdurLIcIuLesIuIIyInoneoILheAIrorces
eIILeunILs,Lhe-zzRuLorsoILhe1
sL
TucLIcuIIghLerWInguLungIeyAIrorceBuse
(AB).ReservIsLsureIuIIurLIcIunLsInremoLePreduLoroeruLIonsuLCreechAB,
Nevudu,LhuLhuverovensosuccessIuIInruqundAIghunIsLun.
o
The AIr Reserve ComonenL mukes u un IncreusIngIy ImorLunL usecL oI US

mIIILury ower. The Guurd und Reserve uccounL Ior uroxImuLeIy q ercenL oI Lhe
AIrorcebudgeL,undsomezoercenLoILheyeurIyoeruLIonsundmuInLenunceex-
endILure. TogeLher, Lhey uccounL Ior ubouL o ercenL oI uII AIr orce yIng mIs-
sIons, IncIudIng q6 ercenL oI uII sLruLegIc uIrIIIL IghLs, wILh Lhe AIr Guurd oeruLIng
q1 ercenL oI crILIcuI uerIuI reIueIIng usseLs (ARC uccounLIng Ior unoLher 16 er-
cenL) und over o ercenL oI hghLer und uIrIIIL Iorce sLrucLure.
1
GuurdundReserve
unILshuve,InLhewordsoILheCommIssIononLheNuLIonuIGuurdundReservesIn
LheIr Junuury zoo8 reorL, exerIenced un unIunned evoIuLIon Lo un oeruLIonuI
reserve.
z
However unIunned LhuL LrunsILIon mIghL huve been, Lhe IeveI oI oeru-
LIonuIskIIIexhIbILedbyGuurdundReserveunILsconsIsLenLIyruLesonurwILhund
uL LImes exceeds LhuL oI LheIr ucLIve-duLy counLerurLs. They uIso serve us u crILI-
cuI reLenLIon reservoIr LhuL kees some oI Lhe AIr orces mosL exerIenced eoIe
IromIeuvIngLheServIceenLIreIy,whIIeLheyuIsoIormuveryImorLunLIInkbeLween
LheAIrorceundLhecIvIIIuncommunILy.TheIeveIoIroIessIonuIIsm,LruInIng,und
reudInessInLheAIrReserveComonenLmukesILneurIyoeruLIonuIIyIndIsLInguIsh-
ubIeIromLheucLIveIorce,someLhIngnooLherServIcecuncIuIm.
Civilians
CIvIIIunsoccuyuImosL16q,oooAIrorceosILIonsundcomrIsesomezoercenL
oI Lhe ToLuI orce (u Lerm encomussIng ersonneI ussocIuLed wILh Lhe ucLIve duLy
AIr orce, AIr NuLIonuI Guurd und Reserve).
Ike oIhcers und enIIsLed ersonneI,

Lhey occuy jobs LhuL sun u wIde runge oI secIuILIes Irom senIor decIsIon-mukers
Lo uIrcruIL mechunIcs. WILh Lhe shrInkuge In overuII ToLuI orce munnIng und Lhe
moveLowurdcIvIIIunIzIngIormerIyunIIormedjobs,cIvIIIuns(governmenLemIoyees
und conLrucLors) huve Icked u u much bIgger Ioud oI AIr orce work. SLurLIng In
o
Donnu MIIes, AIr orce nLroduces uLure ToLuI orce ConceL, AmerIcun orces Press ServIce, z
December zooq, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJnewsJnewsurLIcIe.usx?Id=zq6q on z;
SeLemberzoo8.
1
MuckenzIe EugIen und SumueI C. Muhuney, US AIr orce Guurd und Reserves ure orce MuILIIIers
LhuL Deserve SuorL, The HerILuge ounduLIon WebMemo #1qz, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.herILuge.
orgJReseurchJnuLIonuISecurILyJwm1qqz.cImuccessedonz;SeLemberzoo8.
z
TrunsIormIngLheNuLIonuIGuurdundReservesInLouz1sLCenLuryOeruLIonuIorce,InuIReorL
LoCongress,CommIssIononLheNuLIonuIGuurdundReserves,ExecuLIveSummury,ugeq,uccessed
uLhLL:JJwww.cngr.govJInuI%zoReorLJCNGR_ExecuLIveSummury.dIonz1AugusLzoo8.
AIrorceInucLsundIgures,Air Force Magazine, Muyzoo8,ugeq8,uccesseduL

The level of
professionalism,
training, and
readiness in
the Air Reserve
Component
makes it nearly
operationally
indistinguishable
from the active
force, something
no other Service
can claim.
zoo6, Lhe AIr orce sIgnIhcunLIy ugruded ILs cIvIIIun munugemenL sysLem Lo muke
ILmoreIIkeLheucLIve-duLysysLemwILhregurdLocureermunugemenL,LruInIng,und
educuLIon.
q
FORCE STRUCTURE
ThIssecLIonrovIdesubusIcovervIewoILheServIcesmujorconvenLIonuIuIr,suce,
und nucIeur Iorces. L uIso exIuIns how Lhese Iorces ure ruIdIy ugIng und musL be
recuILuIIzedInLheneurIuLureIILheUnILedSLuLesIsLosusLuInILscurrenLudvunLuge
InuIrower.
Conventional Air Forces
OnewuyLochurucLerIzeLheAIrorceIsLodIvIdeILInLoIuncLIonuIureus.TheucLIve-
duLy AIr orce oeruLes ubouL IorLy squudrons oI hghLers oI uII Lyes, LhIrLy suce
squudrons,LwenLy-nIneInLer-LheuLer(Iong-runge)undInLru-LheuLer(shorL-runge)uIr-
IIILsquudrons,nIneLeenSecIuIOeruLIonsorcessquudrons,eIghLeenuIrreIueIIng
squudrons,LenCBMsquudrons,nInereconnuIssunceunILs,nInebombersquudrons,
und u vurIeLy oI oLhers, LoLuIIng 18z AIr orce squudrons. The Reserve ComonenL
udds unoLher 1qz squudrons, mosL oI whIch conducL yIng mIssIons. The AIr orce
Ies uImosL ,6oo uIrcruIL oI vurIous kInds, Lhe mujorILy beIng hghLer uIrcruIL.
As
hInLeduLeurIIer,LheruIdIyIncreusIngugeoILhIsIorce,uIongwILhLhesIowuceund
hIghcosLoInewuIrcruIL,uremuLLersoIserIousconcernIorsenIorAIrorceIeuders.
One wuy Lo meusure Lhe AIr orces currenL oeruLIonuI cuubIIILy Is Lo comure
Iong-rungeLoshorL-rungeusseLs,undIow-observubIe(sLeuILhy)Lonon-sLeuILhyIuL-
Iorms. Toduy, Lhe AIr orce heIds uroxImuLeIy 1,q; combuL-coded (oeruLIonuI)
hghLers und bombers, wILh onIy 6 ercenL oI Lhem Iong-runge bombers; muny oI Lhese
ure dedIcuLed Lo nucIeur deIIvery und ure Lhus unuvuIIubIe Ior convenLIonuI bomb-
Ing mIssIons. urLhermore, wILh Lhe reLIremenL oI Lhe -11;, Iess Lhun 6 ercenL oI
Loduys AIr orce IuLIormsonIy Lhe B-z und -zzhuve Iow-observubIe desIgns
ubIeLohoIduLrIskureusroLecLedbymodernInLegruLeduIrdeIenses.OnIy1ercenL
oILheuLLuckIorces(LheB-zs)ureubIeLoeneLruLeheuvIIydeIended,deeInIundLur-
geLs. Those hgures do noL IncIude Lhe reLIremenL In zoo; oI Lhe sLeuILhy, Iong-runge
q
ErIk HoImes, AIr orce Iuunches IeudershI rogrum Ior ILs junIor cIvIIIuns, Air Force Times, 1;
SeLember zoo8, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.IederuILImes.comJIndex.h?S=;zqzz on z SeLember
zoo8.SeeuIso,GeorgeCuhIInk,ShurocusonAIrorceCIvIIIuns,Air Force Magazine,ebruury
zoo6, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo6Jebruury%zo
zoo6Jozo6cIvIIIun.usxonzSeLemberzoo8.
AIrorceInucLsundIgures,uge6q.
AdvuncedCruIseMIssIIe(ACM),IeuvIngudwIndIIngnumberoIeneLruLIngusseLsIn
LheAIrorceursenuI.
6
Space Forces
AIrorcesuceIorcesreresenLumujorundgrowIngAIrorceInvesLmenLureu,buL
one IruughL wILh conLroversy. SuLeIIILe rogrums were Lhe LhIrd ucquIsILIon rIorILy
InLheIuLesLUSAPosLureSLuLemenL,undconsLILuLeukeycuubIIILyInLhenuLIons
owerrojecLIonursenuI.
;
Oen IILeruLure descrIbes Lhe currenL suce eeL us beIng
comrIsed oI Lwo DeIense MeLeoroIogIcuI SuorL Progrum (DMSP) suLeIIILes, nIne
DeIense SuLeIIILe CommunIcuLIon SysLem (DSCS) suLeIIILes, un unsecIhed number oI
mIssIIe Iuunch-deLecLIng DeIense SuorL Progrum (DSP) sucecruIL, hve roLecLed
communIcuLIonMIIsLursuLeIIILes,undLhIrLyGIobuIPosILIonIngSysLem(GPS)suLeI-
IILes.
8
As Lhe Iormer heud oI Lhe NuLIonuI SecurILy Suce OIhce (NSSO), reLIred AIr
orceMujorGeneruIJumesArmor,recenLIysLuLed,TheAIrorcehusuIsocreuLedu
gIobuIsuceInIrusLrucLureIuunchsysLems;runge;suLeIIILecommund,conLroI,und
LruckIng;LechnIcuIschooIsundgruduuLeeducuLIon;unducudreoILruInedsucero-
IessIonuIsLhuLIssecondLonone.
q
Nuclear Forces
The AIr orce kees qo MInuLemun InLerconLInenLuI buIIIsLIc mIssIIes (CBMs)
onuIerLuLbusesInMonLunu,WyomIng,undNorLhDukoLu.EuchMInuLemunCBM
cunberomLIyIuunchedwILhInmInuLesoIreceIvInguroerIycodedmessugeIrom
Lhe PresIdenL oI Lhe UnILed SLuLes, und deIIver IndeendenLIy-LurgeLubIe Lhermonu-
cIeur wurheuds uguInsL LurgeLs uL gIobuI dIsLunces In uroxImuLeIy LhIrLy mInuLes.
ThesecondIegoILhenucIeurmIssIonLrIud,LhebomberIorce,oeruLesInsuorLoI
US SLruLegIc Commund nucIeur Iuns, wILh desIgnuLed B-zs und B-zs ussumIng u
nucIeurweuondeIIveryroIeIrombomberbusesInouIsIunu,MIssourI,undNorLh
DukoLu. A eeL oI dedIcuLed uerIuI reIueIIng Lunkers sLunds by Lo suorL Lhese bomb-
ersInLheIrInLerconLInenLuImIssIon.
The mosL sIgnIhcunL deveIomenL In Lhe AIr orce nucIeur esLubIIshmenL, however,
InvoIved Lhe uIoremenLIoned serIes oI errors LhuL uILImuLeIy Ied Lo Lhe hrIng oI Lhe AIr
orce SecreLury, MIchueI Wynne, und chIeI oI sLuII, GeneruI T. MIchueI MoseIey, In
IuLe zoo8. The hrsL IncIdenL occurred In AugusL zoo; uL MInoL AB, NorLh DukoLu,
6
AIr orce Scrus SLeuILh MIssIIe IeeL, AssocIuLed Press reorL, Murch 8, zoo;, uccessed uL
hLL:JJwww.mIIILury.comJNewsConLenLJo,11q,1z;8z1,oo.hLmIonAugusLzoo8.
;
SuLeIIILesysLemsrunkLhIrdbehIndLhenewLunkerundLhecombuLseurchundrescue(CSAR)heIIco-
Ler,boLhoIwhIchurecurrenLIyunderroLesL.zoo8AIrorcePosLureSLuLemenL,ugeq.
8
zoo8AIrorceucLsundIgures,uge6z.
q
Jumes B. Armor, Jr., The AIr orces oLher bIInd soL, The Space Review, 1 SeLember zoo8,
uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.LhesucerevIew.comJurLIcIeJ1z1J1on1SeLemberzoo8.
Air Force space
forces represent
a major and
growing Air Force
investment area,
but one fraught
with controversy.
whenmunILIonsersonneImIsLukenIyIoudedunucIeurcruIsemIssIIeonuB-zLhuL
ew Lo BurksduIe AB, ouIsIunu, und suL on Lhe Lurmuc Ior hours beIore Lhe mIs-
LukewusdIscovered.uLer,InMurchzoo8,LheAIrorcedIscoveredLhuLuIuzecom-
onenL oI un AIr orce nucIeur buIIIsLIc mIssIIe wurheud wus shIed Lo TuIwun In
error. SecreLury oI DeIense RoberL GuLes commIssIoned Lwo ouLsIde InvesLIguLIons,
onebyusenIorNuvyudmIruI,LheoLherubIue-rIbboncommIssIonchuIredbyIormer
SecreLury oI DeIense Jumes SchIesInger. BoLh IncIdenLs reveuIed u sysLemIc Iuck oI
uLLenLIonLoLhenucIeurmIssIonbyLheAIrorceoverunumberoIyeursduLIngbuck
LoLhedIssoIuLIonoISLruLegIcAIrCommundInJune1qqz.
qo
AsLheAIrorceSLruLegIc
PIun codIhes, revIvIng Lhe negIecLed nucIeur Iorces communILy consLILuLes Lhe sIngIe
hIghesLrIorILyIorLhenewAIrorceIeudershI.
An Aging Force Structure
The IncreusIng uge oI ILs uIr und suce eeL ucross Lhe bourd conLInues Lo be Lhe AIr
orce`s mosL ressIng neur-Lerm Iorce sLrucLure Issue. ThIs robIem uIIcLs boLh uIr-
cruILundsuLeIIILesysLems.AcombInuLIonoILheso-cuIIedrocuremenLhoIIduyoI
Lhe 1qqos combIned wILh Lhe wurLIme ucceIeruLIon oI uLIIIzuLIon ruLes ure ureus oI
gruveconcernLoAIrorceIunners.
q1
The AIr orce hus been enguged In neurIy conLInuous combuL oeruLIons sInce
Suddum HusseIn`s Iorces crossed Lhe KuwuILI border In 1qqo. The uIrcruIL beurIng
LhebrunLoILheseoeruLIonsIncIudeuerIuIreIueIIngLunkers,mosLoIwhIchureu-
rouchIng hILy yeurs oI uge. AIso heuvIIy enguged huve been Lhe hghLer Iorce, con-
sIsLIng oI A-1os, -16s und -1s, desIgns whIch duLe Lo Lhe 1q;os. They huve now
exceeded LheIr execLed uIrIrume IIves und y In u worId oI consLunL bund-uId
modIhcuLIons und IghL resLrIcLIons. or Lhe usL Lwo decudes Lhey huve been y-
Ing uL doubIe LheIr desIgned yIng ruLe due Lo ersIsLenL enIorcemenL oI no-y zones,
erIodIc hIgh-InLensILy uIr cumuIgns, und, sInce qJ11, consLunL homeIund deIense
uLroIs. The IIIe oI un uIrcruIL LhuL rouLIneIy uIIs nIne Gs cunnoL be exLended by
Lhe sume IIIe-suorL meusures uIIed Lo 1-G Lunker und bomber eeLs.
qz
NoLonIy
cun we execL more eeL-wIde groundIngs due Lo uge-reIuLed IuLIgue robIems, buL
qo
oruLhoroughovervIewoILheIncIdenLsundLheIruILermuLh,seehLL:JJen.wIkIedIu.orgJwIkIJzoo;_
UnILed_SLuLes_AIr_orce_nucIeur_weuons_IncIdenL,uccessedonz;Murchzooq.
q1
The Lerm rocuremenL hoIIduy, erhus coIned by CIndy WIIIIums uL Lhe CongressIonuI BudgeL OIhce
In1qq;congressIonuILesLImony,reIersLoLhesIumInweuonsurchusesLhuLoccurredInLhe1qqos
uILerLheCoIdWurLhuLersIsLsLoLhIsduy.CIndyWIIIIums,congressIonuILesLImony,Murch,1qq;,
uccessed uL: hLL:JJwww.gIobuIsecurILy.orgJmIIILuryJIIbruryJcongressJ1qq;_hrJhq;oow.hLm on 1
ArIIzooq.
qz
G-Iorces meusure Lhe muILIIes oI Lhe uIrcruILs weIghL when sLuLIonury us u resuIL oI uIrcruIL mu-
neuvers. PIunes LhuL do noL erIorm ucrobuLIc or oLher hIgh-sLress IghL muneuvers huve uIrIrumes
sLressed Lo Luke jusL over 1 G, whereus hghLer uIrcruIL requIre much sLronger sLrucLures Lo wILhsLund
Lhe vIoIenL muneuvers oI hghLer combuL, whIch someLImes exceed q Gs or nIne LImes Lhe Iorce oI gruv-
ILy,whIchIsuroxImuLeIyLhehumunIImIL.
Reviving the
neglected nuclear
forces community
constitutes the
single highest
priority for the new
Air Force leadership.
IncreusIngIy IIoLs wIII be usked Lo reduce LheIr LruInIng by resLrIcLIng hIgh-G hghLer
muneuverIng.TherecenLgroundIngsoIIegucy-1EugIeundA-1oWurLhoguIrcruIL
dueLouge-reIuLedIuLIguerobIemsureuorLenLoImorerobIemsuheud.AsuvIu-
LIon suIeLy exerL PeLer IeId commenLed, Lhese uIrcruIL huve been own Ior so Iong
LhuLLsIIkesLruIghLenIngouLuuercIIundbendIngILunLIIILbreuks,uddIng,uL
someoInL,someoorkIdwIIIbeuLhereundyunkbuck|onLhesLIck|unduIILhe
wIngsoII.
q
RuLher Lhun uLLemLIng Lo hundIe Lhe robIem InLernuIIy us Lhe cororuLe AIr
orcereIers,InLheIusLIewyeursLheLoIeudershIbegunLoubIIcIzeLherobIem
InumuchmoresLurkwuy.ormerAIrorceSecreLuryMIkeWynnerocIuImed:The
AIrorceIsgoIngouLoIbusIness.ALsomeLImeInLheIuLure,AIrorceuIrcruILwIII
sImIyrusLouL,ugeouL,orIuIIouLoILhesky.
qq
ThIsunchurucLerIsLIcuIIyuocuIyLIc
IunguugeonIyemergeduILerLherobIemhuduIreudybecomeucuLe,evenLhoughIL
hud been evIdenL us Iur buck us 1qq6 when chIeI oI sLuII GeneruI RonuId ogIemun
hrsL rung Lhe uIurm. Toduy, Lhe communder oI CenLruI AIr orces, IeuLenunL GeneruI
Gury NorLh, reorLs: We ure yIng our Iunes InLo exLIncLIon, und AIr orce SecIuI
OeruLIonsCommundsIeuder,IeuLenunLGeneruIDonuIdWursLer,observed,The
quesLIonIorusIs,shouIduIorceLhuLIsexLremeIyreIevunLundInhIghdemund...huve
uIrIunesLhuLureoorqoyeursoId?
q
oroverudecude,AIrorceIeudershuvenoL
serIousIyurLIcuIuLeduwuyLogeLouLoILhuLdIIemmuoLherLhunbyhoIngIormujor
IncreusesInLheServIcesmodernIzuLIonbudgeL.
q6
SuLeIIILe uge uIso becume u robIem uL Lhe end oI Lhe CoId Wur when IundIng
consLrIcLed Lo roduce Lhe osL-CoId Wur euce dIvIdend und reIucemenL ruLes
IummeLed.TheuverugeugeoILheAIrorcessuLeIIILeconsLeIIuLIonIn1qqsuLuLu
comIorLubIeoercenLoIILsuverugedesIgnIIIe,uosILIonoIreIuLIveheuILhgIvenu
robusL recuILuIIzuLIon scheduIe. Around zooz, however, AIr orce sucecruIL uver-
ugeugeexceededuverugedesIgnIIIe,undLhuLguhusconLInuedLogrowLouoInL
whereLoduyILexceedsILbymoreLhunoneyeur.ThIsnoLonIyuLsLhejoInLIorceuL
q
The mosL recenL groundIngs oI AIr orce hghLer uIrcruIL IncIude Lhe -1 EugIe LhuL cume uurL In
IghL due Lo uge-reIuLed sLress on u crILIcuI uIrIrume comonenL, severeIy InjurIng ILs IIoL. AssocIuLed
Press, AIr orce ReorL DeLuIIs -1 DIsInLegruLIon uL 18,ooo eeL, Junuury 1o, zoo8, uccessed uL
hLL:JJwww.Ioxnews.comJsLoryJo,zq,z1668,oo.hLmI on OcLober 1, zoo8. The A-1o WurLhog
ground uLLuck hghLer wus uIso grounded recenLIy due Lo wIng crucks LhuL couId huve resuILed In wIngs
IuIIIng oII In IghL. WIng Crucks Ground Muny A-1os Arizona Daily Star,OcLober6,zoo8,uccessed
uLhLL:JJwww.mIIILury.comJnewsJurLIcIeJwIng-crucks-ground-muny-u1os.hLmIonOcLober1,zoo8.
qq
RoberL S. Dudney, CuLusLrohIc uIIure, edILorIuI, Air Force Magazine, Junuury zoo8, uccessed uL
hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo8JJunuury%zozoo8Jo1o8edIL.usx
on1qAugusLzoo8.
q
PhIIII BuLLerheId, AgIng C-1os: Lhe gerIuLrIc eeL, 86Lh AIr ExedILIonury WIng, 6 November zoo;,
uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.gIobuIsecurILy.orgJmIIILuryJIIbruryJnewsJzoo;J11JmII-o;11o6-uInoz.hLm
onqAugusLzoo8.
q6
ThemosLrecenLoILhosewusChIeIoISLuIIGeneruIMIkeMoseIeysusserLIonLhuLILwouIdLuke$zobII-
IIon per year over sIx yeurs Lo begIn recovery, In uddILIon Lo reLIrIng oId uIrcruIL such us B-zs, KC-1s
undC-1osLhuLCongresskeLsuccessIveChIeIsIromLouchIng.Dudney,CuLusLrohIcuIIure.
rIsk, IL uIso suggesLs LhuL Lhe mosL udvunced LechnoIogIes ure noL yIng In Loduy`s
ugIng suLeIIILe eeL. Perhus Lhe mosL comeIIIng exumIe oI LhIs Lrend hus been Lhe
crILIcuI GIobuI PosILIonIng SysLem consLeIIuLIon LhuL rovIdes worId-wIde recIsIon
nuvIguLIonundLImIng.OverhuIILheGPSsuLeIIILesonorbILLoduyhuveexceededLheIr
desIgnIIIe.
q;
GIvenLheIncreusIngreIIunceoILhejoInLIorceonsucecuubIIILIes,LhIs
LrendcunnoLheIbuLbeworrIsomeLosenIorDeIenseoIIcy-mukers.
AIR FORCE GLOBAL BASING POSTURE
AIrorceInLerIorbuses(InsIdeLheconLInenLuIUnILedSLuLes,orCONUS)undexLe-
rIorbuses(overseus)serveusuhomeunduIuunchIuLIormIorILsIorces.AguIn,Lhe
AIrorcemunugesbusesInuwuyLhuLconLrusLswILhLheoLherServIces.However,Lhe
zooBuseReuIIgnmenLundCIosure(BRAC)roundmunduLedujoInLbusIngconceL
whereby oLher ServIces wIII ussume munugemenL oI seIecLed, co-IocuLed AIr orce
InsLuIIuLIons.
q8
ThIsworrIedAIrorceIeudersuccusLomedLoenIorcIngundInvesLIng
In hIgh sLundurds oI buse servIces und suorL. The Iong-Lerm vIubIIILy oI Lhe joInL
busIngconceLwIIIcomeunderumIcroscoeusILbegInsInzooq.
qq
nuddILIonLoLhe
ImIemenLuLIonoIjoInLbusIng,Lwomujorbuse-reIuLedIssuesshouIdconcerndeIense
oIIcymukersoverLheIong-Lerm:unexcessInLheAIrorcesInLerIorbusIngsLruc-
LureundLheuLrohyoIuIrbusesoverseus.
CONUS Basing Surplus
BusemunugemenLIsunImorLunLreLenLIonIssueIorAIrorceIeuders,buLLoomuch
InIrusLrucLureosesumuchmoreInsIdIousrobIem.TheexcesscuucILyInLheAIr
orces CONUS buse InIrusLrucLure consLILuLes u growIng burden on Lhe ServIces
budgeL. n u zooq DoD reorL Lo Congress, Lhe secreLury oI deIense und Lhe chuIr-
mun oI Lhe JoInL ChIeIs oI SLuII sLuLed LhuL excess InIrusLrucLure does exIsL und Is
uvuIIubIeIorreshuIng,orneedsLobeeIImInuLed.TheyuddedLhuLLheDeurLmenL
q;
TheuverugedesIgnIIIeoIAIrorcesucecruILremuIneduLubouL8yeurssInce1qq1.SucecruILuveruge
ugeoverLhuLLIme,however,roseIromqyeursLooverqyeursLoduy.USASucePrIorILIesSecreLury
oILheAIrorce,1qMurchzoo8.
q8
The Buse ReuIIgnmenL und CIosure (BRAC) rocess orIgInuLed In Lhe Kennedy AdmInIsLruLIon when
Lhe need Ior cIosIng WorId Wur und Koreun Wur buses becume obvIous. SecreLury oI DeIense RoberL
McNumurucIosedoversIxLybuseswILhouLconsuILIngwILhCongressoroLhergovernmenLuIugencIes.
nresonse,CongressussedruIesLhuLvIrLuuIIyrecIudedbusecIosuresdurIngLhe1q8os.norder
Lo breuk Lhe deudIock und uddress Lhe obvIous burden on Lhe DoD budgeL cuused by excess CONUS
busIng,LhecurrenLsysLemoIunIndeendenL,bIurLIsuncommIssIonrecommendIngunuIIornone
rogrumLoCongresswusenucLedIn1q88.AgoodrevIewoILheBRACdecIsIonssInceLhuLduLecunbe
IounduL:hLL:JJwww.gIobuIsecurILy.orgJmIIILuryJIucIIILyJbruc.hLm,uccessedonz;Murchzooq.
qq
EurIy negoLIuLIons concenLruLed on who wouId conLroI uIrheId oeruLIons uL buses IIke McChord AB
und HIckum AB where Lhe Army und Nuvy, resecLIveIy, were gIven buse oeruLIons resonsIbIIILy.
ThenewmunugemenLurrungemenLsbegInInJunuuryzooq.AdumJ.HeberL,TheJoInLBuseDIsuLe,
Air Force Magazine,VoI.q1,no.1o,OcLoberzoo8:ugeo.
ubsorbs, In Lhe uggreguLe, Lhe overheud Irom excess InsLuIIuLIon cuucILy.
o
WhuL
LhIsmeuns,IuInIyuL,IsLhuLunneededbusesurebIeedInguwuyIundsLheAIrorce
urgenLIyneedsIormodernIzuLIon.
The AIr orce shure oI DoD excess cuucILy In LhuL zooq sLudy wus rIghL uL Lhe
deurLmenLuIuveruge:zqercenLexcessbuseInIrusLrucLure.
1
ThecuLegorIesoIAIr
orce InsLuIIuLIons conLrIbuLIng mosL Lo LhuL hgure IncIude udmInIsLruLIve IucIIILIes
(1ercenL),AIrorceReserveundAIrNuLIonuIGuurdurkInguronsuce(6er-
cenLundqercenL,resecLIveIy),cIussroomsuce(qercenL),IurgeuIrcruILurk-
Ing suce (z; ercenL), und suce oeruLIons IucIIILIes ( ercenL). The AIr orce
roosedLoLheSecreLuryoIDeIenseLhuLLhezooBRACcIoseLenmujorAIrorce
InsLuIIuLIons,LhreeInLheucLIveIorceundsevenInLheAIrReserveComonenL,wILh
zo ercenL oI InsLuIIuLIons wILh oeruLIonuI yIng mIssIons IosIng LhuL mIssIon.
z
ThuL
recommenduLIonwouIdhuveresuILedInunesLImuLed$z.6bIIIIonInunnuuIsuvIngs,
uddInguLounesLImuLed$1q.bIIIIonoverLwenLyyeurs.
nLheend,however,Lhe
zooBRACLrImmedonIyercenLoIdeurLmenLuIbuseInIrusLrucLure,onIyuIruc-
LIonoIwhuLIsrequIredLoruLIonuIIzeLheCONUSexcess.
q
ronIcuIIy, Lhe budgeLury drug creuLed by excess CONUS buse InIrusLrucLure

musksunevenmoreressIngsLruLegIcrobIem.OverseusuIrbusesIongugoussed
Lhe oInL where Lhe oeruLIonuI IImILuLIons cuused by buse shrInkuge hud become
ucuLe, esecIuIIy In Lhe PucIhc regIon. AddressIng LhuL robIem consLILuLes u serIous
chuIIenge Ior AIr orce Ieuders who wunL Lo osLure LheIr Iorces Lo beLLer uddress
IuLuresLruLegIcrequIremenLs.
The Atrophy of Overseas Bases
The AIr orce enLered Lhe LwenLy-hrsL cenLury wILh one LhIrd Iewer eoIe Lhun dur-
IngLheIuLLersLugesoILheCoIdWurundLwoLhIrdsIewerermunenLoverseusbuses.
DurIng Lhe 1qqos, IL chunged Irom u CoId Wur gurrIson Iorce oeruLIng Irom Iurge,
sohIsLIcuLed CONUS und overseus buses Lo un exedILIonury Iorce deIoyIng Irom
homebusesLouusLerebrIngyourownInIrusLrucLureIocuLIons.DurIngLhesLruLegIc
o
ReorLRequIredbySecLIonzq1zoILheDeIenseBuseCIosureundReuIIgnmenLAcLoI1qqo,usumend-
ed Lhrough Lhe NuLIonuI DeIense AuLhorIzuLIon AcL Ior IscuI Yeur zoo, DeurLmenL oI DeIense,
Murchzooq,uge,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJbrucJdocsJoq_o_bodyozqo.dIonz
AugusLzoo8.
1
zooqBRACReorL,ugeq.
z
BuseCIosureundReuIIgnmenLReorL,DeurLmenLoIDeIense,VoIume1,PurLz,Muyzoo:ugeAIr
orce- und q, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJbrucJdIJVoI__PurL_z_DOD_BRAC.dI on
SeLemberzoo8.
zooqBRACReorL,ugez.
q
EvenLhuLcuLresuILedInuIorecusLed$bIIIIonuverugeunnuuIbudgeLurysuvIngsbegInnIngInzo11.
BuseCIosureundReuIIgnmenLReorL,DeurLmenLoIDeIense,VoIume1,PurL1,Muyzoo:ugeAIr
orce- und q, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJbrucJdIJVoI__PurL_z_DOD_BRAC.dI on
SeLemberzoo8.
hIuLusuILerLheCoIdWur,LheubundonmenLoImunyoverseusbusesseemedLomuke
sense und hurdIy uIIecLed Iorce deIoymenLs becuuse Lhe UnILed SLuLes unIIuLeruI
sLrengLh meunL LhuL buses ImmedIuLeIy surroundIng Lhe combuL zone couId be uc-
cessedundexIoILedreIuLIveIyeusIIy.ThuLveryhuyurrungemenLseemsLobeIudIng.
PosL-CoId Wur overseus buse consLrIcLIon now sIgnIhcunLIy resLrIcLs AmerIcun
mIIILuryowerrojecLIon.ThIsneguLIveLrendIsexucerbuLedbyseveruImuLuuIIyre-
InIorcIngIucLors.IrsL,USmIIILuryowerrojecLIonIsIncreusIngIyconsLruInedby
oIILIcuIIy-buseduccessIImILuLIons.WILhLhedIssoIuLIonoILheSovIeLUnIonusumu-
jorLhreuL,nuLIonshuvebeenIessreceLIveLoAmerIcunrequesLsIoruccessundover-
IghL, und more IIkeIy Lo use Lhese requesLs us u domesLIc oIILIcuI Ioy or burguIn-
Ing LooI.
Second, governmenLs wIII uImosL cerLuInIy become Iess wIIIIng Lo ucceL

AmerIcun Iorces due Lo Lhe roIIIeruLIon oI Iong-runge, unLI-uccess und reLuIIuLory
LhreuLs, us hosLIng AmerIcun Iorces couId muke Lhem u LurgeL.
6
urLhermore, Lhe
ImeruLIveIoroverseusbuseuccesshususImIegeogruhIcuIcomonenLdIsLunce
IncreusesowerrojecLIoncosLsundcomIexILy.SomeoILhemosLImorLunLregIons
InLheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL,suchusEusLAsIu,SouLheusLAsIu,undesecIuIIy
CenLruI AsIu, resenL ucuLe runge chuIIenges LhuL demund eILher Iurge numbers oI
dIsersedbusesIorshorL-rungeIorces,orIewer,morecuubIebusesIorIonger-runge
Iorces.nmunykeyregIons,boLhureInshorLsuIy.InuIIy,LheroIIIeruLIonoIre-
cIsIonconvenLIonuIIong-rungecruIseundbuIIIsLIcmIssIIesIucesIundundseubuses
uLrIsk,sLImuIuLIngLheneedLohurdenunddIsersebusesundIorces,usweIIusIm-
rove wurnIng und ucLIve deIenses where mIssIIe densILy wurrunLs IL. ThIs, In Lurn,
resenLsubudgeLurychuIIengeusdeIensebudgeLsconsLrIcLundLheAIrorceIuces
escuIuLIngmunower,energy,undoeruLIonsbIIIs.
n AugusL zooq, PresIdenL George W. Bush unnounced u mujor overseus busIng
reuIIgnmenL rocess LhuL Lhe CongressIonuI Reseurch ServIce cuIIed Lhe mosL ro-
Iound reorderIng oI US mIIILury Lroos overseus In ubouL o yeurs.
;
AILhough Lhe
unnouncemenL suggesLed work wouId be underLuken Lo oen new buses, Lhe InILIu-
LIveconcenLruLedoncIosIngevenmorebusesundbrIngIngsome;o,oooUSServIce
membershome.SomeoILhosechungeswereuLonhoIddueLoLhewursInruqund
AIghunIsLun, buL Lhe InILIuLIve conLInues Lo emhusIze Lhe use oI buses Lo IucIIILuLe
Lhe movemenL und deIoymenL oI ground Iorces und hus done IILLIe Lo Increuse Lhe
exIbIIILy und uccess rovIded Lo key ureus In Lhe PucIhc und oLher urLs oI AsIu Ior
See WesIey P. HuIImun, Access und OverIghL: SLruLegIc OorLunILIes, OeruLIonuI RIsks, MusLer`s
LhesIs(MuxweIIAB,A:SchooIoIAdvuncedAIrundSuceSLudIes,zooq).
6
SeeuIso,ChrIsLoherJ.BowIe,Meeting the Anti-Access and Area-Denial Challenge(WushIngLon,DC:
CenLerIorSLruLegIcundBudgeLuryAssessmenLs,zooz).
;
Jon D. KIuus, US MIIILury Overseus BusIng: Buckground und OversIghL ssues Ior Congress,
CongressIonuIReseurchServIcereorL#RSz1q;,1;Novemberzooq,ugez.
Iund-buseduIrower.
8
ThIsIsurobIemLhuLcunnoLbeIgnored,usILcunLukemuny
yeursLoesLubIIshmeunIngIuIoverseusbuseuccess.
These ure noL Lhe onIy Issues ImucLIng Lhe AIr orce budgeL In wuys LhuL huve
sLruLegIceIIecLs,however.ThenexLsecLIoncoverssomebusIcbudgeLuryIssuesLhuL
reveuIuseLoIInsLILuLIonuIchuIIengesIorLheAIrorce.
BUDGET STATUS
TheAIrorceunnuuIbudgeLrequesLIorYzooqcumeLo$1q.8bIIIIonInYzooq
doIIurs, wILh Lhe IurgesL shure (qq ercenL) goIng Lo InvesLmenL (reseurch, deveIo-
menL,LesLIngundevuIuuLIonundrocuremenL),undzercenLundzzercenLgoIng
LooeruLIonsundmuInLenunce(O&M)undersonneI,resecLIveIy.
q
BycomurIson,
LhecombInedbudgeLIorLheNuvyundMurIneCorssLooduL$1qq.bIIIIonund,Ior
Lhe Army, $1qo bIIIIon. These hgures cuuse muny unuIysLs Lo observe LhuL uII Lhree
ServIcesreceIvecomurubIebusebudgeLshuresrungIngIromz;LozqercenL.
6o
A cIoser Iook, however, reveuIs LhuL Lhe AIr orce Iugs budIy In budgeL shure.
SuIemenLuIIundIngIoroeruLIonsInruqundAIghunIsLunheuvIIyIuvorsLheArmy
und MurIne Cors, u reecLIon oI Lhe ground-heuvy orIenLuLIon oI Lhe cumuIgns In
Lhese Lwo counLrIes. or exumIe, Lhe Y zoo8 suIemenLuI budgeL umendmenL
rovIded Lhe Army un uddILIonuI $1o6.q bIIIIon, und Lhe AIr orce und Nuvy onIy
$z bIIIIon euch. ndeed, on severuI recenL occusIons, Lhe OIhce oI Lhe SecreLury oI
DeIenseLuxedLheAIrorceundLheNuvybIIIIonsoIdoIIursLoheIdeIruyLhecosL
oIArmyoeruLIons.
61
TheremuInderoILhIssecLIondIscussesLheunIquebudgeLres-
sures conIronLIng Lhe AIr orce IeudershI us IL uLLemLs Lo ruLIonuIIze currenL und
IuLurerequIremenLs.
Budget Pass-Throughs
L Is u IILLIe-known IucL LhuL Lhe AIr orce does noL conLroI u sIgnIhcunL urL oI ILs buse
budgeL,whIchservesusuuss-LhroughmechunIsmIoroLherugencyrogrums.nLhe
8
AILhoughmuchoILhebusIngdIscussIonsroceededInsecreL,somesuggesLIonLhuLOSDwusgoIngLo
conducL LuIks wILh ThuIIund, Lhe PhIIIInes, und SInguore ubouL busIng oLIons. KIuus, uge z.
q
ThIsreresenLsLhebusebudgeLrequesLonIy.LdoesnoLIncIudesuIemenLuIIundIngIoroeruLIonsIn
ruqundAIghunIsLun.SeeNuLIonuIDeIenseBudgeLEsLImuLe,Yzooq(WushIngLon,D.C.:DeurLmenL
oILheDeIense,SeLemberzoo8),uvuIIubIeonIIneuLhLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJcomLroIIerJdeIbud-
geLJIyzooqJYoqGreenbookJgreenbook_zooq_uduLed.dI,uccessedJunuuryz,zooq.
6o
TheAIrorceshureequuLesLoz8%.TheArmysshureequuLesLoz;%,undLheNuvyJMurIneCorsLo
zq%.
61
WIIIIumH.McMIchueI,AIrorce,Nuvy,AMoneykeesArmyrunnIngunLIIJuIy, Army Times,1
June zoo8, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.urmyLImes.comJnewsJzoo8Jo6JmIIILury_budgeLshIIL_o611o8wJ
on z AugusL zoo8. Megun ScuIIy, ChIeI Suys AIr orce MusL Recover unds DIverLed Lo Army,
Congress Daily PM,zqArIIzoo;.JusonShermun,DODMuyRuIseArmyBudgeL, Inside Defense,
18AugusLzoo6,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.mIIILury.comJIeuLuresJo,1zqo,11oqq,oo.hLmIonzAugusL
zoo8.
It is a little-
known fact that
the Air Force
does not control a
signifcant part of
its base budget,
which serves as
a pass-through
mechanism for
other agency
programs.
Yzoo8budgeLsubmIssIon,IorInsLunce,Lhenon-AIrorceuss-Lhroughuveruged
ubouL$obIIIIonunnuuIIyLhroughYzo1q,reducIngLhede-IucLoAIrorcebudgeL
shure(IncIudIngsuIemenLuIs)LouroundzoercenLoILheoveruIIDoDbudgeLIn-
sLeudoILheoILen-IIsLedz8ercenL.ThemujorILyoILhoseIundsIIkeIyureshIILedLoLhe
NuLIonuIoreIgnnLeIIIgenceProgrum(NP),whIchuccordIngLoLheCongressIonuI
ReseurchServIce,IundsuIIIoreIgnInLeIIIgenceundcounLer-InLeIIIgenceucLIvILIesoI
LhegovernmenLLhuLresondLonuLIonuIneedsusoosedLoLheneedsoIusIngIe
deurLmenLorugency.
6z
CSBA`s deIense budgeL unuIysL SLeve KosIuk noLed LhuL over
qo ercenL Lhe AIr orce`s rocuremenL budgeL IuIIs under u cIussIhed cuLegory, wILh u
sIgnIhcunL orLIon IIkeIy goIng Lo Lhe CenLruI nLeIIIgence Agency (CA), Lhe NuLIonuI
SecurILy Agency (NSA) und Lhe NuLIonuI ReconnuIssunce OIhce (NRO).
6
L Is Lhus
mIsIeudIngLosuyLhuLLheLhreedeurLmenLsgeneruIIygeLequuIbudgeLshures,ese-
cIuIIysInceOeruLIonruqIreedombegunInzoo.
External Budget Demands and Bureaucratic Penetration
BudgeL uss-Lhroughs ure onIy one exumIe oI how oLher ugencIes Ieveruge Lhe AIr
orcebusebudgeLIorLheIrownuroses.nuddILIonLoILsInLernuIcororuLesLruc-
Lure,LheAIrorceuIsohusudeIucLobourdoIdIrecLorsLhuLdonoLweurAIrorce
bIue. Due Lo Lhe crILIcuI und growIng uLIIILy oI uIr und suce ower, Lhe oLher Lhree
ServIcesundInLeIIIgenceugencIesnoLonIydIrecLIyInLerveneInLoAIrorcemuLLers,
buL uIso Iobby uggressIveIy In u bId Lo geL IncreusIng shures oI Lhe AIr orce budgeL
eurmurkedLosuorLLheIrInsLILuLIonuIrIorILIes.AsmenLIonedubove,LheInLeIII-
gencecommunILyusesuorLIonoILheAIrorcebudgeLusuuss-Lhrough,buLILuIso
exerLs oeruLIonuI conLroI over u sIgnIhcunL number oI AIr orce uIrborne und suce
SR usseLs. AIr mobIIILy Iorce sLrucLure resonds Lo exLernuI demund, rImurIIy Lo
LheArmyIoruIrIIILInggroundIorces,undLheNuvyIoruerIuIreIueIIngLhuLexLends
Lhe runge oI ILs hghLer-bused currIer uIr wIngs. Everyone In Lhe governmenL uses AIr
orcesuceusseLs,undmunydesIre(undreceIve)usuyInsysLemdesIgnundoeru-
LIonsoILenresuILIngInLhegoId-IuLIngoIrequIremenLsLhuLLheAIrorceends
u ubsorbIng In ILs budgeL. urLhermore, InLernuI AIr orce subgrous benehLIng
IromexLernuIdemundsoILenconsIrewILhLheseowerIuIexLernuIsLuke-hoIdersLo
dIvIdeundweukenLheAIrorcesubIIILyLoursueILsInsLILuLIonuIrIorILIes.UnIIke
murkeL economIes, recIrocILy (uyIng Ior servIces) does noL buIunce or mILIguLe
6z
The uuLhor noLes LhuL Lhe DIrecLor oI CenLruI nLeIIIgence (DC) conLroIs Lhe NP Lhrough LuskIng
uuLhorILy oI Lhe ugencIes InvoIved, und Lhe SecreLury oI DeIense Lhrough oeruLIonuI uuLhorILy und
hIs DeIense Resource Bourd (DRB) whIch Is exunded Lo IncIude DC reresenLuLIon when consId-
erIng NP Issues. SLehen DuggeLL, The US nLeIIIgence BudgeL: A BusIc OvervIew, CongressIonuI
ReseurchServIcereorL#RSz1qq,zqSeLemberzooq:uge1,q.
6
L robubIy uIso covers Lhe NuLIonuI GeosuLIuI nLeIIIgence Agency (NGA) us weII. SLeven M. KosIuk,
CIussIhed undIng In Lhe Yzooq DeIense BudgeL RequesL, CenLer Ior SLruLegIc und BudgeLury
AssessmenLs buckgrounder, 1; June zoo8: z. Accessed uL: hLL:JJwww.csbuonIIne.orgJqPubIIcuLIonsJ
PubIbruryJU.zoo8o618.CIussIhed_undIngJU.zoo8o618.CIussIhed_undIng.dIon8AugusLzoo8.
In addition to its
internal corporate
structure, the Air
Force also has a
de facto board of
directors that do not
wear Air Force blue.
Lheseressures,sInceLheAIrorcegeneruIIydoesnoLuccrueunybudgeLreIIeI.The
desIreIormoreundbeLLerIreeservIcesresuILsInouLsIdeugencIescomeLIngwILh
oneunoLherIordeIucLoshuresoILheAIrorcebudgeL,whIIeLheAIrorcegeneruIIy
IucksLheIeverugeorInsLILuLIonuIowerLoresIsLLhesesoIIcILuLIons.
Petroleum Dependence
A hnuI usecL oI exLernuI ressure on Lhe AIr orce`s budgeL beurs noLIng. The AIr orce
consumesmoreeLroIeumeuchyeurLhununyoLherugencyoILheUSGovernmenL,
undLhusIsmoresusceLIbIeLorIsIngeLroIeumrIces.AccordIngLoLheNew York
Times,LheAIrorceburned.zbIIIIonguIIonsoIuvIuLIonIueIInzoo,overoer-
cenLoILheUSgovernmenLsLoLuIconsumLIon.DueLosLeudIIyrIsIngoIIrIces,AIr
orceIeudersreveuIedLhuLLheyuId$1.qbIIIIonmoreIoruvIuLIonIueIInzooLhun
LheyeurbeIore,udmILLIngLhuLLhehIgherIueIcosLswerecreuLIngubudgeLcrIsIs.
6q
HIgherIueIrIcesuIsohuveumujorImucLonAIrorcecombuLcuubIIILy.HIgher
rIces meun Lhe AIr orce hus Lo uy u remIum Ior yIng hours, whIch LrunsIuLes
dIrecLIy InLo combuL uvIuLIon reudIness und rohcIency. By zoo;, when oII Loed
$1ooerburreI,AIrCombuLCommundIorecusLedLhuLhIgherIueIrIcescouIdsur
ureducLIonInLheAIrorcesIyIngHourProgrumby1o%euchyeurLhroughzo1.
6
As u Iong-Lerm resonse, Lhe AIr orce Iunned Lo cerLIIy ILs enLIre eeL Lo y wILh
oercenLnoneLroIeumIueIsourcesbyzo1o,undsLurLedIookIngInLooLherwuys
LoIessenILseLroIeumvuInerubIIILy.
66
orInsLunce,LheAIrorceurchuseduImosL
qoomIIIIonkIIowuLL-hoursoIrenewubIeenergyInzoo8,LoIncIudeu1q.zmeguwuLL
hoLovoILuIcsoIururruyuLNeIIIsAB,LheIurgesLInLhewesLernhemIshere.These
InILIuLIves eurned Lhem Lhe EnvIronmenLuI ProLecLIon Agencys zoo8 Green Power
eudershIAwurdusLheLoIederuIgovernmenLurchuseroIrenewubIeower.
6;
DesILeLheseeIIorLsLomILIguLeLheeIIecLsoIoIIrIces,however,LhegIobuIenergy
murkeL wIII IIkeIy conLInue Lo exerL u sIgnIhcunL Inuence on Lhe AIr orce`s budgeL
LhuLIsIurgeIybeyondILsconLroI.TherecenLgIobuIrecessIonheIedLomoderuLeIueI
cosLs.However,overLIme,ILseemsusurebeLLhuL,usLheeconomIcrecoveryurrIves,
energyrIceswIIIrIse.WhencombInedwILhrIsIngersonneIcosLs,excessdomesLIc
buseInIrusLrucLure,undunconsLruInedexLernuIresourcedemunds,AIrorceucquIsI-
LIonundoeruLIonsuccounLsureIIkeIyLoremuInhIghIysLressedoverLhenexLLwenLy
yeurs. As u resuIL, Lhe AIr orce musL exIore wuys Lo Iree subsLunLIuI resources
erhusLensoIbIIIIonsoIdoIIurswILhInILsownbudgeLLoIIneLoIundILsIuLure
6q
DonPhIIIIs,AIrorceHoesLoCuLOIIsRoIeInueI,New York Times,18Junezoo;,uccesseduL
hLL:JJwww.nyLImes.comJzoo;Jo6J18JbusInessJ18bIoIueIs.hLmIonzJuIyzoo8.
6
AccesseduLhLL:JJwww.uI.mIIJnewsJsLory.us?Id=1zoz66;qonzqAugusLzoo8
66
PhIIIIs,AIrorceHoesLoCuLOIIsRoIeInueI.
6;
The AIr orce urchused green ower sources LhuL IncIude hoLovoILuIc soIur urruys und wInd Iurms
uLvurIousAIrorcebuses.AIrorceWInsEPAEnergyAwurd,AIrorceNewsServIce,OcLoberz8,
zoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.uI.mIIJnewsJsLory.us?Id=1z1z1q16onOcLoberzq,zoo8.
The global energy
market will likely
continue to exert
a signifcant
infuence on the
Air Forces budget.
rogrum. WhIIe AIr orce Ieuders wIII conLInue Lo muke Lhe cuse Ior un Increused
budgeL, Lhey cunnoL conLInue IunnIng on u hnuncIuI wIndIuII LhuL muy never come.
RECAPITALIZATION AND MODERNIZATION PLANS
The AIr orces Iun Lo recuILuIIze und modernIze Lhe Iorce resLs on Lhe romIse
oI new ucquIsILIons und modIhcuLIons Lo Iegucy IuLIorms. or Lhe uroses oI LhIs
sLudy,recuILuIIzuLIonreIersLoucombInuLIonoIreLIrIngoIderuIrcruILundsucecruIL
undbuyIngnewones.ModernIzuLIonexLendsuIrcruILservIceIIIe,ugrudescuubII-
ILy, und Imroves suIeLy oI IghL. nevILubIy, LechnIcuI obsLucIes und hscuI consLruInLs
hInder Lhe uce oI recuILuIIzuLIon, IorcIng Ieuders Lo InvesL even more In ugrudes
Lo ugIng uIrcruIL. The cosLs oI such shorL-Lerm hxes, uIong wILh rIsIng bIIIs Ior deoL
muInLenunce, uLIIILIes und IueI, creuLe u deuLh sIruI, In whIch Lhe rIsIng cosLs oI
muInLuInIngexIsLInguIrcruILrobresourcesInLendedIorrecuILuIIzuLIon.ThIssecLIon
revIewsLhemujorusecLsoILheAIrorcesmodernIzuLIonIunusurLIcuIuLedInILs
mosLrecenLosLuresLuLemenLLoCongress.
Aircraft Retirements Blocked
The hrsL usecL oI recuILuIIzuLIon InvoIves reLIrIng oId uIrcruIL, becuuse jusL us IL
hus excess CONUS buses, Lhe AIr orce hus Loo muny ugIng Iunes. OIder uIrcruIL
ure dIIhcuIL Lo muInLuIn, und oILen huve oeruLIonuI und LruInIng IghL resLrIcLIons.
Congressmun ke SkeILon (D-MO) noLed IusL yeur LhuL some 1q ercenL oI Lhe AIr
orceInvenLoryIseILhergroundedorhusmIssIon-IImILIngresLrIcLIons.
68
However,
uLLemLsLocuLoIdIorcesLrucLurehuveconsIsLenLIyencounLeredsLIIIresIsLunceIrom
LheCongress,whosemembersureconcernedoverLherosecLIveImucLoIsuchre-
ducLIonsInLheIrDIsLrIcLs.
6q
TheyuIsoIeurLhuLIorcesLrucLurecuLbuckscouIdmuke
LheIrbusesmoreIIkeIycundIduLesIorcIosurebyLheBRACrocess.orexumIe,Lhe
AIr orce successIuIIy cuL Lhe -11; eeL In zoo; uILer Lwo yeurs oI huvIng LheIr requesL
bIockedbyCongress.SLIII,CongressresLrIcLedLhereLIremenLbymunduLIngLhuLLen
uIrcruILbekeLInurecuIIcondILIon,evenLhoughLhereurenoIongerunyIIoLsLruIned
Lo y Lhem. HIgh on Lhe reLIremenL IIsL ure Lhe KC-1E, C-1oE, U-z und C-A.
Modernization
SuddIed wILh un ugIng uIrcruIL InvenLory, Lhe AIr orce hnds ILseII sendIng uL hIsLorI-
cuIIy hIgh ruLes on ugrudes und modIhcuLIons Lo exIsLIng uIrcruIL. U Lo one LhIrd oI
LoLuIuIrcruILrocuremenL,und,evenmoreworrIsome,oneLhIrdoIR&DsendIng,go
68
OLLo KreIsher, AIr orce Ieuders urgue need Lo reLIre oId uIrcruIL, Congress Daily,z8ebruuryzoo;,
uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.govexec.comJduIIyIedJozo;Jozz8o;cdmz.hLmon1AugusLzoo8.
6q
zoo8USAPosLureSLuLemenL,ugez;z8.
Attempts to cut
old force structure
have consistently
encountered stiff
resistance from the
Congress, whose
members are
concerned over the
prospective impact
of such reductions
in their Districts.
Ior modIhcuLIons Lo Iegucy sysLems - und Lhese roorLIons ure rIsIng.
;o
NeurIyubII-
IIon doIIurs er yeur ure budgeLed Ior modIhcuLIons und ugrudes Lo -1s und -16s,
evenLhoughLheuveruge-1Eor-16CwIIIbeLhIrLyyeursoIdInzo18.TheIunuIso
cuIIsIorsendIng$1.qbIIIIoneryeuronC-modernIzuLIon.
;1
ThesecosLshInderLheServIceseIIorLsLomuInLuInILsLechnoIogIcuIedge.TheY
zooqAIrorcebudgeLcuIIsIor$81mIIIIononnewrouIsIonLechnoIogy,IncIudIng
LhecrILIcuIIyImorLunLAduLIveVersuLIIeEngIneTechnoIogy(ADVENT)rogrum.
;z
YeLLhesumebudgeLuIsoIncIudes$11mIIIIonIorR&DonmurgInuIcomonenLIm-
rovemenLs Ior engInes on Iegucy uIrcruIL. n shorL, Lhe AIr orce rIsks becomIng u
deoLsuorLugency.
;
DesILe Lhese Lrends, Lhe ServIces rheLorIc remuIns oLImIsLIc. The AIr orces
mosL recenL ubIIc sLruLegIc IunnIng documenL, AIr orce Roudmu zoo6zoz,
IuysouLLheroosedIunLourrIveuLuowerIuIIorcesLrucLureLhuLwIIIdomInuLe
udversurIes In Lhe uIr, suce, und cybersuce ucross Lhe secLrum oI conIcL, now
Lhroughzoz.
;q
nebruuryzoo8,LheAIrorceresenLedCongressun$18.;bIIIIon
unIundedrequIremenLsIIsLconsIsLIngmosLIyoIuIrcruILrocuremenL.
;
ThuLrequesL
wusInuddILIonLounAIrorceeIIorLLoIncreuseILsLo-IInebudgeLbyunuddILIonuI
$zo bIIIIon er yeur Ior Lhe nexL hve yeurs - u wIndIuII LhuL never cume. ThIs uLLemL
wusmudeInorderLobuIIdLheRequIredorce,orwhuLLheAIrorcesuwusQDR
guIdunce whIIe hIIIng whuL ServIce oIhcIuIs cuIIed u hghLer gu.
;6
ThIsequuLedLoLhe
;o
n Yzooq, modIhcuLIons comrIsed ubouL % oI Lhe LoLuI R&D budgeL (mInus NP). ProcuremenL
modIhcuLIons rose us u ercenLuge oI LoLuI rocuremenL Irom zz% In Yzoo; Lo z% In Yzooq. ooked
uL unoLher wuy, LoLuI modIhcuLIon cosLs LoLuI over qo% oI Lhe enLIre AIr orce deveIomenL budgeL
(mInus S&T und LesL), u rough wuy oI comurIng oId Lo new. DuLu comes Irom Lhe AIr orce Yzooq
budgeLrequesLuccesseduLwww.suIIm.hq.uI.mIIJbudgeLJon1JuIyzoo8.
;1
DuLucomesIromLheAIrorceYzooqbudgeLrequesLuccesseduLwww.suIIm.hq.uI.mIIJbudgeLJon1
JuIyzoo8.
;z
The currenL ADVENT rogrum couId benehL Irom beIng exunded Lo Iund Lwo comeLIng comu-
nIes In order Lo guIn Lhe greuLesL InsIghL ubouL uILernuLIve urouches. or u IucId, ersuusIve urgu-
menL Ior rouIsIon S&T IundIng, see: AmerIcun nsLILuLe oI AeronuuLIcs & AsLronuuLIcs (AAA) AIr
BreuLhIng ProuIsIon TechnIcuI CommILLee, The VersuLIIe AIIordubIe Advunced TurbIne EngInes
(VAATE)nILIuLIve,AAAosILIonuer,Junuuryzoo6,uccesseduLhLL:JJdI.uIuu.orgJdownIoudsJ
ubIIcoIIcyosILIonuersJVAATE.dIon1oOcLoberzoo8.
;
ThIs sLuLemenL conLuIns more Lhun u bIL oI Irony. As deoLs und modIhcuLIon rojecLs geL more busI-
ness,LhoseconsLILuencIesuIsoguInoIILIcuIowerundexerLLremendousressureonAIrorceIeuders
boLhdIrecLIyundLhroughCongressLoexLendundexundLhoserogrums.
;q
AIrorceRoudmuzoo6zoz,HeudquurLers,UnILedSLuLesAIrorce,Junezoo6,uge6,uccessed
uLhLL:JJwww.uI.mIIJIIbruryJosLureJvIsIonJvIsIon.dIon1oAugusLzoo8.
;
AILhoughLheUIsnoLenLIreIycomrIsedoIuIrcruILrocuremenLrequesLs,LhevusLmujorILyoILhe
IundIng requesL InvoIved money Ior uIrcruIL rocuremenL LhuL mIrrors Lhe uIrcruIL In Lhe RequIred
orce.SeeUSAYzooqUnIundedRequIremenLsIsL,ebzoo8,SAJMB,BudgeL&ArorIuLIons
OIhce; hLLs:JJwww.ueI.orgJedoJuI_unIunded.dI.
;6
RoberL S. Dudney, urchIng Towurd u CIIII, Air Force Magazine, ArII zoo8, uccessed uL
hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo8JArII%zozoo8Joqo8edIL.usx on
Novemberzoo8; ErIk HoImes, OIhcIuIs suy currenL Iuns creuLe hghLer gu, AIr orce TImes, ArII
16,zoo8.
AIrorceuskIngIorover$qobIIIIonInrocuremenLIundsIorzooq.
;;
urLhermore,
over Lhe nexL LwenLy-hve yeurs Lhe AIr orce Iuns Lo reLIre some z,oo Iegucy hghLer
uIrcruIL Irom Lhe AcLIve, Reserve und Guurd eeLs. The currenL rogrum oI record
reIucesLhemwILh18;-zzsund1,;6-s,buLuLuuceLhuLrequIressLreLchIng
Lhe Iegucy hghLer Iorce Iur InLo Lhe IuLure. AL resenL, Lhe AIr orce`s Iong-runge Iun
reLuInsCoIdWur-eru-1EsundA-1osbeyondzoz8.
SImIemuLhreveuIsLheInIeusIbIIILyoILhIsIun.TheAIrorceIunsLorocure
;o uIrcruIL over u sIx-yeur erIod, equuLIng Lo 1z uIrcruIL er yeur. AL LhuL ruLe IL
wIIILukeubouLIorLy-sIxyeursLoreIuceeveryuIrcruILInLheInvenLory.TheAIrorce
chIeI oI sLuII recenLIy LesLIhed LhuL Lhe ServIce musL buy 16o uIrcruIL er yeur jusL Lo
susLuIn Lhe uIreudy record-seLLIng uge oI Lhe eeL.
;8
OneAIrorceIeudersummedu
LheServIcesIeurswhenhesLuLed,uLurereemInenceIsnoLguurunLeed;InsLeudIL
musL be Iunned, uId Ior, deveIoed, und heIded.
;q
ndeed, Lhe usL hILeen yeurs oI
deIoyIngLobusescIoseLoovermuLchedudversurIesundconducLIngsurveIIIunceund
mussrecIsIonuLLuckswILhreIuLIveImunILymuyLurnouLLobeubrIeI,exhIIuruLIng,
buLmIsIeudIngunomuIy.
orLunuLeIy, Lhe zoo6 QuudrennIuI DeIense RevIew resenLed u sLruLegIc vIsIon
uon whIch Lhe DeurLmenL oI DeIense couId buIId u more buIunced, rugmuLIc
Iorce osLured Lo uddress IrreguIur wurIure, oLenLIuI rIvuI nuLIons wILh IncreusIng
LechnoIogIcuI rowess, u growIng number oI nucIeur-urmed sLuLes, und homeIund
deIense. The QDR couId be InLerreLed us seLLIng requIremenLs on uIr und suce
Iorces Ior Increused runge, ersIsLence, Iow-observubIIILy, neLworkIng, und InLer-
ServIce InLegruLIon. An IncremenLuI urouch by Lhe AIr orce wIII noL enubIe IL Lo
uddressLheseemergIngrequIremenLs.nLheend,LheAIrorcedIdveryIILLIeLouduL
ILsIuLureIorceIunsLoLheQDRsrojecLedsLruLegIcenvIronmenL.WhuLkeLLhem
IrommukInghurdchoIces?ThenexLsecLIondIscussessomeInLernuIrobIemsLhuL
musLbeuddressedInorderLore-esLubIIshgreuLerAIrorceInsLILuLIonuIsLrengLhIn
LhecomIngyeurs.
A CRISIS IN INSTITUTIONAL CONFIDENCE
The IoregoIng secLIons dIscuss Lhe sLuLe oI Lhe AIr orce In Lerms oI objecLIve cuL-
egorIes:roIesundmIssIons;orgunIzuLIonuIsLrucLure;munnIng,IorcesLrucLure,und
busIngosLure;budgeL;undrecuILuIIzuLIonundmodernIzuLIonIuns.However,one
cunnoLundersLundLheLruesLuLeoILheAIrorcewILhouLussessIngLhesLuLeoILhe
;;
WIIIIum MuLLhews, AskIng Ior More: ServIces u Lhe wIsh-IIsL unLe umId Ieurs oI u zooq budgeL
squeeze, Armed Forces Journal, Junuury zoo8; EmeIIe RuLherIord, Members IumenL domesLIc uIr
deIense IundIng, Iug IourLh-generuLIon hghLers Lo AIr orce, Defense Daily,ArII16,zoo8.
;8
MegunScuIIy,Needed:zooNewAIrcruILuYeur,AIrorceMuguzIne,OcLoberzoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJ
www.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo8JOcLober%zozoo8J1oo8uIrcruIL.usx
on1Novemberzoo8.
;q
zoo8USAPosLureSLuLemenL,uge8.
The past ffteen
years of deploying
to bases close
to overmatched
adversaries
and conducting
surveillance and
mass precision
attacks with relative
impunity may turn
out to be a brief,
exhilarating, but
misleading anomaly.
AIrorcescoIIecLIveInsLILuLIonuIsyche.ToduysAIrorceIsexerIencIngunInsLI-
LuLIonuI IdenLILy crIsIs LhuL Iuces IL uL un hIsLorIcuI nudIr oI conhdence, reuLuLIon,
und Inuence.
ThIs InsLILuLIonuI crIsIs hus Lhree muIn comonenLs. IrsL, Lhe AIr orce reLuIns
onIymurgInuI,undInsomecusesnoLevennomInuI,conLroIoverILsucquIsILIonro-
grumsdesILeILsTILIe1omunduLe.AILerLheDruyunAIIuIrInwhIchLheAIrorces
#z ucquIsILIon oIhcIuI, DurIeen Druyun, used her osILIon Lo sLeer conLrucLs In reLurn
IorIuvorsundwusevenLuuIIyconvIcLedoIcorruLIon,LheAIrorcevoIunLurIIyhund-
edmujorrogrumucquIsILIonuuLhorILyIorLenoIILsIurgesLucquIsILIonrogrumsLo
Lhe OIhce oI Lhe SecreLury oI DeIense In Murch zoo.
8o
L Look uImosL u yeur und u
huII Lo hnd u reIucemenL Ior ILs Lo ucquIsILIon oIhcIuI.
81
TheAIrorcereguInedsome
oversIghLoILhoserogrumsInzoo6buLsoonexerIenceduserIesoIconLrucLuwurd
roLesLs,LhemosLImorLunLbeIngLheuerIuIreIueIIng(Lunker)rogrum,whIchOSD
uguIn sLrIed Irom Lhe AIr orce und currenLIy oversees. urLhermore, OSD re-
LuIned ucquIsILIon uuLhorILy Ior IormerIy AIr orce-conLroIIed suce rogrums, und
husgIvennoIndIcuLIonLhuLILInLendsLoreLurnLhemLoLheServIce.orunyServIce,
Ioss oI ucquIsILIon uuLhorILy LrunsIuLes dIrecLIy Lo Ioss oI ower und Inuence, und no
oLherServIcesuIIersLhesumeIeveIoIInLervenLIonInLoILsTILIe1oreroguLIves.
The AIr orce hus uIso IosL much oI ILs ubIIILy Lo exerL conLroI over ILs Iorces In
combuL. By vIrLue oI LheIr occuyIng key commund und sLuII osILIons, boLh In Lhe
PenLugon und Lhrough Lhe regIonuI combuLunL communds, Lhe oLher Lhree ServIces
exerL reIuLIveIy greuLer conLroI over when und how LheIr Iorces enguge In mIIILury
oeruLIons.nOeruLIonEndurIngreedom,IorInsLunce,LhejoInLIorcecommunder
sLrIed Lhe ubIIILy oI Lhe joInL Iorce uIr comonenL communder (un AIr orce gen-
eruI)LoseLuIrowerLurgeLIngunduIIocuLIonrIorILIesushudbeenLheIong-sLundIng
docLrInuIrecedenL.
8z
nsLeud,combuLLurgeLsundmIssIonswereIormuIuLedbyLhe
CENTCOM LurgeLIng sLuII Ied by un Army generuI, und Lhen mereIy currIed ouL by
LhejoInLIy-munneduIroeruLIonscenLer,usubservIenLsLuLusnoneoILheoLhercom-
onenLs were Iorced Lo endure.
8
n Lhe mujor regIonuI combuLunL commund sLuIIs,
whereIorceemIoymenLdecIsIonsuremude,LheAIrorcehoIdsnojoInLcommund
8o
DurIeenDruyunwusconvIcLedInzooqoIcorruLIonussocIuLedwILhuLunkerIeusIngscheme.Druyun
udmILLedLomunIuIuLIngLheconLrucLuwurdLoIuvorherevenLuuIemIoyer,BoeIng,undsenLnIne
monLhs In juII. The IncIdenL uIso Ied Lo BoeIng uyIng u $61 mIIIIon hne und Lhe resIgnuLIon oI BoeIng
chIeI execuLIve oIhcer PhII CondIL. or u revIew oI Lhe Druyun AIIuIr, see John A. TIruk, Tunker
TwIIIghLZone,Air Force Magazine,ebruuryzooq,uccesseduL:hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJ
MuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzooqJebruury%zozooqJozoqLunker.usxonzMurchzooq.
81
Sue PuyLon wus nomInuLed Ior Lhe osILIon oI AssIsLunL SecreLury oI Lhe AIr orce Ior AcquIsILIon,
Reseurch und DeveIomenL In ArII zoo6 uILer her redecessor resIgned In Junuury zoo. MIchueI
SIruk, PuyLon NomInuLed Lo III ong-VucunL AcquIsILIon PosL, Defense Daily, z; ArII zoo6, uc-
cessed uL hLL:JJInLegruLor.hunscom.uI.mIIJzoo6JArIIJoqz;zoo6Joqz;zoo6-oq.hLm on 1q AugusL
zoo8.
8z
TheuuLhorwusLhesLruLegydIvIsIonchIeIInLheCombInedAIrOeruLIonsCenLerwhenLhIsoccurred.
8
CENTCOMuIsohoIdscoIIecLIonLuskInguuLhorILyIoruIIInLeIIIgence,surveIIIunce,undreconnuIssunce
LuskIngInLheLheuLer.
Todays Air Force
is experiencing
an institutional
identity crisis that
places it at an
historical nadir
of confdence,
reputation, and
infuence.
osILIons, huvIng done so onIy once In Lhe osL-GoIdwuLer NIchoIs eru.
8q
n CenLruI
Commund (CENTCOM) Loduy, Lhe senIor AIr orce sLuII oIhcer heuds u Lhe sLruLegy
dIrecLoruLe, noL one InvoIvIng InLeIIIgence or oeruLIons. OnIy one oI Lhe IusL nIne
JoInL ChIeIs oI SLuII chuIrmen hus been un AIr orce oIhcer. On Lhe JoInL SLuII, where
LheServIcesmuneuverconsLunLIyIorLheIrIorcemunugemenLundemIoymenLreI-
erences,LheAIrorcehoIdsnoneoILheLoeIevenkeyosILIonsusoILhIswrILIng.
8
WhIIeLhIsreresenLsonIyusnushoLoILhecommundundsLuIIenvIronmenL,ILre-
ecLs hIsLorIcuI Lrends und reveuIs Lhe AIr orce`s ruLher roIound Iuck oI InsLILu-
LIonuI Inuence comured Lo Lhe oLher Lhree ServIces.
InuIIy,LheAIrorcesIdenLILycrIsIsmunIIesLsILseIIInLheIuckoIusLImuIuLIng
vIsIon oI ILs IuLure roIe. Perhus Lhe ServIce hus suIIered Irom Lhe ImmedIuLe und
conLInuous demunds Iuced on IL, u consequence oI conducLIng combuL oeruLIons
conLInuousIysInce1qq1;buLLhuLseemsIIkeuLhInreed.LuIsoseemsLruedInLhe
LhroesoILherocuremenLhoIIduyLhuLIockedILssIghLsononemujorrogrumLhe
-zzudrumuLhuLhussLreLchedouLoverLheusLLwenLyyeursormore.Asmen-
LIonedrevIousIy,LheAIrorceIsuIsoInexLrIcubIyhurnessedLoLhesLruLegIesundvI-
sIonsoILheoLherLhreeArmedServIces,uIIoIwhIchIucedemundsonLheAIrorce
(e.g., uIrIIIL, uerIuI reIueIIng, suce) LhuL IL hus IILLIe or no roIe In IormuIuLIng. More
recenLIy, Lhe AIr orces shorLcomIngs ussocIuLed wILh ILs nucIeur mIssIon und Lhe
subsequenLreIucemenLoIboLhLheAIrorcesecreLuryundmIIILurychIeIcomIeLeu
ruLherdIsmuIInsLILuLIonuIIcLure.
ThIs chuLer concIudes on LhuL cheery noLe. RuLIonuIIzIng ILs robIems wIII noL
heIunInsLILuLIonIncrIsIsonIyucIeurdIugnosIsoILherobIemundsusLuInedvI-
sIonury IeudershI cun resLore ILs vILuIILy und ugIIILy. To do LhuL, AIr orce Ieuders
musLuIIgnLheIrvIsIonwILhLheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL.ThuLIuLureIsIruughL
wILhdungerundchuIIenges,buLILIsuIsouIuLureInwhIchuIrundsuceowercun
undmusLIuyukeyroIe.ThuLcunonIyhuenwhenILsrImurycusLodIunIsbuck
on ILs IeeL und In hghLIng LrIm. The IoIIowIng chuLer exIores Lhe ImIIcuLIons oI Lhe
IuLuresLruLegIcenvIronmenLIorLheAIrorce.
8q
GeneruI Joseh RuIsLon communded Euroeun Commund. See Rebeccu GrunL, Why AIrmen DonL
Commund, Air Force Magazine, Murch zoo8, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJ
MuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo8JMurch%zozoo8Joo8commund.usx on 1 AugusL zoo8. AIr orce
IeuLenunLGeneruIDougIusruserwusrecenLIynomInuLedLoussumecommunduLSouLhernCommund
wILhresonsIbIIILyIoruLInAmerIcuundLheCurIbbeun.CuroIRosenberg,SouLhcomchIeISLuvrIdIs
IckedLooverseeNATO,Miami Herald,uccessedon1MuyzooquL:hLL:JJwww.mIumIheruId.comJ
newsJworIdJsLoryJqq1o1.hLmI.
8
ThoseosILIonsIncIudeLheChuIrmun,VIceChuIrmun,JoInLSLuIIDIrecLor,undLheheudsoILheeIghL
J-sLuIIs. These key osILIons used Lo be roLuLed Lo reLuIn u modIcum oI dIversILy, buL SecreLury oI
DeIense RumsIeId uboIIshed roLuLIon und Lhe eIeven osILIons quIckIy devoIved Lo excIude AIr orce
urLIcIuLIon.
Air Force leaders
must align their
vision with the
future security
environment. That
future is fraught
with danger and
challenges, but it
is also a future in
which air and space
power can and must
play a key role.
CHAPTER 2 > IMPLICATIONS OF THE FUTURE
SECURITY ENVIRONMENT FOR THE AIR FORCE
HuvIngexumInedLhecurrenLsLrucLureoILheAIrorceundsomeoILhechuIIenges
conIronLIngILsIeudershI,InLhIschuLerLhereorLussessesLheAIrorcessLruLegIc
IunsreIuLIveLoLheLhreecoreeIemenLsoILheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenLLhuLun-
derInCSBAsStrategy for the Long Haul:oosIngvIoIenLsIumIcrudIcuIs;hedgIng
uguInsLChInusoLenLIuIrIseusumoreuggressIvemIIILurycomeLILor;undcounLer-
IngLheossIbIeroIIIeruLIonoInucIeurweuons.
86
ThIschuLeruddressesLheoeruLIonuIImIIcuLIonsoILheseLhreecorechuIIenges
on Lhe shue, sIze, und osLure oI Lhe US AIr orce. L concIudes wILh u brIeI
dIscussIonoILheemergInghIgh-IowmunduLeorLheneedIorLheAIrorceLoshIIL
uwuyIromuIorcedomInuLedbyIegucymIddIe-weIghLIorcesLooneoLImIzedIor
dIsruLIve IrreguIur und hIgh-end chuIIenges. The IundumenLuI robIem wILh Lhe
Iegucy Iorce urouch Is LhuL IL emhusIzes cuubIIILIes LhuL reresenL overkIII Ior
IrreguIur wurIure, yeL uIso Iuck key uLLrIbuLes requIred Lo deLer und revuII uguInsL
sohIsLIcuLedhIgh-endLhreuLs.egucymIddIe-weIghLorgeneruIuroseIorces
IncreusIngIyexIsLInuno-munsIund,wILhIImILedubIIILyLouddressemergInghIgh-
orIow-InLensILychuIIengeseIIecLIveIyundIewIIunyIuusIbIescenurIosInwhIchLhey
wouIdudduLIIILycomuredLooLherInvesLmenLs.ThIschuLerouLIInesLheruLIonuIe
IorLhIssLruLegIcre-conceLuuIIzuLIonoILheIuLureAIrorceosLure,whIIeChuLer
resenLsInmenu-sLyIeIormuLsomeoLIonsIormovIngLheAIrorceInLhuLdIrecLIon
overLhenexLLwenLyyeurs.
86
Andrew KreInevIch, RoberL MurLInuge, RoberL Work, The ChuIIenges Lo US NuLIonuI SecurILy,
WushIngLon,DC:CenLerIorSLruLegIcundBudgeLuryAssessmenLs,SLruLegyIorLheongHuuImono-
gruh, zoo8, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.csbuonIIne.orgJqPubIIcuLIonsJPubIbruryJR.zoo8o8z1.The_
ChuIIenges_Lo_JR.zoo8o8z1.The_ChuIIenges_Lo_.dIonzMurchzooq.
OPPOSING VIOLENT ISLAMIST RADICALS
IUSmIIILuryoeruLIonsoILheusLdecudehoIdunyredIcLIveower,LheAIrorce
wIIIconLInueLoIuyukeyroIeIndeIeuLIngsIumIsLbrundsoILerrorIsmuroundLhe
gIobe. I uwrence oI ArubIu somehow Iound hImseII buck In ruq Loduy, he wouId hnd
muny sImIIurILIes Lo Lhe IrreguIur wurIure oI hIs duy, buL he wouId uIso hnd some Im-
orLunLdIIIerences.OneoILhemosLsLurLIIngwouIdbeLheswurmsoIUAVsbuzzIng
overheud,someconLroIIedbyoeruLorsLhousundsoImIIesuwuy,euchconLrIbuLIng
LouersIsLenLoverwuLchLhuLgreuLIydImInIshesLheLucLIcuIIreedomoIInsurgenLs
undLerrorIsLs.
ndeed,LheAIrorcesurmedMQ-1PreduLorundIurgercousIn,LheMQ-qReuer,
IuyIvoLuIroIesInhunLIngkeyuIQueduundoLherLerrorIsLgrouIeuders.
8;
SoonuI-
LerGeneruIDuvIdPeLrueusussumedcommundoImIIILuryIorcesInruq,heconcIuded
LhuLLhePreduLorJReuercombInuLIonwushIsmosLrIzedmIIILuryIuLIormundIob-
bIedLheSecreLuryoIDeIenseIorunemergencyIncreuseInPreduLororbILs.
88
PeLrueus
uskedIoruboosLIromzqohourserduyoIPreduLorcoveruge(Lenzq-hourcombuL
uIruLroIsorCAPs)Lo;6hourserduyoIPreduLorIuII-moLIonvIdeoundSGNT
coverugeu 1qo ercenL Increuse. AL Lhe sume LIme, SOCOM communder AdmIruI
ErIcOIsonuskedIorunuddILIonuI;zohoursucombInedIncreuseoIqoercenL.
8q
YeL, us Lhe BrILIsh wurrIor who guIned Iume durIng Lhe Arub RevoIL wouId huve
quIckIy uscerLuIned, UAV oeruLIons reresenL onIy u IrucLIon oI Lhe AIr orces In-
voIvemenL In ruq und AIghunIsLun. AIr orce ersonneI conLrIbuLe Lo uImosL every
AmerIcun mIIILury oeruLIon, Irom suLeIIILe suorL Lo convoy movemenL. Every
monLh,AIrorcecurgouIrcruILkeesome,oovehIcIesundoverq,oooersonneI
oII Lhe dungerous rouds oI ruq, greuLIy dImInIshIng Lhe humun cosLs oI Lhe occu-
uLIon.
qo
AIrmen resond Lo Lhousunds oI Lroos In conLucL cuIIs und over 6,ooo
AIrmen ure hIIIng Army bIIIeLs In ruq und AIghunIsLun.
q1
ndeed,onemIghLsurmIse
8;
orueneLruLIngunuIysIsoIhowLheAIrorceweuonIzedPreduLorrIorLoqJ11,see:SeunM.rIsbee,
WeuonIzIngLhePreduLorUAV,MusLersLhesIs(MuxweIIAB,A:SchooIoIAdvuncedAIrundSuce
SLudIes,zooq).
88
MuLLhew Cox und GInu CuvuIIuro, PeLrueus: SR Geur Is Key Lo Success, Army Times(onIIne),11ArII
zoo8,uccesseduLwww.urmyLImes.comJnewsJzoo8JoqJmIIILury_eLrueus_geur_oqz1o8Jon1qJuIy
zoo8.
8q
MIchueIHoIImun,UAVuLroIs,InLeIIunuIysLswunLed,Air Force Times,zzArIIzoo8,uccesseduL
hLL:JJwww.uIrIorceLImes.comJnewsJzoo8JoqJuIrIorce_uuv_InLeI_oqz1o8JonqAugusLzoo8.
qo
Megun ScuIIy, Needed: zoo New AIrcruIL u Yeur, AIr orce MuguzIne, OcLober zoo8, uccessed uL
hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo8JOcLober%zozoo8J1oo8uIrcruIL.
usxon1Novemberzoo8.
q1
BuLLIeheId AIrmen IncIude Lhe ururescue, secIuI LucLIcs, combuL conLroI, LucLIcuI uIr conLroI, und
buLLIeheId weuLhermen oeruLIonuI communILIes LhuL uccomuny oLher secIuI Iorces unILs on u
duIIy busIs. AIso, over sIx Lhousund AIr orce eoIe hII joInL exedILIonury LuskIng In ground bII-
IeLs Lhe Army chooses noL Lo hII. See BuLLIeheId AIrmen, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.uI.mIIJIucLsheeLsJ
IucLsheeL.us?Id=18; on z AugusL zoo8, und OLLo KreIsher, Ground orce TuskIngs Go On, AIr
orce MuguzIne, Murch zoo8, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJ
PugesJzoo8JMurch%zozoo8Joo8IIo.usxonzAugusLzoo8.
The Air Forces
armed MQ-1
Predator and
larger cousin, the
MQ-9 Reaper,
play pivotal roles
in hunting key al
Qaeda and other
terrorist group
leaders.
LhuLuwrencewouIdhuverIzedLhesLruLegIcundLucLIcuImobIIILy,nuvIguLIon,LIm-
Ing,communIcuLIon,recIsIonundIeLhuIILyrovIdedbyLheAIrorceeveryduy.He
wouIdIIkeIyobserveLhuLuILhoughLheIundumenLuIsoIIrreguIurwurIureremuInLhe
sume, Lhe churucLer oI conIcL hus chunged roIoundIy sInce hIs duy; In shorL, AIrmen
huvebroughLunenLIreIynewIookundIeeILomodernIrreguIurwurIure.
ThIs beIng suId, oeruLIons In ruq und AIghunIsLun huve uIso reveuIed LhuL sus-
LuInedoeruLIonsuguInsLnon-sLuLeucLorsrequIreudIIIerenLmIxoIcuubIIILIesund
cuucILIesLhunLheAIrorcecurrenLIyrovIdes.SImIysLuLed,LheAIrorcehusbeen
sLrucLured rImurIIy Ior convenLIonuI wurIure, und muny uIrower udvocuLes be-
IIeveILshouIdremuInso.YeL,LheIdeuLhuLIrreguIurwurconsLILuLesuIesserIncIud-
ed cuse oI convenLIonuI wurIure, or LhuL Lhe currenL conIcL reresenLs u one-oII
evenLunIsoIuLedsILuuLIonnoLIIkeIyLobereeuLedunyLImesoonrunscounLerLo
Lhe DeIense DeurLmenLs zoo6 QDR, whIch concIuded LhuL Lhe Iong wur uguInsL
non-sLuLeLerrorIsLneLworksIsusLruggIeLhuLmuyIusLIoryeursLocome.
qz
DeIense
SecreLury RoberL GuLes reInIorced LhIs ussessmenL In hIs zoo8 NuLIonuI DeIense
SLruLegybyemhusIzIngLhuLLhIsLhreuLwouIdexIsLIorLheIoreseeubIeIuLure.
q
n
oLherwords,LhegIobuIuceoIIrreguIurwurIureIsunIIkeIyLodImInIshurecIubIy
evenuILerLheUSwILhdruwuIIromruq.
qq
AccordIngIy,LheAIrorceneedsLouduL
ILsIorcesLrucLureundoeruLIonsLobeLLerosLureILseIIIorLhIsendurIngchuIIenge.
The currenL AIr orce sLrucLure uIso suIIers Irom Lhe oeruLIonuI Lemo In ruq
undAIghunIsLun,whIchemhusIzesLheuseoIugIngmunneduIrcruIL,whIchureex-
ensIve Lo oeruLe. The cosL oI oeruLIng uILernuLIves, such us UAV sysLems, Is Iur
Iower,esecIuIIyInenvIronmenLsIIkeAIghunIsLunwhereeveryguIIonoIuvIuLIonIueI
musLbebroughLInbyurmedLruckconvoys.ShIILIngLowurdgreuLeruseoIunmunned
sysLemsmukessense,esecIuIIyIorurmedreconnuIssuncemIssIons.
q
Under currenL Iuns Ior gIobuI IrreguIur wur oeruLIons, US counLer-LerrorIsL eI-
IorLswIIIencomussoeruLIonsInovereIghLycounLrIes,euchwILhILsownrequIre-
menLIormIIILuryuvIuLIonLhuLwIIIuLuremIumonIesssohIsLIcuLedundIessexen-
sIveuerIuIIuLIormsLhunLhoseLheAIrorceemhusIzesLoduy.MeeLIngLheburden
oI LhIs dIsersed urouch Lo IrreguIur wurIure wIII requIre renewed InsLILuLIonuI
qz
zoo6QDRreorL,ugeq.
q
RoberLM.GuLes,National Defense Strategy, OIhce oI Lhe SecreLury oI DeIense, June zoo8, uge z.
qq
One oI Lhe mosL eIoquenL urLIcuIuLIons oI LhIs conceL cun be Iound In JIm Thomus, SusLuInubIe
SecurILy,CenLerIoruNewAmerIcunSecurILy,ArIIzoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.cnus.orgJnodeJ1z
onzNovemberzoo8.
q
CosL er yIng hour (CPH - whIch IncIudes IueI, consumubIes such us urLs, und modIhcuLIons und
susLuInmenL) Ior jeL hghLers und bomber suorLed by uerIuI reIueIIng run InLo Lhe Lens oI Lhousunds oI
doIIurs,whIIePreduLoroeruLIonsrunInLheIowLhousunds.AccordIngLoLheDeIenseScIenceBourd,
jeLIueIgeneruIIyrunsuround$z$erguIIon,buLLheIuIIyburdenedcosLsIoruerIuIreIueIIngure
$qz er guIIon. The IueI consumLIon ruLe oI un -16 hghLer or B-1 bomber versus Lhe snowmobIIe
engIne owerIng Lhe PreduLor IurLher mugnIhes cosL dIIIerenLIuIs. DeIense ScIence Bourd Tusk orce
onDoDEnergySLruLegy,MoreIghL,essueI,ebruuryzoo8,ugeo.SeeuIso,ErIcM.Huwkes,
PredIcLIng Lhe CosL Per IyIng Hour Ior Lhe -16 UsIng ProgrummuLIc und OeruLIonuI VurIubIes,
musLersLhesIs,AIrorcensLILuLeoITechnoIogy,WrIghL-PuLLersonAIrorceBuse,OH,Junezoo.
dedIcuLIon, chunges In orgunIzuLIonuI cuILure, und Lhe InLegruLIon oI Iess sohIs-
LIcuLed, Iower-cosL AIr orce IrreguIur wurIure cuubIIILIes. Even Lhe AE modeI
shouIdbescruLInIzedwILhregurdLoILsubIIILyLosuorLunIrreguIurwurIure-bused
sLeudy-sLuLe securILy osLure. AnoLher mujor requIremenL Ior Lhe AIr orce In LhIs
mIssIon ureu Is rovIdIng on-cuII, Iow-coIIuLeruI-dumuge hre suorL Lo US und urL-
nergroundIorces.ThIswIIIIIkeIyrequIreIncreusedersIsLence,newmunILIons,und
IrreguIurwurIure-oLImIzeduIrcruILLhuLcunberovIded,usnecessury,LoIoreIgnuIr
Iorces. There wIII uIso undoubLedIy be un Increused demund Ior BuLLIeheId AIrmen
undAIrorce-LruInedjoInLLermInuIuLLuckconLroIIers(JTACs).
JuxLuoseduguInsLLheneedIorIessexensIveAIrorceIrreguIurwurIurecuu-
bIIILIesIsLheneedLouccounLIorLhesLeudyroIIIeruLIonoIhIgh-LechnoIogyweuons,
whIchurenowmukIngLheIrwuyInLoLhehundsoIInsurgenLsundLerrorIsLs.nuddI-
LIonLouIwuys-deudIysurIuce-Lo-uIrmIssIIes,erhusLhemosLressIngLhreuLuIIecL-
IngIuLureAIrorceIrreguIurwurIureoeruLIonswIIIbeLheemergenceoIurumIII-
Lury grous ossessIng guIded rockeLs, urLIIIery, morLurs, und mIssIIes (G-RAMM).
TheseweuonsurebecomIngIncreusIngIyuvuIIubIe.JusLusLhedeudIycombInuLIon
oI ersIsLenL overheud surveIIIunce, neLworks und guIded weuons uLs InsurgenLs
undLerrorIsLsuLrIskInnewwuys,LheroIIIeruLIonoIG-RAMMwIIIuIIowInsurgenLs
LochuIIengeUSIorcesInnewwuys.orexumIe,udvuncedguIdedmorLursconsLILuLe
un undenIubIe neur-Lerm LhreuL Lo US und uIIIed uIr buses und Iorces, und cunnoL
be deIeuLed by currenL LermInuI deIense sysLems becuuse Lhey muneuver In IghL.
q6
However,LheServIceshuvegIvenIILLIeLhoughLLohowLheseLermInuIIy-guIdedmunI-
LIonscouIddIsruLmIIILuryoeruLIons.uIIIngLounLIcIuLeunduddressLhIsIoomIng
LhreuL couId Ieud Lo u sILuuLIon comurubIe Lo Lhe one ground Iorces Iuced wILh Lhe
ImrovIsedexIosIvedevIce(ED)durIngLhewurInruq.
q;
BuIIdIngumoreLuIIoredIrreguIurwurIurecuubIIILyInLheAIrorceunduccounL-
IngIorLheG-RAMMLhreuLneednoLhuveumujorbudgeLuryImucL.However,ILIs
noL jusL u muLLer oI heIdIng new uIrcruIL. MeeLIng LhIs chuIIenge wIII requIre u monI-
Lored recuIIbruLIon oI Lhe AIr orces sLundurd urouch Lo scIence und LechnoIogy,
reseurchunddeveIomenL,sysLemucquIsILIon,sLruLegIcIunnIng,orLIoIIobuIunc-
Ing,oeruLIonuIconceLs,undIeuderdeveIomenL.
q6
oruubIIshedsLudyLukIngLhIssumeosILIon,seeJumesBonomo,eLuI.,Stealing the Sword(SunLu
MonIcu,CA:RANDCororuLIon,zoo8).
q;
Khe Suhn wus u MurIne Cors buse In VIeLnum LhuL wus surrounded und cume under concenLruLed
urLIIIery und morLur ussuuIL, requIrIng u mujor uerIuI reIIeI eIIorL Lo revenL ILs Ioss. DesILe muny
neur-mIsses, onIy u Iew resuIy uIrcruIL were hIL by enemy urLIIIery hre. I Lhe enemy hud been emIoy-
IngLermInuIIy-guIdedmunILIons,LheuerIuIresuIyeIIorLwouIdIIkeIyhuvebeencomromIsed.See
hLL:JJen.wIkIedIu.orgJwIkIJBuLLIe_oI_Khe_Sunh,uccessedonqAugusLzoo8.
Perhaps the
most pressing
threat affecting
future Air Force
irregular warfare
operations will be
the emergence
of paramilitary
groups possessing
guided rockets,
artillery, mortars,
and missiles
(G-RAMM).
HEDGING AGAINST A RISING CHINA
AIrorceIeudersIuceusImIIurchuIIengeInreurIngIoroLenLIuIIuLureoeruLIons
uguInsL more udvunced, sohIsLIcuLed udversurIes. AILhough some IeeI such oeru-
LIons IIe wILhIn Lhe ServIce`s comIorL zone, LhuL muy noL be Lhe cuse. A sIgnIhcunL
cognILIvechuIIengeIsosedLoAIrmenIuIIedInLoIncremenLuIIsmbydecudesoIreIu-
LIveIybenIgnuIroeruLIonsuguInsLunsohIsLIcuLedIoes,undLhebudgeLuryImIIcu-
LIonsdwurILhoseoIIrreguIurwurIure.
The zoo NuLIonuI DeIense SLruLegy IdenLIhed Lhe need Lo reIushIon Lhe US mIII-
LuryLobeLLerresondLoso-cuIIeddIsruLIvechuIIenges.
q8
AILhough IL dehned dIs-
ruLIvechuIIengesInrImurIIymIIILury-LechnoIogIcuILerms,ILIocusedonLheneed
LouddressIoomIngcounLer-commonsundunLI-uccesssLruLegIesusImIemenLedby
udversurysLuLes.
qq
Thezoo6QDRreorLwenLonLosuy:OILhemujorundemergIng
owers, ChInu hus Lhe greuLesL oLenLIuI Lo . . . heId dIsruLIve mIIILury LechnoIogIes
LhuL couId over LIme oIIseL LrudILIonuI US mIIILury udvunLuges ubsenL US counLer-
sLruLegIes.
1oo
SecreLury oI DeIense RoberL GuLes sLuLed emhuLIcuIIy LhuL or Lhe
IoreseeubIeIuLure,wewIIIneedLohedgeuguInsLChInusgrowIngmIIILurymodern-
IzuLIon und Lhe ImucL oI ILs sLruLegIc choIces uon InLernuLIonuI securILy.
1o1
or u
vurIeLyoIreusons,LheAIrorcehusbeensIowLoLukeusLruLegIcorIenLuLIonLowurd
LhIsIoomIngchuIIenge.
Chinas High-End Challenge
ndeed,LhedrumuLIcundconLInuIngmIIILurymodernIzuLIonoILhePeoIesIberuLIon
Army (PA) resenLs u growIng chuIIenge Lo US mIIILury ower rojecLIon, dIrecLIy
ImucLIng US InLeresLs In EusL AsIu. The rImury LhesIs oI LhIs secLIon Is LhuL Lhe
AIrorceconsLILuLesoneoILheIIIursoIUSowerrojecLIonInEusLAsIu,undLhuL
IL cunnoL Iuy ILs roIe us u hedge uguInsL ChInus growIng mIIILury cuubIIILIes us-
IngcurrenLmeLhodsundcuubIIILIes.morLunLIy,munyoILhecuubIIILIesrequIred
Lo uddress Lhe ChInu chuIIenge huve subsLunLIuI vuIue In uddressIng Lhe chuIIenges
descrIbedubove.ThuLIs,LheyuddsLruLegIcvuIueucrosseuchoILheunLIcIuLedchuI-
IengesInLheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL,uchurucLerIsLIcIoundIurIessumongIorc-
es oLImIzed Ior IrreguIur wurIure. Thus, uddressIng LhIs urLIcuIur chuIIenge musL
beuccordedrIorILyInAIrorcecuIcuIuLIonsregurdIngLheServIcesIuLureIorcemIx
q8
DonuId H. RumsIeId, SecreLury oI DeIense, The NuLIonuI DeIense SLruLegy oI Lhe UnILed SLuLes
oI AmerIcu, Murch zoo, uge z. Accessed uL hLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJnewsJMurzooJ
dzooo18nds1.dIonqAugusLzoo8.
qq
CounLer-commonssLruLegIesseekLodIsruLIreeuccessLoInLernuLIonuIuIrsuce,Lheoenseus,suce,
und cybersuce. AnLI-uccess sLruLegIes, mosL noLubIy Lhose urLIcuIuLed by Lhe PRC, uIm Lo kee US
IorcesIromoeruLIngouLoIbusesbyusIngmIIILuryordIIomuLIcmeuns.
1oo
DonuIdH.RumsIeId,SecreLuryoIDeIense,QuudrennIuIDeIenseRevIewReorL,6ebruuryzoo6,
ugezq.AccesseduLhLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJqdrJreorLJReorLzoo6ozo.dIon1qJuIyzoo8.
1o1
GuLes,2008 National Defense Strategy,uge.
The Air Force
constitutes one of
the pillars of US
power projection
in East Asia, but
it cannot play its
role as a hedge
against Chinas
growing military
capabilities using
current methods
and capabilities.
undussocIuLedcuubIIILIes.ThIssecLIonbegInsbyIuyIngouLLheevoIuLIonoIChInus
mIIILuryoweroverLheusLseveruIyeurs,unddIscussesILsImIIcuLIonsIorLheAIr
orcesIuLureIorceosLure.
The PeoIes ReubIIc oI ChInus (PRC) mIIILury exunsIon ucceIeruLed In rough
Lundem wILh ILs ruId economIc exunsIon uILer Lhe end oI Lhe CoId Wur. BeIjIngs
mIIILurybuIIduwusInIormedbyLheIrsLGuIIWurundLhe1qq1qq6TuIwunSLruIL
CrIsIs. The Iormer conIcL uIerLed Lhem Lo LheIr subsLunLIuI shorLcomIngs reIuLIve Lo
conLemorurysLundurdsoImIIILuryower,undLheIuLLerevenLconsLILuLeduremInd-
eroILheIrvuInerubIIILyLocoercIonvIuUSnuvuIowerrojecLIon.
1oz
SInceLhen,Lhe
PeoIesIberuLIonArmy(PA)husundergoneuserIesoImujorIorceosLurechung-
esuIIIocusedonLheduuIgouIsoIrevuIIInguguInsLUSmIIILuryowerrojecLIonund
emuIuLIngworId-cIussUSmIIILurycuubIIILIes.AsSecreLuryoIDeIenseRoberLGuLes
sLuLedInLheNuLIonuIDeIenseSLruLegy,LIsIIkeIyLhuLChInuwIIIconLInueLoexund
ILsconvenLIonuImIIILurycuubIIILIes,emhusIzIngunLI-uccessundureudenIuIusseLs
IncIudIngdeveIoInguIuIIrungeoIIong-rungesLrIke,suce,undInIormuLIonwurIure
cuubIIILIes.
1o
AIIoILhIshusoccurredInunenvIronmenLInwhIchonesmuIIIsIund
nuLIon, TuIwun, hoIds u wIId curd In PRC-US reIuLIons due Lo Lhe hIsLorIcuI dIIhcuI-
LIeswILhLhePRCcombInedwILhILsrecurIousIocuLIonneurLhePRCsshores.
1oq
or
uIILhesereusons,LheshIILIngmIIILurybuIunceInLheregIon,IIconLInuedunchecked,
wIIIuILerLheduy-Lo-duydynumIcsoIregIonuIuIIIunceoIILIcsundsLubIIILyInwuys
unIuvorubIeLoUSInLeresLs.
ConLrury Lo commonIy-heId vIews, Lhe PA does noL huve Lo meeL or exceed US
mIIILury cuubIIILIes In order Lo uchIeve ILs sLruLegIc gouI oI exundIng ILs regIonuI
shere oI Inuence. ChInu schoIur Thomus ChrIsLensen urLIcuIuLed LhuL IogIc In hIs
semInuIurLIcIeInInternational SecurityLILIedPosIngProbIemsWILhouLCuLchIng
U.
1o
PRCIeudersureInLegruLIngunLI-uccesscuubIIILIesLhuLkeeLheUSmIIILury
Irom deIoyIng Lo Iorwurd buses Irom whIch Lhey cun conducL eIIecLIve oeruLIons
undLhroughureu-denIuIcuubIIILIesLhuLdenyunysuccessIuIIydeIoyedIorcesLhe
ubIIILy Lo conducL eIIecLIve oeruLIons. Beyond LhuL, Lhey huve cuIIed InLo quesLIon
IreeuccessunduseoILheIourgIobuIcommonsoIuIr,seu,suce,undcybersuce.
Intensifying Anti-Access and Area-Denial Challenges
ThePRCcIeurIyInLendsLodenyUSIorcesuccessLoIorwurdbusesIromwhIchLhey
mIghL rojecL mIIILury ower InLo Lhe regIonosIng Lhe so-cuIIed unLI-uccess
1oz
CenLerIorSLruLegIcundnLernuLIonuISLudIes(CSS),ChInuBuIunceSheeL:MIIILuryModernIzuLIon,
uccesseduLwww.csIs.orgJmedIuJcsIsJubsJo8oq16_cbs_1_mIIILurymod.dIonzMurchzooq.
1o
RoberLM.GuLes,SecreLuryoIDeIense,NuLIonuIDeIenseSLruLegy,Junezoo8,uge.
1oq
SeeLhezooqMilitary Power of the PRC,ChuLerIve.
1o
Thomus J. ChrIsLensen, PosIng ProbIems WILhouL CuLchIng U: ChInus RIse und ChuIIenges Ior US
SecurILyPoIIcy,International Security,VoI.z,No.q(SrIngzoo1),ugesqo.
Contrary to
commonly-held
views, the PLA
does not have to
meet or exceed US
military capabilities
in order to achieve
its strategic goal
of expanding its
regional sphere of
infuence.
robIem. Much hus been wrILLen ubouL LhIs, buL suIhce IL Lo suy LhuL boLh seu und
IundbuseswILhInLherungeoIPAbuIIIsLIcundcruIsemIssIIeIorceswIIIbeheIduL
rIsk,undIncreusIngIysousLheChInesedeveIoIorceswILhgreuLerrunge,recIsIon,
und gIobuI surveIIIunce und conLroI. As Lhese cuubIIILIes muLure, US uIIIes und
urLners muy become more IIkeIy Lo deny buse uccess or overIghL rIghLs, IorcIng US
Iorces Lo oeruLe Irom ever greuLer runges In un uIreudy runge-consLruIned LheuLer
oI oeruLIons.
1o6
or Lhe AIr orce, LhIs meuns Lhey wIII be oeruLIng Irom u buse-
sLurvedregIonuguInsLuIoehoIdIngunIncreusIngnumberoIUSbusesuLrIsk,cuIIIng
InLo quesLIon Lhe uLIIILy oI deIoyIng AIr orce eIemenLs Iorwurd us u deLerrenL Lo
ChInese coercIon or uggressIon. InuIIy, Lhe SecreLury oI DeIenses zooq reorL Lo
CongressconcernIngLhePRCmIIILurybuIIdumenLIonsLhuLChInesechuIIengesLo
LheUSmIIILurysuccessLoLheInIormuLIonsheres(I.e.,suceundcybersuce)ure
Lhe hnuI eIemenL oI PRC unLI-uccess cuubIIILIes.
1o;
ThedeLhundsohIsLIcuLIonoI
LheseunLI-uccessIorcesmeunLhuLLheAIrorcecunnoIongerIuIIbuckonLheosL-
CoIdWurmodeIoIunoosed,oLImuIbusIngIromwhIchLoconducLoeruLIons.
ChInusureu-denIuIcuubIIILIeshuveuIsoundergoneunImorLunL,ruIdevoIuLIon.
urgeIyuduLIngRussIununLI-uIrsysLems,LhePAhusLukenudvunLugeoImodern
mIcrorocessor LechnoIogy Lo buIId modern uIr deIense sysLems consIsLIng oI hghLers
und surIuce-Lo-uIr mIssIIes, und sohIsLIcuLed, hurdened hber-oLIc commund und
conLroI neLworks LhuL IInk Lhem LogeLher InLo un InLegruLed uIr deIense (AD) neL-
work. One exerL on Lhese sysLems, CurIo Ko, noLes LhuL The AsIu-PucIhc-ndIun
regIonIsInLhemIdsLoIucreeIngurmsrucechurucLerIzedbyLheInLroducLIonoI
uverywIderungeoImoderncombuLuIrcruIL,guIdedmIssIIes,undrecIsIonguIded
bombs, esecIuIIy oI RussIun orIgIn.
1o8
ExIoILIng Lhe gIobuIIzed murkeL In hIgh-
LechnoIogy comonenLs, muLerIuIs, und soILwure, Lhe ChInese ure heIdIng sysLems
IncororuLIng dIgILuI rocessIng ruLher Lhun CoId Wur unuIogue sysLems, uIIowIng
Lhem much greuLer eIecLronIc ugIIILy und resIsLunce Lo eIecLronIc counLermeusures.
TheChIneseureubIeLoengugeuIrbornesurveIIIunceLurgeLsbyemIoyIngIong-runge
mIssIIes,undLoLermInuIIydeIeuLUSrecIsIonweuonsIIkeLheJoInLDIrecLALLuck
MunILIon (JDAM) usIng mIssIIes und guns. The ChInese cun reIy on LheIr sysLems
hIghmobIIILyLoreduceLheIrvuInerubIIILy,whIIedegrudIngUSsLeuILhLhroughIow-
bundrudursundussIveeIecLronIcsensors.nsummury,AIrorcesysLemswIIIIn-
creusIngIy be heId uL rIsk uL LheIr buses by PA mIssIIes und wIII uIso Iuce u much
moreugIIe,comeLenLIoeusLheyuLLemLLoeneLruLeunexundIngPAInLegruLed
uIrdeIenseneLwork.
1o6
or u Lhorough, unuIyLIcuI LreuLmenL oI Lhe unLI-uccess robIem, see ChrIsLoher J. BowIe, Meeting
the Anti-Access and Area-Denial Challenge (WushIngLon, DC: CenLer Ior SLruLegIc und BudgeLury
AssessmenLs,zooz).
1o;
ormoreonLheunLI-uccesschuIIenge,seeLhezooqMIIILuryPoweroILhePRCreorL,ugeszozq.
1o8
Much oI Lhe InIormuLIon In LhIs urugruh comes Irom CurIo Ko und hIs AIrower AusLruIIu websILe,
unumuzIng,deesourceoIu-Lo-duLeInIormuLIonubouLRussIunundChIneseuIrdeIensesysLems.See
hLL:JJwww.uusuIrower.neLJregIon.hLmI,uccessedonzMurchzooq.
The Air Force will
be operating from
a base-starved
region against a
foe holding an
increasing number
of US bases at risk.
Commons Denial
NoL onIy Is Lhe PA ursuIng un uggressIve rogrum oI heIdIng unLI-uccessJureu denI-
uIcuubIIILIes,ILIsuIsoLukIngsLesLodenyUSIorcesIreeuseoILhegIobuIcommons,
whIchcomrIsesInLernuLIonuIuIrsuce,InLernuLIonuIwuLers,suce,undcybersuce.
AIIconLrIbuLeLogIobuIeconomIcexunsIonwhenIreeIyuccessIbIe,usLheyuremujor
hIghwuys oI economIc exchunge. OI sIgnIhcunce, Lhe cosL oI muInLuInIng commons
uccessexceedsLhecosLoIdenIuIbyusubsLunLIuImurgIn.
ChInese chuIIenges Lo US uccess Lo Lhe gIobuI commons ure IncreusIng. n ArII
zooo,uPANuvy-8InLerceLorcoIIIdedwILhuUSP-OrIonuIrcruILusurLoIu
rouLIne PA oeruLIon Lo huruss und Imede US uIrcruIL IeguIIy oeruLIng In InLer-
nuLIonuI uIrsuce.
1oq
n Junuury zoo;, Lhe PRCs Second ArLIIIery Cors conducLed
u successIuI unLI-suLeIIILe LesL uguInsL one oI ILs decommIssIoned weuLher suLeIIILes,
eIIecLIveIy cuIIIng InLo quesLIon Lhe vIubIIILy oI uny suLeIIILe In Iow-eurLh orbIL.
11o
n
Novemberzoo;,uPANuvySong-cIussdIeseIsubmurInesurIuceddungerousIycIose
Lo Lhe USS uIrcruIL currIer KILLy Huwk, whIch wus conducLIng rouLIne oeruLIons In
InLernuLIonuI wuLers. AccordIng Lo Lhe edILor oI Junes IghLIng ShIs, Commodore
SLehenSuunders,ILwusudIrecLchuIIengeLoLheUSNuvysIreedomLooeruLe:L
wouIdLIeInwILhwhuLweseeLheChIneseLryIngLodo,whIchueursLobeLodeLer
Lhe AmerIcuns Irom InLerIerIng or oeruLIng In LheIr buckyurd, urLIcuIurIy In reIu-
LIonLoTuIwun.
111
InuIIy,LheDeurLmenLoIDeIensereorLedInzooqLhuLLhePRC
conLInues Lo LurgeL comuLer sysLems wILh cyber uLLucks, IncIudIng Lhose oI Lhe US
GovernmenLundoLhernuLIons.
11z
ThesereresenLnoLuserIesoIunreIuLedIncIdenLs,
buLuLbesLucuIIousdIsregurdIorInLernuLIonuIconvenLIon,unduLworsLusysLemuLIc
uLLemLLochuIIengeLheunIeLLeredmovemenLoIgoods,servIcesundInIormuLIonIn
LhegIobuIcommons.TheeIIecLsoIChInusucLIvILIesonAIrorceoeruLIonswIIIbe
IeIL In Lhe suce und cybersuce ureus, whIch Lhey deend uon Ior commund und
conLroIoILheIrIorces
Weakening Deterrence and Mounting Crisis Instability
TheeIIecLsoIChInusmIIILurybuIIduurenoLIImILedLooLenLIuIcombuLscenurIos.
nIucL,LheImucLonUSdIIomuLIcIeverugemIghLbeevenmoreImorLunL,becuuse
1oq
AnEP-EArIesInChInu,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.jdunmun.comJnLeIIJhuInun.hLmon1zJunuury
zooq.
11o
AshIeyTeIIIs,PunchIngLheUSMIIILurysSoILRIbs:ChInusAnLIsuLeIIILeWeuonTesLInPersecLIve,
CurnegIeEndowmenLIornLernuLIonuIPeucePoIIcyBrIeI#1,Junezoo;,ugeq.AccesseduL:hLL:JJ
www.curnegIeendowmenL.orgJhIesJb_1_LeIIIs_hnuI.dI,onArII1,zooq.
111
MuLLhew HIckIey, The unInvILed guesL: ChInese sub os u In mIddIe oI US Nuvy exercIse, IeuvIng
mIIILurychIeIsred-Iuced,MuIIOnIIne,1oNovemberzoo;,uccesseduL:hLL:JJwww.duIIymuII.co.ukJ
newsJurLIcIe-qqz8oqJThe-unInvILed-guesL-ChInese-sub-os-mIddIe-U-S-Nuvy-exercIse-IeuvIng-
mIIILury-chIeIs-red-Iuced.hLmIonzMurchzooq.
11z
SeeLhezooqMilitary Power of the PRC,ugesz.
Lhey weuken Lwo ImorLunL IIIurs oI securILy In Lhe PucIhc: deLerrence und crIsIs
sLubIIILy.
TheshIILInLhemIIILurybuIuncewIIInoLbeIImILedLoLheUnILedSLuLesundChInu.
IIorwurd-busedUSIorcesIncreusIngIycunbeheIduLrIskundLheIrdeIoymenLund
emIoymenLsurvIvubIIILycuIIedInLoquesLIon,LheeIIecLonuIIIesundoLenLIuIuIIIes
InLheregIoncouIdbesubsLunLIuI.PRCIeudersmIghLbemoreLemLedLoengugeIn
ucLs oI coercIon or mIIILury uggressIon. RegIonuI conhguruLIons oI ower wIII shIIL us
nuLIonscuIcuIuLewheLherLobuIunceuguInsLChInuorbundwugonwILhILusBeIjIngs
shere oI Inuence grows. NuLIons IIke Juun, seeIng Lhe US IuII Lo Luke counLervuII-
IngucLIonusLheUSsecurILyguurunLeeIosescredIbIIILy,muydecIdeLogoILuIone
bybuIIdIngoIIensIvesysLemsLhuLmIghLIurLherdesLubIIIzeLheregIon.AkeyLore-
servIngsLubIIILy,Lhen,cenLersonwheLherLheUnILedSLuLesIswIIIIngundubIeLooII-
seLChInusgrowIngmIIILurycuubIIILy,eILheruIoneorIncombInuLIonwILhILsuIIIes
undurLners.TheAIrorcecunmukeumujorconLrIbuLIonLoeuceundsLubIIILyby
uduLIng ILs Iorce osLure In Lhe regIon Lo reecL Lhese emergIng reuIILIes.
Bolstering Deterrence and Increasing Regional Stability
AsdIscussedeurIIer,LheAIrorcessLruLegIcgouIInLheemergIngsLruLegIccomeLI-
LIonwILhLhePRCshouIdIocusonboIsLerIngdeLerrenceundImrovIngregIonuIcrIsIs
sLubIIILy. n Lhe comIng yeurs, Lhe buIunce oI ower dynumIcs In Lhe PucIhc regIon wIII
be domInuLed by Lhe InLerucLIon beLween Lhe PRCs exundIng comrehensIve nu-
LIonuI ower und Inuence und Lhe Iong-dIsLunce, buL sLIII subsLunLIuI nuLIonuI ower
und Inuence oI Lhe UnILed SLuLes.
11
TheInLerucLIonneednoLbehosLIIe,undLoLhIs
end,LheAIrorceshouIdudoLusLruLegydesIgnedLoshueChInesesLruLegIcchoIces
InudIrecLIonLhuLmInImIzesLheoorLunILyIormIscuIcuIuLIon.
A US sLruLegy Iocused on greuLer crIsIs sLubIIILy In EusL AsIu musL Iocus on
moderuLIngLheeIIecLsoIChInusgrowIngmIIILuryowerbyursuIngLhreerImury
objecLIves:(1)deLerrInguneur-LermconIronLuLIonoverTuIwun;(z)dIssuudIngPRC
mIIILuryudvenLurIsmeIsewhere;und()dImInIshIngLheIncenLIvesIorPRCIeuders
Lo enguge In coercIon. RuLher Lhun udoLIng u muLuuI wur-hghLIng osLure LhuL
wouId Ieud Lo greuLer InsLubIIILy, Lhe AIr orce cun Luke ucLIons LhuL boIsLer u sense
oIgreuLersLruLegIccIrcumsecLIonwhenInevILubIecrIsesoccur,undIncenLIvIzeLhe
PRCLoLukerecIrocuIucLIonsLhuLreInIorcecrIsIssLubIIILy.
To muInLuIn crIsIs sLubIIILy In Lhe regIon und Lo ussure PucIhc uIIIes LhuL Lhe UnILed
SLuLeswIIInoLubundonLhemInLheIuceoIChIneseLhreuLsorcoercIon,LheUSmIII-
LurywIIIhuveLounderLukesomemujorchungesInILsurouchLoLhemIIILurycome-
LILIon.nrucLIcuILerms,LhIswIIIdemundLhuLLheAIrorceundNuvycomonenLsoI
11
AccordIng Lo Lhe SecreLury oI DeIenses zooq reorL on PRC mIIILury ower, Lhe Lerm comrehensIve
nuLIonuIower...IsLheconceLbywhIchChInussLruLegIcIunnersusequuIILuLIveundquunLILuLIve
vurIubIes Lo evuIuuLe und meusure ChInu`s sLundIng In reIuLIon Lo oLher nuLIons. OIhce oI Lhe SecreLury
oIDeIense,MIIILuryPoweroILhePeoIesReubIIcoIChInuzooq,AnnuuIReorLLoCongress,ugez.
Rather than
adopting a
mutual war-
fghting posture
that would lead to
greater instability,
the Air Force can
take actions that
bolster a sense of
greater strategic
circumspection
when inevitable
crises occur.
PucIhc Commund (PACOM) demonsLruLe un ubIIILy Lo boLh overcome unLI-uccess und
ureu-denIuIchuIIenges,usweIIusmuInLuInuccessLoLhecommonsuIIwILhuneye
Lowurd buIIdIng more crIsIs-sLubIe Iorce osLures.
11q
AchIevIng Lhose gouIs requIres
PACOMLoIImILLhePRCsgrowIngubIIILyLocrIIeUSoruIIIedIorcesundbusesIn
LheregIon.AsLhezoo8NuLIonuIDeIenseSLruLegysLuLed,WemusLbuIIdourubIIILy
LoboLhwILhsLunduLLuckuIundumenLuIunddeIensIveucLoIdeLerrenceundIm-
roveourresIIIencybeyondunuLLuck.
11
ThuL,InLurn,dIsIncenLIvIzesunyudversury
LoreemL.
The AIr orce`s PucIhc osLure hus chunged somewhuL In Lhe usL hve yeurs, wILh
LheInLroducLIonoI-zzsquudronsuLEImendorIABInAIusku,undunugreemenL
LobuseRQ-qGIobuIHuwkUAVsInGuum.YeL,desILeLhegrowIngchuIIengeosed
by Lhe PeoIes IberuLIon Army AIr orce (PAA) und Lhe PAs burgeonIng Iund
uLLuckmIssIIeIorces(SecondArLIIIery),LheAIrorcehusgeneruIIynegIecLedILsIorc-
es In Lhe PucIhc (comured Lo Lhose In Euroe und Lhe MIddIe EusL). L wus wIdeIy
known,IorexumIe,LhuLInzoo,whenLhePACOMcommunder,buckedbyLhecom-
munder oI US Iorces In Koreu, requesLed B-z roLuLIonuI busIng In Guum In zoo, AIr
SLuII und AIr CombuL Commund resIsLed. n uddILIon, reeuLed uLLemLs Lo obLuIn
mIIILuryconsLrucLIonIundIngIorLhehurdenIngoIvuInerubIeIorwurdbuseIucIIILIes
In Lhe PucIhc huve erennIuIIy IuIIed Lo survIve Lhe AIr orce budgeL rocess.
Muny crILIcuI InvesLmenL rIorILIes LhuL wouId conLrIbuLe Lo ower rojecLIon
whIIe boIsLerIng crIsIs sLubIIILy, such us buIIdIng hurdened sheILers und suorLIng
buse InIrusLrucLure ImrovemenLs uL Andersen AB, Guum, or exundIng uIrcruIL
dIsersuIsILesonIsIundsIIkeSuIun,TInIun,orWuke,urenoLInLhecurrenLAIrorce
rogrum.ThuLrogrumdoesnoLevenIncIudehurdenIngLheAndersenABrunwuy,
whIchsLIIIsuIIersIromLheweur-und-LeurIncurreddurIngVIeLnum-eruB-zoeru-
LIons. ThIs mukes IL much hurder Ior Lhe AIr orce Lo jusLIIy cosLIy hghLer rogrums
IIke-zzund-whenILreIuses,uLusmuIIIrucLIonoILherogrumcosL,LoroLecL
LhosejeLsundLheIrIncreusIngIyvuInerubIesuorLIngInIrusLrucLure.
TheexundIngPAcruIseundbuIIIsLIcmIssIIeLhreuLurcundLheIncreusIngubII-
ILy oI Lhese weuons Lo sLrIke US uIr und nuvuI buses, uIong wILh Lhe uLrohy oI PucIhc
busIng(boLhInnumbersunddeIenses),LhreuLensLohumsLrIngLheUSmIIILurysubII-
ILyLorojecLuIrundnuvuIowerucrossLheregIon.
116
However,LherIskLoUSIorwurd
busesIsnoLLheonIychuIIengeLobeconIronLed.BoIsLerIngdeLerrenceundImrovIng
11q
WhereusoLhernuLIonsIIkeRussIuundrunoseunemergIngLhreuLLhuLmusLbeconsIderedusurLoI
LhesLruLegIcIundscue,dueLoLheduunLIngrunge,busIng,unLI-uccessundureudenIuIchuIIengesosed
byLhePRC,unycuubIIILyLhuLuddressesLhePRCLhreuLshouIdbeudequuLeLohundIeLhoserobIems,
Loo.
11
zoo8NuLIonuIDeIenseSLruLegy,uge1z.
116
or u summury oI Lhe ruId concenLruLIon oI US mIIILury ower In Guum, see ShIrIey A. Kun und urry
A. NIksch, Guum: US DeIense DeIoymenLs, CongressIonuI Reseurch ServIce reorL #RSzz;o, z6
ebruuryzoo8.
crIsIssLubIIILyInEusLAsIuwIIIuLuremIumonsurvIvubIIILy,sLruLegIcreuch,er-
sIsLence,undsusLuInIngoeruLIonsInoosedneLworkenvIronmenLs.
Survivability
SurvIvubIIILyIsunessenLIuIchurucLerIsLIcoIeIIecLIvemIIILuryIorces.TobeeIIecLIve
uguInsL Lhe kInds oI cuubIIILIes beIng deveIoed und heIded by Lhe PA, AIr orce uIr-
cruILneedLobeubIeLoeneLruLeInLoundoeruLewILhInheuvIIydeIendeduIrsuce.
GIvenLheIncreusIngsohIsLIcuLIonoILhePAsInLegruLeduIrdeIensesysLem,usweII
us Lhe muLuruLIon und gIobuI dIIIusIon oI modern uIr deIense sysLems, sLeuILh wIII
IIkeIybecomeIncreusIngIycenLruILoIorcesurvIvubIIILyInhIgh-endLhreuLenvIron-
menLs. UnIorLunuLeIy, onIy u smuII IrucLIon oI Lhe AIr orce eeL - 16 oeruLIonuI B-zs
und Iewer Lhun 1o -zzsexIoILs Lhe IeveI oI modern Iow-observubIe churucLer-
IsLIcsrequIredLouLLuInLhuLIeveIoIsLruLegIceIIecL.Moreover,LheAIrorcehusno
sLeuILhy,eneLruLIngSRuIrcruIL,whIchureLhekeyLoknowIngwhuLLheudversuryIs
doIng,undrovIdeLImeIyuduLesonLheIocuLIonoIvurIouskeyLurgeLs.Dense,mod-
ern InLegruLed uIr deIenses IIke Lhose beIng heIded by RussIu und ChInu ure so IeLhuI
Lhey sImIy cunnoL be chuIIenged by non-sLeuILhy IuLIorms. AILhough sensor sys-
LemsmuyemergeLhuLreduceLheeIIecLIvenessoIcurrenLsIgnuLure-reducLIonLech-
noIogIes,usLeuILhyuIrcruILemIoyIngLrudILIonuILucLIcs,LechnIques,undrocedures
IorevudIngenemysensorsIncIudIngsensoruvoIdunce,LerruInmuskIng,eIecLronIc
wurIure, und hIgh-seed, Iow-IeveI IghL - wIII uImosL cerLuInIy remuIn Iur more use-
IuIuguInsLubroudrungeoILhreuLsLhunwIIInon-sLeuILhyuIrcruIL.
LshouIdbenoLedLhuLLhereIsuowerIuIsynergybeLweensLeuILhundeIecLronIc
wurIure.AIrdeIenserudursundoLhersensorswILhLhesensILIvILyrequIredLodeLecL
undLruckumodernIow-observubIeuIrcruILcunbemoreeusIIyjummed,dIsruLed,or
sooIedLhunLhosedesIgnedLooeruLeuguInsLnon-sLeuILhyIuLIorms.USIunners
musL uIso uLLend Lo Lhe survIvubIIILy oI Lhe enLIre reconnuIssunce und sLrIke Iorce,
IncIudInguIrreIueIIng.
Strategic Reach
SLruLegIc reuch consLILuLes u mujor weukness In Lhe currenL AIr orce Iun, whIch
over-emhusIzes shorL-runge, muILI-roIe hghLers IIke Lhe - over IuLIorms wILh
IongereIIecLIverunge.SLruLegIcreuchIsImorLunLbecuuseILenhuncesLheUSmIII-
LurysIreedomoImuneuver.nurLIcuIur,ILexundsLhenumberoIoLenLIuIbuses
IromwhIchLheAIrorcecunoeruLe,comIIcuLIngurosecLIveudversurysIun-
nIng. ncreused reuch uIso Increuses rouLIng exIbIIILy, reducIng Lhe chunces LhuL US
oeruLIons wIII be sLymIed owIng Lo Lhe Iuck oI overIghL rIghLs. InuIIy, und mosL
crILIcuIIy,reuchInLheIormoIunreIueIedcombuLrudIusIsessenLIuIIorhoIdIngdee-
InIund LurgeLs uL rIsk. NeILher Lhe uLrohyIng US overseus busIng sLrucLure nor Lhe
Dense, modern
integrated air
defenses like those
being felded by
Russia and China
are so lethal they
simply cannot be
challenged by non-
stealthy platforms.
emergIngunLI-uccessmIssIIeLhreuLureconducIveLoshorL-rungeoeruLIons,Lhecore
eIemenLoILhecurrenLAIrorcerogrum.
Persistence
TherequIremenLIorersIsLencesLems,InurL,IromLhemobIIILyoImunyoILhekey
unLI-uccessundureu-denIuIsysLemsemIoyedbyLhePA,IncIudIngvurIoussensor
und communIcuLIon sysLems, eIecLronIc wurIure vehIcIes, und mosL oI uII, mIssIIe
Iuunchers.USuIrcruILwIIIIIkeIyneedLoIoILerIorexLendederIodsInorderLoIocuLe
Lhese hIgh-vuIue LurgeLs, whIch wIII oILen be dIIhcuIL Lo deLecL. BeIng In deLecLIon
rungeuLLherIghLLImewIIIbeucrILIcuIIngredIenLIoroeruLIonuIsuccess.ThIsneed
IorersIsLencewIIIIIkeIyIuceuremIumuonexLendedmIssIonendurunce,whIch
Iuvors unmunned IuLIorms over munned ones. To erIorm LhIs mIssIon In heuvIIy
deIendeduIrsuce,ILwIIIuIsobeessenLIuIIoruIrcruILLobesLeuILhy,huvegreuLen-
durunce,undhuveuccessLoroLecLedcommunIcuLIons.UnIorLunuLeIy,LheenLIreAIr
orce SR eeL currenLIy Iucks eILher sLruLegIc reuch or Iow-observubIIILy (sLeuILh).
11;
Opposed Network Capability and Electronic Warfare

InuIIy,LheAIrorcemusLemhusIzeLheubIIILyLooeruLeInoosedneLworken-
vIronmenLsundbegInLore-esLubIIshILseIIusLheworIdIeuderIneIecLronIcwurIure.
AILhough much oI Lhe cuubIIILIes In LhIs ureu ure cIussIhed, Lhe evIdence Is sLrong
LhuLLheAIrorcesLruLegIcIunIucksLheroeremhusIsonroLecLedsucecom-
munIcuLIonsIoruvurIeLyoIuIrborneusseLs.TheServIceuIsoseemsLoucceLLhevuI-
nerubIIILyoIsuceusseLs,undhusdoneIILLIeLocorrecLLhedeurLhoIdeveIomenLuI
workonLerresLrIuIuILernuLIvesLosucecommunIcuLIons.ThIsIsworrIsome,usLhe
IuLurewurIureenvIronmenL,evenInIrreguIurwurIurescenurIos,wIIIIIkeIybechur-
ucLerIzedbydegrudedcommunIcuLIonsundsohIsLIcuLedeIecLronIccombuL.TheAIr
orce cunnoL wIsh LhIs robIem uwuy. L musL emburk on u rogrum Lo deveIo Lhe
necessurycuubIIILIesInLhesewurIureureus,undesLubIIshubeLLerbuIuncebeLween
ussIveunducLIvewurIureInLheeIecLromugneLIcsecLrum.
As menLIoned severuI LImes In LhIs secLIon, Lhe currenL AIr orce sLruLegIc Iun
undrogrumoIrecorddoesnoLIureweIIwhensubjecLedLoLhesecrILerIu.AIrorce
buses ure IncreusIngIy heId uL rIsk by Lhe PA, und IILLIe Is beIng done Lo dIserse,
hurden,ordeIendLhem,whIIeUSsuceIorcesurevuInerubIeLojummIng,dIsruLIon,
unddesLrucLIon.AIrorceIuLIormsIucksLeuILhInnumbers,runge,undersIsLence
urorIuLe Ior Lhe Lusk In Lhe PucIhc, und suIIer Irom shorLIuIIs In runge und ersIs-
Lence. InuIIy, Lhe ServIce`s Iorces ure InsuIhcIenLIy conhgured und LruIned Ior reuIIs-
LIc,communIcuLIons-oosedenvIronmenLs.
11;
SurveIIIuncesuLeIIILes,byconLrusL,huvesLruLegIcreuch,buLIuckLhecuucILyIorsLurIngsurveIIIunce
undLruveIdeLermInIsLIcorbILseusIIyknowLoudversurIes.
The Air Force
seems to accept
the vulnerability of
space assets, and
has done little to
correct the dearth
of developmental
work on terrestrial
alternatives to space
communications.
ADAPTING TO A NUCLEAR-PROLIFERATED WORLD
n Lhe nexL LwenLy yeurs, IL ueurs IIkeIy LhuL more counLrIes wIII ossess nucIeur
weuons.AILhoughmosLmIIILuryIunnersundersLundLhegruvILyoILhIsrosecL,IL
remuInsLhemosLnegIecLedoILheLhreemujorsLruLegIcchuIIengesemhusIzedInLhe
zoo6QDR.NeverLheIess,LheAIrorcemusLbereudyLouddressLhIschuIIenge;doIng
sowIIIrequIreureLurnLoconceLsoIdeLerrenceundcrIsIssLubIIILyund,InexLremIs,
LheconducLoIwurIureuguInsLnucIeur-urmedenLILIes.
DeLerrenceIsuchIevedwhenoonenLsundersLundLhuLLheUnILedSLuLesIswIII-
IngundubIeLoImoseunucceLubIecosLsonLhemshouIdLheycommILunucLoIug-
gressIon.NucIeurIorceswIIIbeunInLrInsIceIemenLoIUSdeLerrenceeIIorLsInumore
roIIIeruLed worId. DeLerrence wIII be enhunced II Lhe AIr orce remuIns Lhe gIobuI
Ieuder In Lhree ureus: surveIIIunceJwurnIng, nucIeur sLrIke, und scIenceJLechnoIogy.
AnudversurywhoconsIdersemIoyIngnucIeurweuonsuguInsLLheUnILedSLuLesor
ILsuIIIesmusLknowLhuLLheresonsewouIdbeoverwheImIngunddevusLuLIngLhuL
Lhe cosLs Incurred wouId Iur ouLweIgh uny conceIvubIe benehLs. InuIIy, rIvuIs musL
know LhuL Lhe UnILed SLuLes reLuIns u credIbIe oLIon Ior nucIeur escuIuLIon In Lhe
evenLUSnuLIonuIsurvIvuIIsuLsLuke.
WILhregurdLohedgInguguInsLLherosecLsoIuroIIIeruLed(nucIeur)worId,er-
sIsLenLsurveIIIunceemergesusILdoesInLheoLherchuIIengesusucrILIcuIcuubII-
ILy.TheurgumenLLoenhunceLheServIcesInLeIIIgence,reconnuIssunce,undsurveII-
Iunce (SR) IuLIorms Is ersuusIve. GIven Lhe growIng number oI nucIeur owers,
rudencedIcLuLesLhuLIuLureAIrorceSRundsLrIkesysLemsbehurdeneduguInsL
nucIeureIIecLsundbeubIeLosurvIveInIuIrIysohIsLIcuLeduIrdeIenseenvIronmenLs,
suggesLInguII-usecLsLeuILhchurucLerIsLIcs.SLeuILhIsImorLunLInLhreewuysLhuLuII
huvesLruLegIcconsequences:(1)ILoensLheossIbIIILyundIncreusesLherobubIIILy
oIunwurnedUSsLrIke;(z)ILconLrIbuLesLoersIsLenceundeIIecLIvenessInconLesLed
uIrsuce;und()ILobIIgesLheudversuryLoInvesLInuIrdeIenses,IncreusIngregIon-
uIsLubIIILydueLoLheIrInherenLIydeIensIvenuLure.CombInedwILhexLendedrunge
undoosed-ureuneLworkconnecLIvILy,sLeuILhbecomesukeyIorcemuILIIIerLhuL
boosLs crIsIs sLubIIILy by rovIdIng Lhe US surveIIIunce und InLerdIcLIon oI nucIeur-
urmedudversurIes.nuddILIon,LheubIIILyoIunucIeur-urmedregIonuIowerLohoId
neurbyregIonuIbusesuLrIskwIIIdemundLhesesysLemshuveLheInherenLubIIILyLo
oeruLeIromexLendedrunge.
SLuLeucLorsurenoLLheonIyoLenLIuIdungerInuroIIIeruLedworId.Asmorenu-
LIonsucquIrenucIeurcuubIIILIes,LhechuncesoIunon-sLuLegrouucquIrIngunucIe-
ur weuon uIso rIse. The ImorLunce oI deLecLIng, LuggIng, LruckIng, und InLerceL-
Ing nucIeur muLerIuIs und weuons becomes cIeur und comeIIIng. The deLecLIon oI
nucIeur muLerIuIs uL runge oses un esecIuIIy chuIIengIng robIem. I LhIs cun be
uccomIIshed,LheLuskoILuggIng,LruckIng,undIocuLIngnucIeurmuLerIuIsundIorces
wIII benehL Irom ersIsLenL overheud monILorIng by suce und uIr IuLIorms. Success
wIII uIso be deendenL uon enhunced InLegruLIon beLween vurIous eIemenLs oI Lhe
US InLeIIIgence communILy. SecIuI oeruLIons unILs wIII noL huve Lhe orgunIc ubII-
ILy Lo Iun und conducL u wIde vurIeLy oI counLer-roIIIeruLIon und nucIeur weuon
eIImInuLIonmIssIonswILhouLAIrorceheI,requIrIngcIosercoordInuLIonbeLween
uIr,suce,undSecIuIOeruLIonsorces(SO)muchusInLer-LheuLeruIrmobIIILy
IorcesInLerucLwILhcerLuInSOeIemenLsLoduy.
118
IMPLICATIONS: THE HIGH-LOW FORCE CHALLENGE

TheIundumenLuIconcIusIonIromLherecedIngmIssIonunuIysIsIsLhuLLheAIrorce
IsbuIIdIngumIddIe-weIghLIorcesLrucLureLhuLIsmuchLoosohIsLIcuLedundex-
ensIve Ior Iow-end or IrreguIur conIcLs, whIIe uIso IuckIng needed cuubIIILIes Lo
uddresschuIIengesuLLhehIghendoILhemIIILurycomeLILIon.
By wuy oI exumIe, Lhe - IghLnIng by Iur Lhe ServIces mosL exensIve
modernIzuLIoneIIorLservesusucIussIcmIddIecuubIIILyLhuLIuckscrILIcuIer-
Iormunce churucLerIsLIcs (e.g., runge) needed Lo meeL hIgh-end chuIIenges, whIIe IL
Is over-secIhed und overrIced Ior Lhe Iow-end chuIIenges. or exumIe, Lhe -`s
IImILed runge mukes IL IurgeIy unsuILubIe Ior Iund-bused oeruLIons In Lhe wesLern
PucIhc wILhouL subsLunLIuI uerIuI reIueIIng, whIch ILseII wIII be heId uL rIsk. OeruLIng
Irom uvuIIubIe buses beyond ChInus unLI-uccessJureu-denIuI (AzJAD) umbreIIu, u
IurgeIorceoI-swouIdrequIreIurmoreuIrreIueIIngsuorLLhunLheAIrorce
couIdrovIdegIvenscurcebusIngIorreIueIIngusseLsundoveruIIjoInLreIueIIngre-
quIremenLs.TobuseLhe-swILhInLhePAs(AzJAD)umbreIIusIsLoIuceLhem
uLgreuLrIskIromChInesebuIIIsLIcundcruIsemIssIIes.
11q
MukIngmuLLersworse,Lhe
-doesnoLcurryenoughuIr-Lo-uIrmIssIIesLodeuIwILhmussIncursIonsoImodern
PA hghLers wILh greuLer mIssIIe-curryIng cuucILy, und IL Iucks Lhe muILI-uzImuLh
Iow-observubIe(I.e.,sLeuILh)IeuLuresLosurvIveInunuII-usecLhIgh-LhreuLenvIron-
menL. n sum, II, us Lhe zoo6 QDR osILs, Lhe PA Is Lhe mosL dungerous oLenLIuI
IuLurehIgh-endudversury,DoDcunnoLjusLIIyILsenormousInvesLmenLInLhe-
rogrum, sInce Lhe IghLnIng wIII encounLer sIgnIhcunL obsLucIes jusL geLLIng Lo
Lhe hghL, IeL uIone wInnIng IL. The sume III hL ueurs on Lhe oLher end oI Lhe conIcL
secLrum, where Lhe -s Iow-observubIe IeuLures, escuIuLIng cosL, und nIneLeen
mIIIIonIInesoIcomuLercodemukeILugreuLdeuImoreexensIveLobuy,undmore
comIIcuLed Lo oeruLe und susLuIn, Lhun Lhe PreduLor or Reuer UAVs, whIch ure
118
Known us secIuI oeruLIons Iow-IeveI , or SO Iorces, Lhe crews requIre unIque LruInIng und cuu-
bIIILIesLocurryouLLheIrmIssIon.SeeRIchurdE.WIIIIumson,Jr.,C-1;ASecIuIOeruLIonsoweveI
(SO)SuorLIngLheCombuLunLCommunder,MusLersLhesIs,WrIghL-PuLLersonAB,OH:AIr
orcensLILuLeoITechnoIogy,zooq).
11q
ThIsIsnoLunurgumenLIorLhe-BshorLLukeoII-IundIng(STOV)versIonquILeLheconLrury.The
ubIIILyLoroduceunysorLoImeunIngIuIsorLIeruLeuguInsLunudversuryIIkeLhePRCemIoyIngLhe
-BIsremoLe.TheremuynoLbeubeLLerexumIeoIusysLemIosLInLhemIddIeLhunLhe-B.
The Air Force
is building a
middle-weight
force structure
that is much too
sophisticated and
expensive for low-
end or irregular
conficts, while also
lacking needed
capabilities to
address challenges
at the high end
of the military
competition.
erIormIngweIIbeyondexecLuLIonsundscorIngLhemujorILyoIhIgh-vuIuehILsIn
ruqundAIghunIsLun.
1zo
USsuceconsLeIIuLIonsrovIdeunoLherexumIeoImIddIe-weIghLcuubIIILIes.
They ure Iur Loo sohIsLIcuLed Ior IrreguIur wurIure chuIIenges where LerresLrIuI uI-
LernuLIvescosLIurIess,buLureIncreusIngIyvuInerubIeLodenIuI(e.g.,jummIng)und
desLrucLIonbysohIsLIcuLedudversurIes.nurecenLsLudyIorLheAIrorcesCenLer
Ior SLruLegy und TechnoIogy, IeuLenunL CoIoneI Joseh HunLIngLon noLed LhuL
ConLInuedLechnoIogIcuIudvuncesundroIIIeruLIonoIunLI-suLeIIILecuubIIILIeswIII
enubIemoreudversurIesLoossessLhemeunsLouLLuckorInLerIerewILhUnILedSLuLes
suLeIIILeoeruLIons.
1z1
AILhoughheconcenLruLedonLheLhreuLIromdIrecLed-energy
weuons,uvurIeLyoImeunsexIsLorurebeIngdeveIoedLohoIdUSsuLeIIILesuLrIsk,
eIIecLIveIyneuLruIIzIngunroLecLedUSconsLeIIuLIonsubIIILyLorovIdegIobuImIII-
LurysuorL.
HowcunLheAIrorcemodIIyILsrogrumoIrecordundsLruLegIcIunLomInImIze
mIddIecuubIIILIesundmuxImIzeLhehIgh-IowmIx?ThenexLchuLeroIIerssome
uILernuLIves,IncIudIngoIIcIes,orgunIzuLIonsundequImenL,LhuLwouIdbeLLerorI-
enLLheAIrorceLowurdkeyexIsLIngundemergIngsecurILychuIIenges.
1zo
The GovernmenL AccounLubIIILy OIhce recenLIy reorLed LhuL Lhe JS wIII requIre over 1q mIIIIon IInes
oIcomuLercodeundhudreIeusedonIyercenLoILhuLcodeusoIMurchzoo6,whIchJSrogrum
oIhcIuIs consIder u hIgh rIsk ILem. GAO-o6-q1, AssessmenLs oI SeIecLed Mujor Weuon Progrums,
GovernmenL AccounLubIIILy OIhce, Murch zoo6: uges ;1, ;z. A CenLer Ior SLruLegIc und nLernuLIonuI
SLudIesreorLsLuLedLhuLPreduLorUASwereLhemosLcrILIcuIucIngIuncLIonundshorLIuIIIormun-
hunLIng mIssIons In CENTCOM. CIurk Murdock, eL uI., SecIuI OeruLIons orces AvIuLIon uL Lhe
Crossrouds,CenLerIorSLruLegIcundnLernuLIonuISLudIes(CSS),SeLemberzoo;:.;.
1z1
JosehHunLIngLon,mrovIngSuLeIIILeProLecLIonwILhNunoLechnoIogy,AIrWurCoIIegeCenLerIor
SLruLegyundTechnoIogy,BIueHorIzonsPuer,Decemberzoo;:uge.AccesseduL:hLL:JJwww.dLIc.mIIJ
cgI-bInJGeLTRDoc?AD=ADAq;q8z&ocuLIon=Uz&doc=GeLTRDoc.dIonNovemberzoo8.
CHAPTER 3 > ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS
SInceWorIdWur,LheUnILedSLuLesAIrorcehusursueduconsIsLenLundcoher-
enLInsLILuLIonuIvIsIonbuseduroundLhesLruLegIcundoeruLIonuIemIoymenLoIuIr
und suce ower. L conLInues Lo rovIde exceLIonuI servIce Lo Lhe nuLIon, recruILs
unddeveIossomeoILhemosLhIghIyLruIned,educuLed,undmoLIvuLedeoIeIngov-
ernmenL,undremuInsLheenvyoILheworIdsuIrIorces.AIrmensLIIIrojecLLhesume
enLhusIusmundoLImIsmubouLLheIrroIessIonusdIdLheeurIIesLSIgnuICorsuvIu-
Lors. The core oI LhuL vIsIon Is u wurhghLIng hIIosohy LhuL muxImIzes US ower
rojecLIonwhIIemInImIzIngvuInerubIIILy.
ThedImensIonsoILhIsvIsIonwereIndeIIbIyeLchedbyLheIourdecude-Iongcom-
eLILIon wILh Lhe SovIeL UnIon, us weII us Lhe exLended uIr cumuIgns In Koreu und
VIeLnum. The Iong CoId Wur comeLILIon wus one In whIch Lhe AIr orce generuIIy
reuIIzedLhuLvIsIonundusuresuIL,enjoyedsLruLegIcundoeruLIonuIsuerIorILyover
ILs SovIeL counLerurLs. The quesLIon uL LhIs juncLure Is wheLher LhuL Iegucy Is suI-
hcIenL Lo roeI Lhe AIr orce InLo Lhe IuLure us u vIbrunL, eIIecLIve nuLIonuI securILy
InsLILuLIon.TheAIrorcenowIucesunumberoIIoomIngoeruLIonuIchuIIengesLhuL
cunnoLbeudequuLeIyuddressedIIILremuInsonILscurrenLLrujecLory.
ThesechuIIengesureuccenLuuLedbyLheAIrorcesInsLILuLIonuIIdenLILycrIsIs,ug-
IngIorcesLrucLure,undIorceosLuremIsmuLchesreIuLIveLoIuLurechuIIenges.ThIs
chuLer ouLIInes key ussessmenLs und recommenduLIons Ior Lhe rehubIIILuLIon und
ruLIonuIIzuLIonoILheAIrorce,uIIunderbudgeLuryconsLruInLs.TosLuywILhInLhose
consLruInLsunduvoIduwIsh-IIsLurouch,LhIschuLerresenLsumenuoIoLIons
LhuLreduceLheServIcesmIddIe-weIghLIorcesLhoseoLImIzedIorconvenLIonuI,
hIgh-InLensILy conIcL oI Lhe Lye exerIenced In Lhe Koreun Wur, VIeLnum Wur, und
IrsL GuII Wur, und unLIcIuLed In Lhe evenL oI u Euroeun conIcL durIng Lhe CoId
WurunduccenLuuLesIow-endundhIgh-endIorcesmorecongruenLwILhunLIcIuLed
sLruLegIcchuIIenges.LuIsosuggesLsIdeus,conceLs,unddocLrInesLhuLwIIIIncreuse
Lhe AIr orce`s sLruLegIc und oeruLIonuI exIbIIILy In order Lo beLLer uddress u wIde
vurIeLyoILhosechuIIenges.
TherecommenduLIonsuredIvIdedInLoLhreemuInsecLIons:oneonLhesLesLhe
AIr orce mIghL Luke Lo reInvIgoruLe und reesLubIIsh ServIce us u vIubIe, InuenLIuI
Iorce In Lhe deIense oIIcy debuLe; one on recommended chunges Lo Iorce sLrucLure
und IuLIorm Iuns under budgeLury consLruInLs; und one on chunges Lo AIr orce
busIng osLure. The IoIIowIng recommenduLIons shouId be vIewed us u cuLuIysL Ior
debuLe und us u guIde Lo uskIng Lhe rIghL quesLIons und demundIng comrehensIve
unswersIromLhecusLodIunsoIAmerIcunuIrundsuceower.
AIR FORCE INSTITUTIONAL IDENTITY
TheAIrorcecunnoLbegInLouddressILsugInguIrcruILorIorcecomosILIonrobIem,
ILsoverseusbusInguLrohyundvuInerubIIILychuIIenges,oruvurIeLyoIoLheroeru-
LIonuIundIorcesLrucLureIssues,wILhouLuLLendIngLoILsInsLILuLIonuIIdenLILycrIsIs.
ThuL crIsIs Is noL jusL erceIved by ouLsIders, IL Is uIso IeIL by ILs members, muny oI
whomhuveobservedorevenbecomeuurLoIunIdeoIogIcuImuIuIsewILhInLheAIr
orceLhuLseemsLohuveucceIeruLedInLheusLeIghLyeurs.ThIssILuuLIoncunnoLbe
Lurned uround soIeIy by u churIsmuLIc Ieuder; IL musL be Lhe roducL oI consIsLenL,
rIncIIed,commILLedIeudershIovermunyyeurs.ToLhuLend,LheIoIIowIngrecom-
menduLIonsshouIdbeconsIderedusrehubIIILuLIvemeusuresLobeImIemenLeduIong
wILhIorceosLure(IuLIormsundbuses)chungesdeLuIIedInLhenexLsecLIon.
Restore the Legacy of Superior S&T and R&D
n successIuI LechnoIogy enLerrIses, scIence und LechnoIogy (S&T) reseurch,
und reseurch und deveIomenL (R&D) ure LIghLIy couIed wILh Lo munugemenL.
OrgunIzuLIonuI sLruLegy und S&TJR&D ure InexLrIcubIy IInked, und musL be InLe-
gruLedbyIeuderswhoIuIIyundersLundboLh.TheAIrorceseurIyIeuders,GeneruIs
Hu ArnoId, CurLIs eMuy, Thomus WhILe, und George Brown, hud Lhe sume InLI-
muLereIuLIonshIwILhAIrorceS&TJR&DLhuLLoduyssuccessIuILechnoIogyCEOs
huvewILhLheIrR&DenLerrIses.
1zz
ThosemenbuIILudomInunLAIrorceLechnoIogy
enLerrIse, hrsL uround AIr Reseurch und DeveIomenL Commund (1qo) und IuLer,
AIr orce SysLems Commund (1q61), shuIng R&D eIIorLs In uccordunce wILh LheIr
sLruLegIcvIsIon.
1z
1zz
To undersLund GeneruI Henry H. Hu ArnoId`s semInuI Inuence In LhIs ureu, see DIk Duso, Architect
of American Air Supremacy: General Hap Arnold and Dr. Theodore von Karmann (MuxweIIAB,A:
AIrUnIversILyPress,zoo)
1z
orugoodovervIewoIUSAR&DeIIorLsInLhe1qosund1q6os,seeWuILerJ.Boyne,Beyond the Wild
Blue (NY: SL. MurLIns Press, 1qq;) uges 11o1zq (descrIbIng Lhe drumuLIc ucceIeruLIon oI Lhe USA
buIIIsLIc mIssIIe rogrum und revoIuLIonury chunges Lo uvIuLIon LechnoIogy), und 1q11q; (ASC und
ILsbroudreseurchugenduLhuLIedLosuccessInOeruLIonDeserLSLorm).ToseeersonuIInLervIewsoI
somegIunLsoIAIrorcereseurchunddeveIomenLLhuLInIormLhejudgmenLsmudeInLhIssecLIon,see
JucobNeuIeId,ed.,Research and Development in the United States Air Force (WushIngLon,DC:CenLer
IorAIrorceHIsLory,1qq).
AILhoughILwusbeLLerLohuvesomeoneInLhechIeIschuIrwhowusudeLuLIeud-
Ing wurrIors und scIenLIsLs, Lhe mosL endurIng urrungemenL wus deveIoed by nur-
LurIngsecIuIIy-deveIoedundeducuLedIeudershIuLSysLemsCommund.GeneruIs
Bernurd SchrIever (ueronuuLIcuI engIneerIng, SLunIord UnIversILy), SumueI PhIIIIs
(eIecLrIcuI engIneerIng, UnIversILy oI MIchIgun), ew AIIen (hysIcs, UnIversILy oI
IIInoIs) und RoberL Mursh (ueronuuLIcuI engIneerIng, UnIversILy oI MIchIgun) euch
huduvIvIdundersLundIngoILheIuLureoeruLIonuIrequIremenLsundLechnIcuIchuI-
Ienges oI Lhe Iorce, und Lhey LrunsIuLed LhuL undersLundIng InLo secIhc bIuerInLs
Ior AIr orce S&T und R&D.
1zq
As hIsLorIun WuILer Boyne noLed In hIs encycIoe-
dIc hIsLory oI Lhe AIr orce, Lhe hrsL communder oI ASC, GeneruI BernIe SchrIever,
Iuunched IL on u course LhuL wouId be resonsIbIe Ior Lhe remurkubIe owerIng oI
reseurchunddeveIomenLwILhInLheAIrorce,cuIIIngLhescoeoIILsworkbreuLh-
LukIngundhIghIIghLIngvIsIonuryendeuvorsromoLedbySchrIeversuchusProjecL
orecusL,whIchIedLobreukLhroughssuchusrecIsIon-guIdedmunILIons.
1z
OIhcers
IIke SchrIever sLood usLrIde u hIerurchy oI oIhcers wILhIn SysLems Commund, euch on
uLechnoIogy-cenLeredcureeruLhLhuLcouIdIeudLoIour-sLurrunk.
Toduys AIr orce S&T communILy uIes by comurIson, u resuIL oI Lhe dIssoIu-
LIon oI SysLems Commund In 1qqz und Lhe sLeudy uLrohy oI Lhe IInk beLween Lhe
ServIcessLruLegIcdIrecLIonundILsR&DucLIvILIes.WILhInLoduysAIrorceMuLerIuI
Commund,IedbyucouIILIonoIIogIsLIcssecIuIIsLsundruLedgeneruIsoILenIuckIng
LechnIcuIeducuLIonundservIngbrIeIroLuLIons,AIrorceS&TueursLobeudrIIL,
huvIngessenLIuIIyouLsourcedImorLunLInvesLmenLdecIsIonsLomId-IeveILechnoIo-
gIsLsInLhehoeLhuLLheyroducesomeLhInguseIuIubsenLsLruLegIcdIrecLIon.
1z6
As
uresuIL,whIIeLheAIrorcesLIIIsendsunenormousumounLonS&T,muchoIILmuy
be senL unwIseIyuL greuL oorLunILy cosLdue Lo Iuck oI IeudershI, rIorILIes,
undconnecLIonLooeruLIonuIneedsundemergIngLhreuLs.
The nexL-generuLIon bomber (NGB) rogrum resenLs u cIussIc exumIe oI Lhe
AIrorcesseII-InducedS&TredIcumenL.NewsysLemsIIkeNGBenLerLheIur-Lerm
IunnInghorIzonundhugeumounLsoIS&TIundIngureromIsedLomukeLhenexL
sysLemuLrunsIormuLIonuImurveI.TheAIrorceS&TcommunILysLurLsworkIngon
IunsunducLIvILIesusIngILsownbudgeL,buLLhebIgS&TInvesLmenLskeegeLLIng
sIIed uL one-yeur IncremenLs. AILer severuI yeurs oI deIerred, dIsLrucLed S&T In-
vesLmenL,LheoeruLIonuIneedIorLhIssysLembecomessodIreLhuLILsLurgeLdeIoy-
menLduLeIsucceIeruLedund,consequenLIy,onIymuLure(Iegucy)LechnoIogIescun
beemIoyed.Thus,LhecurrenLNGBdesIgnsuIIersIromLheunuvuIIubIIILyoIhIghIy-
eIhcIenL vurIubIe byuss engInes und suer-eIhcIenL udvunced wIng desIgns (such
us AeroservoeIusLIc, or ASE), Lwo LechnoIogIes LhuL wouId huve been reudy Loduy
1zq
ThIsIsesecIuIIycrILIcuIIorsLuyInguLLhecuLLIngedgeoIcyberoeruLIonsundeIecLronIcwurIure,und
LrunsIuLIngLhuLInLooeruLIonuIcuubIIILIes.
1z
Boyne,Beyond the Wild Blue,1q11q;.
1z6
OnIyonecurrenLAIrorceIour-sLurgeneruIhusunudvunceddegreeInengIneerIngorscIence.
hud Lhey been uccorded udequuLe IundIng over Lhe usL decude.
1z;
When Lhe S&T
communILycomIuInsLhuLLheS&TIsnoLreudybecuuseudequuLeIundswerenever
rovIded, Lhey ure LoId LhuL unoLher more udvunced IoIIow-on Is beIng Iunned Ior
some LIme beyond Lhe IunnIng horIzon und Lhe dysIuncLIonuI cycIe begIns unew.
The resuIL Is LhuL Loduy`s AIr orce Is yIng und uIyIng bund-uIds Lo uIrIunes wILh
1q;os-eruuero,sLrucLuruIundrouIsIonLechnoIogy.
WhIIecurIngAIrorceS&TundR&DrequIressLrongmedIcIne,correcLIngLheIn-
IormuLIonLechnoIogy(T)sILuuLIonundILsoeruLIonuImunIIesLuLIon,cyberwurIure,
IIkeIyrequIressurgery.AsLrongcusecunbemudeLhuLLhedeveIomenLoIdeIense-
reIuLedTIsIncomuLIbIewILhLhecurrenLdeIenseucquIsILIonsysLem,IIonIyIromu
conceLIon-Lo-heIdIng LImeIIne ersecLIve. Cyber wurIure S&T und R&D ueur Lo
requIreunenLIreIynewurouchwILhgreuLIyucceIeruLeddeveIomenLuI,InLegruLIon,
und modIhcuLIon LImeIInes. The sume uIIes Lo Lhe dungerous und more encomuss-
Ing heId oI eIecLromugneLIc secLrum wurIure, whIch hus undergone u quIeL renuIs-
sunceLhuLrequIresInsLILuLIonuIIocusruLherLhunosL-CoIdWurdrIIL.
AIrorcerobIemsInS&TuremIrroredbyuveryIurgeundexensIveR&DInIru-
sLrucLure IeIL over Irom SysLems Commund und IeIL IurgeIy unLouched Ior decudes.
AIrorceReseurchuboruLory(AR)IucIIILIessoukusubsLunLIuIresources,mosL
oIwhIchurehIddenundunchuIIengedbecuuseLheyuresreudLhroughouLeveryR&D
rojecL,mukIngIn-houseR&DuncomeLILIveundexensIve.
The AIr orce musL exIore Iess exensIve, more resonsIve uILernuLIves.
SubsLunLIuI suvIngs mIghL be uchIeved, Ior exumIe, by converLIng IuboruLory orgu-
nIzuLIons Lo u more DARPA-IIke modeI In whIch AR udoLs u venLure cuILuIIsL
roIe by seIecLIng, IundIng, dIrecLIng, und crILIcuIIy overseeIng work In secIhc R&D
InvesLmenLorLIoIIoscurrIedouLbyconLrucLorsundunIversILIes.nIucL,uLIeusLLwo
oI ARs mosL roducLIve recenL rogrums, cuIIed nLegruLed HIgh PerIormunce
EngIneTechnoIogy(HPTET),whIchIedLobreukLhroughsInLhe-zzund-en-
gInes,undSensorCruIL,whIchInvoIvesrevoIuLIonuryuIrborneSRdesIgnconceLs,
1z;
AIso cuIIed AcLIve AeroeIusLIc WIng (AAW) In ILs NASA conhguruLIon, reseurch In LhIs ureu enubIes
LhInner,hIgher-usecLruLIowIngs...whIchcouIdresuILInreduceduerodynumIcdrug,uIIowInggreuL-
er runge or uyIoud, und Imrove IueI eIhcIency. AcLIve AeroeIusLIc WIng, NASA Dryden IIghL
Reseurch CenLer, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.nusu.govJcenLersJdrydenJnewsJReseurchUduLeJAAWJ
Index.hLmIon1SeLemberzoo8.TheASEwIngcunchungeILsshueLhroughwIngdIsLorLIonLhuLcon-
sLunLIy oLImIzes wIng churucLerIsLIcs bused on Lhe IghL requIremenL, und does so wILhouL Lhe need
IoruIIerons,eIevuLors,orurudder,ImrovIngrudurIow-observubIIILy.ThIs,InLurn,cunrovIdehIgher
IIILJdrug ruLIos und IumInur ow ucross greuLer wIng ureus, reducIng rouIsIon Ior u gIven seed und
IncreusIng IuLIorm endurunce. See SunII C. PuLeI, MorhIng WIng: A DemonsLruLIon oI Aero Servo
EIusLIcDIsLrIbuLedSensIngundConLroI,AmerIcunnsLILuLeoIAeronuuLIcsundAsLronuuLIcs,zoo,
uccesseduLhLL:JJLIIms.Lumu.eduJzoosummerREUJuersJPuLeI.dIon16JuIyzoo8.TheADVENT
engIneromIsessubsLunLIuIIncreusesInenduruncebyoLImIzIngjeLengInebyussruLIos,whIchIor
normuI jeL engInes ure hxed vuIues. or u Lhorough dIscussIon oI Lhe ADVENT rogrum uIong wILh
oLher IInks Lo ADVENT InIormuLIon, see The ADVENT oI u BeLLer JeL EngIne? Defense Industrial
Daily, 1 OcLober zoo;, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.deIenseIndusLryduIIy.comJLhe-udvenL-oI-u-beLLer-jeL-
engIne-o6zJon18JuIyzoo8.
While curing Air
Force S&T and
R&D requires
strong medicine,
correcting the
information
technology (IT)
situation and
its operational
manifestation,
cyber warfare,
likely requires
surgery.
were execuLed In exucLIy LhIs munner.
1z8
R&D InvesLmenLs musL concenLruLe on ur-
eus wILh u hIgh oLenLIuI AIr orce reLurn on InvesLmenL und cuubIIILIes eIIecLIve
uguInsL reIevunL LhreuLs LhuL cun be deveIoed, heIded, und InLegruLed uL u reuson-
ubIe cosL. ThIs requIres senIor unIIormed scIenLIhc und LechnoIogIcuI comeLence,
Lhe conhdence und dIscIIIne Lo kIII weuk rogrums, und Lhe sLruLegIc vIsIon Lo seL u
LechnoIogIcuIIyuchIevubIecourse.TheAIrorcesIuLurecunnoLbeouLsourced,nor
cunILbeIedbyLouch-und-gooeruLors.LmusLcomeIromucuILIvuLedIIneoIexerLs.
WhIIe re-esLubIIshIng u Iour-sLur SysLems Commund muy noL be rucLIcuI In Lhe
neur Lerm, AIr orce IeudershI musL Luke concreLe sLes Lo reconnecL wILh ILs own
S&TundR&DcommunILIes.ThIsmeunsrecreuLIngcureeruLhsIorLechnoIogyro-
IessIonuIs und cuILIvuLIng senIor generuIs who huve boLh wurhghLIng und LechnoIogy
exerLIse.TheAIrorcesImIymusLdeveIoucudreoIoeruLor-LechnoIogIsLswho
cun sLund conhdenLIy wILh one IooL In euch worId.
TheAIrorceshouIduIsorededIcuLeILsS&TundR&DInvesLmenLsLoIourureus
crILIcuI Lo ILs IuLure: uIrcruIL und sucecruIL rouIsIon, eIhcIenL uerodynumIcs, new
sensors, und eIecLromugneLIc secLrum comeLILIon (e.g., sLeuILh, cyber oeruLIons,
eIecLronIc wurIure). Over Lhe usL LhIrLy-hve yeurs, Lhe AIr orce hus seen secLucuIur
reLurnsonmodesLInvesLmenLsInLheseIourureus.AsServIceIeudersundscIenLIsLs
drIILed uurL uILer Lhe CoId Wur, IundIng Ior Lhese Iour IIIurs wus shorL-chunged,
wILhIrusLruLIngconsequences.nurLIcuIur,LheAIrorceshouIdmuInLuInconLInuuI
IundIngoIroLoLyesordemonsLruLoruIrcruIL.ArobusLundcomeLILIveroLoLyIng
rogrumcunheImuInLuInLheUSIeudInIowobservubIIILyunduIrcruILerIormunce,
undLhereseemsLohuvebeenudungerousIuIIInroLoLyeIundIngInLheusLdecude.
ProLoLyIngIsexensIve,buLLhereIsnoudequuLesubsLILuLeIorIL,undLhehIsLorIcuI
reLurnonInvesLmenLhusbeenexceIIenL.
InuIIy,cerLuInsuorLLechnoIogIeshuveLheoLenLIuIIorgoodreLurnsonreIuLIve-
IysmuIIR&DInvesLmenLs.NewmunILIonscouIdbegreuLIorcemuILIIIers.AILhough
quIck Lo deveIo LhermoburIc bombs In resonse Lo oeruLIons In Lhe mounLuIns oI
AIghunIsLun uILer qJ11, Lhe AIr orce negIecLed roosuIs Lo deveIo Iow-coIIuLeruI-
dumugeIuzedesIgnsLhuLwouIdde-urmguIdedweuonsIILheyIuIIedLosLeerroer-
Iy;IuIIedLouLIuser-guIdunceonILsIowIrugmenLuLIonIocusedIeLhuIILymunILIon
(M);dIdnoLsuorLeIIorLsLodeveIou;omIIIImeLerIuser-guIdedrockeLIorUAV
use; und wus beuLen Lo Lhe unch by Lhe Nuvy (whIch InILIuIIy Iugged In deveIoIng
1z8
NIck Cook, US gIobuI reconnuIssunceJsLrIke revoIuLIon IckIng u seed: oeruLIons In AIghunIsLun
showhowIurUSIorceshuveuIreudyrogresseduIongLheroudLoneLwork-cenLrIcwurIure,Interavia
Business and Technology, Junuuryebruury zooz, uccessed uL: hLL:JJwww.enLrereneur.comJ
LrudejournuIsJurLIcIeJ86618;;_z.hLmI,uccessedonz;Murchzooq.
The Air Force simply
must develop a
cadre of operator-
technologists
who can stand
confdently with one
foot in each world.
guIded weuons) In deveIoIng Lhe BU-1z6 Iow coIIuLeruI dumuge bomb.
1zq
There
IsuIsougrowIngneedLoexIoreudvunceduIr-Lo-uIrmIssIIerouIsIonundsensor
conceLsusoLhernuLIonsdeveIowuysLobIunLLheuIr-Lo-uIrmIssIIeAMRAAMud-
vunLuge LhuL underInned decudes oI uIr domInunce.
1o
AIso, Iund-bused uIr Iorces
huve roven hIsLorIcuIIy eIIecLIve In Lhe unLI-shI roIe, und IL wouId seem udvIsubIe
LoursuenewshIuLLucksysLemssuchuscruIsemIssIIesunduIr-deIIveredmInes.
11
OLher emergIng heIds IIke mIcro-eIecLromechunIcuI sysLems (MEMS) und nunoLech-

noIogyshowgreuLromIseoverLheIonghuuI,esecIuIIyIIreseurchIsLIghLIyIocused
onureusIIkeuerodynumIcs,rouIsIon,sensors,undeIecLromugneLIcwurIure.
TheneedIorLheAIrorceLodoIurge-scuIeIn-houseS&TInureussuchusmunI-
LIonsundmIcroJnunoLechnoIogy,however,IsquesLIonubIe.ndusLryundunIversILIes
uremuchmoreugIIe,undexceLIorLesLrungesundwIndLunneIs,LhereureIewex-
ensIve InIrusLrucLure requIremenLs LhuL wurrunL dIrecL governmenL urLIcIuLIon.
nLhesenIcheureus,AIrorceMuLerIeICommundshouIdIocusonLwoLhIngs:ro-
vIdIngworId-cIusssecIuIIzedLesLIucIIILIes,unducLIngusuvenLurecuILuIIsL:seIecL-
Ing,IundIng,dIrecLIng,undoverseeIngcomeLILIveIndusLryrojecLs.
1z
TheworIdsreemInenLuIrIorcecunnoLsurvIveonudImInIshIngdIeLoIuIrund
suceLechnoIogydeveIomenL.ThIsenLerrIsehusILsownunIqueIunguuge,socIoI-
ogy, und cuILure. Much Is beIng wrILLen ubouL Lhe need Lo undersLund IoreIgn Iun-
guugesundcuILures,buLhereIsoneLhuLrequIresuLIeusLusmuchIocuseduLLenLIon
undInLervenLIon,undurguubIycouIdrovIdeugreuLersLruLegIcuyoII.RevIvIngLhIs
cornersLoneesLubIIshmenLbyrevILuIIzIngILseoIe,Iocus,undreIevuncemusLbeu
hIghrIorILyIorLhoseInLeresLedInLheAIrorcesIong-LermrehubIIILuLIon.
1zq
orubrIeIhIsLoryoILhe;omm(z.;)guIdedrockeL,seeGuIdedAIr-GroundRockeLs:ProgrumHuILs
undNewEnLrIes,Defense Industry Daily,JuIyq,zoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.deIenseIndusLryduIIy.
comJguIded-hydru-rockeLs-rogrum-huILs-new-enLrIes-o1;J on SeLember ;, zoo8. M uses u
comosILe bomb body Lo mInImIze coIIuLeruI-dumuge cuusIng IrugmenLuLIon, buL wus onIy roduced
usInguIess-uccuruLeGPSguIduncesysLemruLherLhunmoreuccuruLeIuser-guIdunce,whIchcouIdbe
IncororuLeduLveryIILLIecosLoruddILIonuIrogrumcomIexILy.
1o
or un exumIe oI oLenLIuI Iong-runge, muILI-mode seeker desIgns, see CurIo Ko, GrIshu`s
MIssIIe ShooL-OII, Airpower Australia, ArII zo, zoo8, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.uusuIrower.neLJ
APA-NOTAM-zooqo8-1.hLmIonz8JuIyzoo8. On RussIun work Lo bIunL AMRAAM, see CurIo Ko,
The RussIun PhIIosohy oI Beyond VIsuuI Runge CombuL, z Murch zoo8, uccessed on z; Murch
zooq uL: hLL:JJwww.uusuIrower.neLJAPA-Rus-BVR-AAM.hLmI. A conLroversIuI RAND brIehng by
JohnSLIIIIonInzoo8hIghIIghLedLhevuInerubIIILyoIUSAMRAAM-buseduIrsuerIorILycuubIIILIes.
See Lhe brIehng uL hLL:JJwww.scrIbd.comJdocJ;;;q8qJRund-SLudyuLure-oI-AIr-CombuL,uccessed
onz;Murchzooq.
11
TwouLLemLsLodeveIomurILImesLrIkecuubIIILIesAMSTEundmurInIzedJASSMwerecunceIed
byACC,undcurrenLIow-uILILudebomber-deIIveredQuIcksLrIkemIneshuvedecudes-oIddesIgns.or
LhehIsLoryoIIund-buseduIrowerconducLIngInLerdIcLIonuLseu,seeuwrenceJ.SIneLLu,SInkIng
ShIs,Air Force Magazine, VoI. 8q, No. ;, JuIy zoo6, uges ;8-8z. See uIso, CurIo Ko, MurILIme SLrIke
UsIng Lhe -zzA RuLor, Airpower Australia, ArII zoo;, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.uusuIrower.neLJ
RuLor-ASuW.hLmIon1qSeLemberzoo8.
1z
AerosuceLechnoIogyundrogrumexerLTerryMuhonundIormerAIrorcescIenLIsLSLeveRInuIdI
mudesubsLunLIveconLrIbuLIonsLoLhIssecLIon.
The worlds
preeminent air
force cannot survive
on a diminishing
diet of air and
space technology
development.
Restore the Credibility of Air Force
Requirements Generation and Acquisition
As wILh nucIeur oeruLIons (covered In u seuruLe CSBA reorL
1
), Lhe AIr orces
convenLIonuI weuon sysLem requIremenLs und ucquIsILIon rocesses IeII InLo osL-
CoId Wur negIecL und uLrohy. RehubIIILuLIng Lhese eIIorLs shouId Iocus In Lhe neur
LermonLheIuIIresLoruLIonoITILIe1oequIuuLhorILyIoruIIServIceuIrundsuce
rogrums. WhIIe hIgh-rohIe AIr orce ucquIsILIon emburrussmenLs IIke Lhe Druyun
AIIuIr LuughL hursh und soberIng Iessons, Lhe conLInuIng deIuys und roLesLs over
uerIuILunkersrocuremenLundcombuLseurchundrescue(CSAR)heIIcoLerssuggesL
LhuL,desILeLo-IeveIIocusonLhIsureu,uIIIsnoLweII.
SecreLuryoIDeIenseRoberLGuLesdecIsIonLoonceuguIndeIuyLheuIrreIueIIng
Lunker conLrucL resenLs un oorLunILy Ior Lhe AIr orce Lo re-usserL ILseII. or u
ServIceLohuveILsnumberoneucquIsILIonrogrummunugedbyOSDIsemburruss-
Ing Lo boLh Lhe AIr orce und OSD. I successIuI, Lhe ServIce`s eIIorLs Lo hx Lhe Lunker
conLrucLrocesscouIdIuceAIrorcerequIremenLsunducquIsILIoneIIorLsbuckon
uosILIveLrujecLory.
The AIr orce Is noL Lhe onIy ServIce exerIencIng ucquIsILIon dIIhcuILIes. WhIIe
hordesoIunuIysLscuIIIorucquIsILIonreIorm,vurIousuLLemLsLoImroveLherocess
huvehudquesLIonubIeeIIecLIveness.
1q
ThedeIenseucquIsILIonrocessconLInuesLo
exerIence u debIIILuLIng conuence oI skyrockeLIng ersonneI und IuLIorm cosLs
(mukIngrogrumexLensIonscosLIy),ouL-oI-conLroIsoILwuredeveIomenL,unddeLe-
rIoruLInggovernmenLucquIsILIonexerLIseundusserLIveness.TheserobIemsuIIecL
LheAIrorceucuLeIydueLoILsdeendenceonhIgh-rIceducquIsILIonrogrums.The
soIuLIon Is noL u secreL: Lhe book on ucquIsILIon reIorm wus IurgeIy wrILLen by Lhe
PuckurdCommIssIonInLhemId-1q8os.TheIuwhusuIsobeenwrILLen.TILIe1osuys
LheServIcesequIundresenLLheIrbudgeLsLoLheSecreLuryoIDeIenseIorLo-IeveI
scruLIny beIore becomIng u urL oI Lhe PresIdenLs budgeL. The cIoser Lhe DeIense
DeurLmenLcungeLLoudherenceLoLhePuckurdCommIssIonsrecommenduLIonsund
TILIe1o,LhebeLLeroIIILwIIIbe.
1
orLheAIrorce,LhIssLurLswILhbuIIdIngundmuInLuInIngucomeLenLucquIsI-
LIoncorswILhsenIorIeuderoversIghL,ucohorLLhuLhusuLrohIeddrumuLIcuIIysInce
Lhe end oI Lhe CoId Wur. The mosL vocuI senIor AIr orce oIhcIuI on LhIs Issue hus
beenGeneruIGregSeedyMurLIn,whoInhIsIusLussIgnmenLwusLhecommunder
1
Andrew . KreInevIch, US Nuclear Forces: Meeting the Challenge of a Proliferated World(WushIngLon,
DC:CenLerIorSLruLegIcundBudgeLuryAssessmenLs,zooq.)
1q
The revIous udmInIsLruLIon cunceIed und rewroLe uII Lhe ucquIsILIon munuuIs In zooz, whIch u-
eured Lo huve IILLIe or no eIIecL. Edwurd W. Rogers und RoberL P. BIrmInghum, A Ten-Yeur RevIew
oILheVIsIonIorTrunsIormIngLheDeIenseAcquIsILIonSysLem,Defense Acquisition Review Journal,
JunuuryArII zooq, see esecIuIIy uge , TubIe q, whIch ouLIInes eIIorLs over u decude Lo Induce
ucquIsILIonreIormwILhIILLIeLoshowIorIL.
1
Ind un exceIIenL comendIum oI 1q86 Puckurd CommIssIon documenLs uL hLL:JJwww.ndu.eduJII-
bruryJbrcJbrc.hLmI,uccessedon1AugusLzoo8.
For a Service to
have its number one
acquisition program
managed by OSD
is embarrassing to
both the Air Force
and OSD.
oIAIrorceMuLerIeICommund(AMC).nzoo,GeneruIMurLInnoLedLhuLLheAIr
orcecuLmunyoIILsunIIormedrogrummunugemenLexerLsdurIngLhe1qqosIn
resonseLobudgeLressures,undussedrogrumconLroIoverLomujorconLrucLors,
whoLhemseIveshudcuLmunyoILheIrexerIencedrogrummunugers.urLhermore,
heworrIedLhuLouLsIdeugencIesImIngIngonAIrorcebudgeLsundrogrums(es-
ecIuIIy suce sysLems) oILen Ied Lo goId-IuLIng und sIruIIng cosLs. None oI LhIs
wIII be eusy Lo hx. As one Iong-LIme unuIysL uL IL, . . . IL Look us yeurs Lo geL In LhIs
hoIe.LwIIILukeyeursLogeLusouL.
16
TherehusuIsobeenubreukdownInLheAIrorcesrequIremenLsgeneruLIonro-
cess,esecIuIIyInLhewuyILcommunIcuLeswILhconLrucLorsubouLwhuLILwunLs,und
how IL munuges conLrucL modIhcuLIons. ThIs Is noL jusL un ucquIsILIon eoIe rob-
Iem;ILIsuIsouIuIIureoILheAIrorcesLuII.PurLoILhuLrequIremenLsdrIILcunbe
Lruced Lo u Iuck oI sLruLegIc vIsIon LhuL mukes IL dIIhcuIL Ior vurIous sLuIIs Lo couIesce
urounduseLoIunIIyIngIorceosLurerIncIIes.AIrorcesenIorIeudersmusLcon-
LInue Lo Iocus on hxIng weuknesses In Lhe requIremenLs und ucquIsILIon sysLem, und
LukeucLIonLoeurnbuckIuIITILIe1oucquIsILIonuuLhorILy.
Restore Focus on Nuclear Operations
NucIeuroeruLIonswereuIInoLthemujorIocusIorLheAIrorcedurIngLheCoId
Wur.ExecuLIngLheSIngIenLegruLedOeruLIonuIPIun(SOP)IorgeneruIwuruguInsL
Lhe SovIeL UnIon consumed Lhe eIIorLs oI mujor InsLILuLIons IIke Lhe SLruLegIc AIr
Commund(SAC).DedIcuLednucIeurIorces,no-noLIceuIerLs,hIghuLLenLIonLodeLuII,
und Iow LoIerunce Ior error dehned Lhe SAC InsLILuLIonuI eLhos. WILh Lhe coIIuse oI
LheSovIeLUnIonundLhedIssoIuLIonoISAC,however,AIrorceIocusonnucIeuro-
eruLIonsundLruInIngwuned.TheconsequencesoILhuLLrendhuvenowbecomeukey
dImensIonoILheAIrorcesInsLILuLIonuIIdenLILycrIsIs.
The end oI Lhe CoId Wur broughL ubouL u cIImuLe oI nucIeur denIuI or benIgn
negIecLwhIchermeuLedLheUSnucIeurIorceosLure.TheAIrorcesIuckoIIocus
wus husLened, In no smuII urL, by InLernuI ServIce dynumIcs; Lhe rIsIng AIr orce
hghLer communILy boLh suorLed und weIcomed u reduced Iocus on nucIeur weuons.
UnquesLIonubIy,SACsdIsesLubIIshmenLhusLenedLhedecIIneoIAIrorceexerLIse
InnucIeurrogrumsundnucIeursureLy.ArecenLserIesoIubIIcmIssLesreveuIed
Lhe eIIecL oI Lhose yeurs oI negIecL, cuImInuLIng In Lhe mosL sIgnIhcunL removuI oI
ServIce IeudershI In DeurLmenL oI DeIense hIsLory wILh Lhe hrIng oI chIeI oI sLuII
GeneruIBuzzMoseIeyundSecreLuryoILheAIrorceMIkeWynneoveruerceIved
IuckoIAIrorceserIousnessubouLnucIeurIssues.NoLcoIncIdenLuIIy,ILuIsoIedLoLhe
16
or un exceIIenL urLIcIe coverIng AIr orce ucquIsILIon woes, see Vugo MurudIun und MIchueI ubey,
USA revums ucquIsILIon Iorce, Defense News, JuIy z, zoo, uccessed uL hLL:JJInLegruLor.huns-
com.uI.mIIJzooJJuIyJo;z8zooJo;z8zoo-o6.hLmonzSeLemberzoo8.
uoInLmenL oI GeneruI NorLon SchwurLz us chIeI oI sLuII - Lhe hrsL non-hghLer IIoL
AIrorcechIeIsInceGeneruIewAIIen,Jr.In1q;8.
The AIr orce Is now In Lhe rocess oI InsLILuLIng Lough rehubIIILuLIon meusures
IorLhenucIeurcommunILy,LoIncIudeuIIocuLInguroxImuLeIyz,ooouddILIonuIeo-
Ie Lo Lhe nucIeur mIssIon und rovIdIng budIy-needed equImenL such us un exLru
squudronoIB-zs.WhIIeLhesewIIIuLudenLInLheAIrorcesbudgeL,Lheyrere-
senLurudenLInvesLmenLIIcouIedwILhLherIghLoIIcIes,suchusLheIormuLIonoI
unAIrSLuIIussIsLunLchIeIoIsLuIIIorSLruLegIcDeLerrenceundNucIeurnLegruLIon
(A1o)unduLhree-sLur-IedGIobuISLrIkeCommund.
1;
AILhoughLhecurrenLAIrorceIeudershIIsInsLILuLInguggressIveoIIcIesLoud-
dress Lhe decIIne In AIr orce nucIeur exerLIse und roIessIonuIIsm, IL shouId em-
husIzeLhreeLhIngswhIIedoIngso.IrsL,whIIeureLurnLoLhehIghIeveIsoIuccounL-
ubIIILyLhuLreIgnedInSACshouIdconsLILuLeLheLherueuLIccoreoIAIrorceeIIorLs,
ILmusLbebuIuncedbyosILIveIncenLIvessIgnuIIngLhuLnucIeurunILsundsLuIIsno
IongerconsLILuLeucureerbuckwuLerLhuLshouIdbeuvoIdedbyLhebesLundbrIghL-
esL.RebuIIdIngnucIeurexerLIsewIIIbeImossIbIewILhouLusLeudysLreumoILo-
noLcheoIe,undLhuLrequIrescureerIncenLIves.Second,eIIorLsmusLbemudenoL
jusL Lo hx observed robIems, buL Lo deIve InLo Lhe enLIre nucIeur enLerrIse; IIsLen-
Ing noL jusL Lo bIue-rIbbon uneIs, buL Lo Lhe oIhcers, enIIsLed eoIe, und cIvIIIuns
who do Lhe job every duy. OnIy Lhrough u broud-bused, gruss-rooLs, ongoIng SAC-
cuIIberIeedbuckundIncenLIvesysLemcunrobIemsInnucIeuroeruLIonsbeuvoIded.
InuIIy,nucIeurIunnersmusLrecuLureureInvIgoruLednucIeurIorceosLurevIsIon
moreInLunewILhLheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL,ruLherLhunonIyIookIngLoIore-
sLuIILhenexLnucIeursuIeLyunduccounLubIIILyIncIdenL.
Rediscover the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Concept
When Lhe CoId Wur ended, Lhe OIhce oI Lhe SecreLury oI DeIense Imosed u hghLer
wIng equIvuIenL (WE) meLrIc Lo sIze Lhe AIr orce. RuLher Lhun osLurIng Iund-
buseduIrIorcesusuggreguLe,InLerdeendenLcombuLcuubIIILIes,LheWEreduced
AIr orce hghLer Iorce sLrucLure Lo numbers oI uIrcruIL, wILh one WE beIng sevenLy-
Lwo combuL-coded hghLer uIrcruIL. ThIs meLrIc dId noL uccounL Ior ImorLunL vurIubIes
suchussLeuILh,runge,uyIoud,uerIuIreIueIIng,commundundconLroI,deIoyubIIILy,
orevenwIdeIyvuryIngcombuLroIes;yeLILersIsLed.orexumIe,InLheBoLLom-U
RevIewoILhe1qqos,mujorIorcecommILmenLsIorvurIousmujorregIonuIconLIngen-
cIesIncIudedNuvycurrIerbuLLIegrousunducLIveArmydIvIsIons,boLhcomosILe
1;
MIchueIHoIImun,AnewIeuderIornucIeurweuons, Air Force Times,zNovemberzoo8,uccessed
uL hLL:JJwww.uIrIorceLImes.comJnewsJzoo8J1oJuIrIorce_nucIeur_uIrsLuII_1o1o8J on z November
zoo8.GIobuISLrIkeCommundwIIIIncororuLe8LhundzoLhAIrorces,whIchwIIIIuceInLerconLI-
nenLuI buIIIsLIc mIssIIe und nucIeur bomber unILs under Lhe sume commund Ior Lhe hrsL LIme sInce SAC
wusdIsbundedIn1qqz.MIchueIHoIImun,USAUnveIIsGIobuISLrIkeCommund,Defense News,zq
OcLoberzoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.deIensenews.comJsLory.h?I=;8;z;oonzNovemberzoo8.
unILs wILh broud combuL uLIIILy, buL onIy emIoyed WEs Lo descrIbe Lhe AIr orce
conLrIbuLIon.
18
VIewedLhIswuy,unA-1owusequIvuIenLLoun-1C.WhIIeuIrower
becumeIncreusIngIysysLemIcLhroughouLLhe1qqos,LheunuchronIsLIcWEconceL
ersIsLed.
AILhoughLhezoo6QDRouLIInedusLrongconsLrucLIorLhInkIngubouLLheIuLure,
ILIurLherconIusedAIrorceIunnIngbysuggesLIngun86combuLwIngconceLIor
churucLerIzIngILsIorcesLrucLure.
1q
UnIorLunuLeIy,LhecombuLwIngconceLmereIy
subsLILuLed one urLIhcIuI consLrucL Ior unoLher. Thus, Lhe AIr orce Loduy hnds ILseII
IuckIngudequuLemeunsoIurLIcuIuLIngILsIorcesLrucLureInubureuucruLIcuIIyuseIuI,
oeruLIonuIIy-reIevunL,uggreguLedwuy.
TheAIrorceshouIdubundonLhecombuLwIngconceLundudoLLheAEcon-
sLrucLusLhecoreoIILsIuLureIorceIunnIngmeLhodoIogy.SInceILsInceLIonIn1qqq
LheAEroLuLIonconceLhusservedLheAIrorceexLruordInurIIyweII.LIsLheAIr
orce consLrucL mosL IumIIIur Lo joInL Iorce communders, und Is comrIsed oI reuI
Iorces In u reuI roLuLIonuI buse. AILhough u sIgnIhcunL orLIon oI Lhe AIr orce exIsLs
ouLsIde Lhe roLuLIonuI AE consLrucL, IL Is noL dIIhcuIL Lo IncororuLe Lhose Iorces
InLoLheoveruIIAIrorceIunnIngrocessuIongsIdeLheAE.IucuubIIILyshouId
be urL oI u sLeudy-sLuLe roLuLIonuI buse, Lhen IL shouId be Iunned Lo hL Lhe 1o AE
consLrucL.InoL,oLhermeusuresshouIdbeuIIed.
TheAIrorceshouIduIsoexIorehowILsAEscouIdbeLIedmorecIoseIyLoDoDs
sLeudy-sLuLe securILy osLure, Lhe vIgneLLes LhuL descrIbe Lhe duy-Lo-duy scenurI-
os,udvIsoryundurLnershIbuIIdIngeIIorLs,undIong-duruLIoneuce-mukIngund
euce-keeIngeIIorLsLhuLwIIImosLIIkeIyconLInueLoexerLLhegreuLesLsLressonLhe
AIrorce.ByLesLIngucurrenLIorceuguInsLLhosevIgneLLes,ILsownhIsLorIcuIdeIoy-
menLuLLerns,undIurgerconvenLIonuIconLIngencyscenurIos,AIrorceIeuderscun
exIore conhguruLIons LhuL wouId rovIde more reIevunL Iorce sIzIng und comosILIon
moduIes.SuchmoduIeswouIdbeIocusedonLheLhreeIuLuresecurILychuIIengesem-
husIzedInLhIsreorL,oronLheemergIngOSDIorceIunnIngmodeI.Thesemod-
uIes, erhus subseLs oI u nomInuI AE, servIng us unuIogues Lo Lhe Nuvys sLrIke
grousorLheArmysbrIgudes,wouIdbeLLerIInkLheIorcesLrucLureLoOSDIunnIng
scenurIosundImrovesLruLegIcIunnIng.
Bolster Joint Operational Credibility and Inuence
The AIr orce hus unoLher IundumenLuI robIem LhuL cun onIy be hxed by uddress-
Ing ILs Ieuder deveIomenL rocess: Lhe AIr orce, comured Lo Lhe oLher ServIces,
18
JohnT.CorreII,TheegucyoILheBoLLom-URevIew,Air Force Magazine,OcLoberzoo.AccesseduL
hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJDocumenLsJzooJOcLober%zozooJ1oobur.
dIonz;Murchzooq.
1q
zoo6QDRReorL,ugeq;.SeeuIso,AdumJ.HeberL,EIghLy-SIxCombuLWIngs,Air Force Magazine,
December zoo6, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo6J
December%zozoo6J1zo6wIngs.usxon1qAugusLzoo8.
The Air Force today
fnds itself lacking
adequate means
of articulating its
force structure in
a bureaucratically
useful, operationally-
relevant, aggregated
way.
now exerLs murgInuI Inuence on Lhe deveIomenL und ImIemenLuLIon oI joInL o-
eruLIonuI sLruLegy. As menLIoned, AIr orce ug oIhcers hII u very smuII orLIon oI Lo
joInLosILIons,esecIuIIyregIonuIcombuLunLcommunders.AsuresuIL,LheServIce
oILen hnds ILseII Iur Irom Lhe cenLer oI sLruLegy deveIomenL. WhIIe AIr orce Ieuders
seemLohuveIILLIedIrecLconLroIoverLheseIecLIonundussIgnmenLoIjoInLIeuders,
LheycunImroveLheIrudvocucywILhInLhesysLemwhIIeLheyugrudeLhesLruLegIc
comeLence oI LheIr senIor oIhcers, mukIng Lhem more uLLrucLIve Ior seIecLIon Lo se-
nIorjoInLosILIons.
To uccomIIsh LhuL, Lhe AIr orce shouId begIn u Iong-Lerm rehubIIILuLIon oI AIr
orce IdeoIogy, docLrIne, messugIng, und reIuLIonshIs wILh oLher key orgunIzu-
LIons.
1qo
IrsL,LheAIrorceshouIdconsIderunIncreusedemhusIsongruduuLeedu-
cuLIon umong ILs generuI oIhcers. A bIogruhIcuI revIew oI Lhe Lhree- und Iour-sLur
AIr orce oIhcers reveuIs very Iew hoId udvunce degrees In scIence und engIneerIng,
busInessudmInIsLruLIon,orInLernuLIonuIreIuLIonsuIIkeysLoInLegruLIngLhemujor
sLruLegIc usecLs oI uIr und suce ower. MosL ImorLunL, none hoId degrees Irom
LIer-oneeducuLIonuIInsLILuLIons.TheAIrorceshouIdrovIdegreuLeroorLunILIes
Ior In-deLh oIhcer educuLIon concernIng Lhe mujor rocesses und InsLILuLIons oI nu-
LIonuIsecurILy,sLurLIngbyconcenLruLIngonLheIrownhIsLory,sLrucLure,IuncLIons,
undcuILure,usweIIusLhoseoILheoLherLhreeServIces.
n Lhe end, however, one oI Lhe besL wuys Lo exerL greuLer Inuence In joInL Iorce
munugemenLundemIoymenLIsLodeveIoundudvocuLecomeIIIngIdeus.AIrorce
Ieuders musL begIn Lo deveIo u seL oI uILernuLIve oeruLIonuI conceLs LhuL sLuke
ouL ImorLunL ersecLIves on Lhe enLIre secLrum oI joInL mIIILury oeruLIons, noL
jusL ones reIuLIng Lo uIr und suce. our sLrong cundIduLe mIssIon ureus Ior con-
ceLuuI InnovuLIon ure: hIgh-end, usymmeLrIc wurIure; IrreguIur wurIure; counLer-
roIIIeruLIon;undhomeIunddeIense.
Recapture Warfare Innovation
BecuuseoILhecurrenLemhusIsonIrreguIurwurIure,noveIoeruLIonuIconceLsIor
wurIureuguInsLudversurIeswhoossesssohIsLIcuLedguIdedweuonsundmodern
neLworkedIorcesseemLobeIuckIng.ThecurrenLdebuLeubouLLheIuLureoIwurIure
husbeenmIscusLusudueIbeLweenIrreguIurundconvenLIonuIwurIureudvocuLes.
1q1
nIucL,InLhenexLLwenLyyeurs,boLhcuLegorIesoIwurIureureIIkeIyLodIvergesub-
sLunLIuIIyIromourresenLconceLIonoILhem,muInIyLhroughLheroIIIeruLIonoI
udvuncedLhreuLsysLemsundLechnoIogIes,undreIuLednewmeLhodsoIoeruLIon.
1qo
orugoodsummuryoILheDArocess,InsLILuLedInzooobyLhenChIeIoISLuIIGeneruIMIkeRyun,
buLevenLuuIIydrownedbyInsLILuLIonuImyoIu,seeMIkeThIrLIe,DeveIoIngAerosuceeudersIor
Lhe TwenLy-hrsL CenLury, Aerospace Power Journal,Summerzoo1.
1q1
See, Ior exumIe, MIchueI J. Muzurr, The oIIy oI AsymmeLrIc Wur, The Washington Quarterly,
Summerzoo8:uges.
The current debate
about the future of
warfare has been
miscast as a duel
between irregular
and conventional
warfare advocates.
In fact, in the
next twenty years,
both categories of
warfare are likely to
diverge substantially
from our present
conception of them.
The AIr orce shouId emhusIze deveIoIng und romuIguLIng InnovuLIve oeru-
LIonuIconceLsIorhIgh-endwurIure.IghLInguguInsLunudversurywILhIncreusIng
neLwork urILy, Ior InsLunce, wIII Iuce greuL sLress on Lhe joInL Iorce, demundIng
conceLs Ior muInLuInIng Lhe InLegrILy oI IrIendIy neLworks, coIIusIng enemy neL-
works, und seekIng new Iorms oI cross-domuIn synergy. The IoIIowIng ure buL u
Iew exumIes oI ureus In whIch Lhe AIr orce couId Luke Lhe Ieud In joInL conceL
deveIomenL:
> OPPOSED NETWORK OPERATIONS. AmerIcun Iorces wIII need Lo oeruLe eIIec-
LIveIy In neLwork-oosed envIronmenLs. The decudes sInce Lhe CoId Wur huve
beensenLoLImIzIngneLworksIoroeruLIonuIenvIronmenLsInwhIchLheudver-
sury hud IILLIe ubIIILy Lo InLerIere wILh US buLLIe neLworks. ThIs condILIon Is un-
IIkeIyLoendure.nsLeudoILryIngLoreconsLILuLeLhebIgjoInLbuLLIeneLworkor
LryIngLorovIdeunuIIordubIehurdenIngLouhugeneLwork,AmerIcunIorcesneed
Lo LhInk ubouL how Lo oeruLe und LruIn wILh mInImuI bundwIdLh und eIsodIc
connecLIvILy.
> GPS INDEPENDENCE. US Iorces deend heuvIIy on nuvIguLIon und LImIng duLu
IromLheGPSconsLeIIuLIon,undoLhersureworkIngLodenyLhemLhIscuubIIILy.
CouId US mIIILury Iorces uccomIIsh LheIr mIssIons wILhouL GPS? AIr orce scI-
enLIsLs und oeruLors, wILh heI Irom Lhe DeIense Advunced Reseurch ProjecLs
Agency(DARPA),shouIdurLIcuIuLeuconceLIoruchIevIngGPSIndeendenceusu
meuns oI rovIdIng u much more resIIIenL, exIbIe Iorce.
> AIRSEA BATTLE.TheAIrorceLeumedwILhLheArmydurIngLhe1q;osund1q8os
LodeveIouhIghIyInLegruLedseLoIoeruLIonuIundLucLIcuIconceLsInresonse
LooverwheImIngSovIeLnumbers.TheresuILwusAIrundBuLLIe,oIIow-onorces
ALLuck (OA), und Lhe 1 nILIuLIves.
1qz
The sume modeI couId be IoIIowed by
LheAIrorceundLheNuvyLocreuLeumoreInLegruLedhedgeuguInsLLherIseoIun
uggressIve ChInu: un AIrSeu BuLLIe conceL LhuL rovIdes u sLubIIIzIng counLer-
weIghLLoLhePRCsgrowIngmIIILuryreuch.
> DISTRIBUTED AIR AND SPACE OPERATIONS. DurIng Lhe CoId Wur, hghLer oeru-
LIonsInEuroedeendedonwIdeIydIserseduIerLundon-cuIIuIrcruIL,oeruLIng
IromhurdenedbuseIucIIILIes.TheAIrorceshouIdonceuguInchumIonLhIssorL
oI LhInkIng by ursuIng und InsLILuLIng u muILI-LIered oeruLIonuI conceL Ior y-
Ing Irom dIsLrIbuLed buses. ThuL conceL wouId cover InILIuLIves Ior conducLIng
ersIsLenLbuseresenceoeruLIonswhereInsmuIIAIrorcedeLuchmenLsvIsILLhe
muILILudeoIoLenLIuIIorwurdoeruLIngsILes,cooeruLIvesecurILyIocuLIons,und
IoreIgn buses us urL oI LheuLer engugemenL. L wouId uIso encomuss dIIIerenL
1qz
orunuuLhorILuLIvedIscussIonoILheevoIuLIonoIAIrorce-ArmycooeruLIonLhuLrovIdesumodeIIor
joInLInLegruLIon,seeRIchurdG.DuvIs,The1nILIuLIves:ASLudyInAIrorceArmyCooeruLIon,
AIr SLuII HIsLorIcuI SLudy, OIhce oI AIr orce HIsLory, 1q8;.
dIsersedcombuLoeruLIonuImodesLoInvesLIguLeLhevurIousIogIsLIcundoeru-
LIonuIImIIcuLIonsoIdIIIerenLdIsLrIbuLed-busIngschemes.
> COUNTERLAND OPERATIONS. n concerL wILh DARPA, Lhe AIr orce shouId
ursue Lhe oeruLIonuI gouI oI beIng ubIe Lo reduce oosIng ground Iorces Lo
dIsmounLed InIunLry. The AIr orce uchIeved u remurkubIe ubIIILy Lo InLerdIcL
mechunIzed Iorces by Lhe end oI Lhe CoId Wur, und Imroved ILs ubIIILy wILh ILs
conLInuuIInnovuLIonsInrecIsIonweuonemIoymenLdurIngLhe1qqosundeurIy
zooos.NewLechnoIogIesmIghLenubIeLhecomrehensIvedIsubIIngoIudversury
mechunIzed LrunsorL, Lhereby uIIowIng much IIghLer, more ruIdIy deIoyubIe
IrIendIygroundunILsLoconducLeIIecLIvemuneuveroeruLIons.
Irregular Warfare
TheAIrorcehusInLroducedunumberoIcuubIIILIesundconceLsLochungeLheIuce
oIIrreguIurwurIure,LoIncIudeLhecombInuLIonoIunmunneduerIuIvehIcIesundguId-
ed weuons Ior ersIsLenL overwuLch und munhunLIng, und Lhe use oI ever-smuIIer,
more recIse guIded weuons Lo reduce coIIuLeruI dumuge. However, oeruLIonuI
conceLs musL be deveIoed Lo deuI wILh Lhe neur-Lerm emIoymenL oI G-RAMM,
esecIuIIy guIded morLurs, uguInsL IrIendIy Iorces. AIr buse deIenses, In urLIcuIur,
musLuduLLoresondLoLhuLLhreuL.TowurdLhIsend,uIumIIyoIIowcoIIuLeruIdum-
ugeweuonsundIuzeswIIIIIkeIybeuseIuIInunumberoIIuLureIrreguIurwurIure
envIronmenLs.
Counter-Proliferation
ThejoInLIorcemuyberequIredLoconducLoeruLIonsuguInsLuwIdevurIeLyoIucLors
ossessIngvuryIngIeveIsoInucIeurweuonry.TheAIrorcecouIdLukeLheIeudIn
exumInIngLhIschuIIengebyInILIuLIngusysLemuLIceIIorLLoLhInkLhroughLheoeru-
LIonuIundsLruLegIcImIIcuLIonsoIWMDroIIIeruLIon,LoIncIudeuduLedconceLs
oIdeLerrenceLhuLbuIIdonmuLuredeLerrenceIILeruLure.
Homeland Defense
HomeIund deIense Is u cross-cuLLIng robIem LhuL ImucLs euch oI Lhe Lhree IuLure
sLruLegIc chuIIenges, und one generuIIy negIecLed In Lhe PenLugon. The AIr orce
shouIdurLnerwILhNorLhernCommundundLheDeurLmenLoIHomeIundSecurILy
Lo deveIo u serIes oI homeIund uIr deIense, homeIund uIrbuse deIense, und conse-
quence munugemenL exercIses LhuL heI seL sLundurds und meLhods Ior conducLIng
IuLurehomeIunddeIenseoeruLIons.
Institutionalize Long-Term UAV Stafng
and Operational Integration
TheAIrorceIeudsLheDoDInLheInsLILuLIonuIInLegruLIonoIUAVs,recenLIysLund-
InguuwIngsLrucLureuLCreechAB,Nevudu,LohundIeILsgrowIngMQ-1PreduLor
und MQ-q Reuer eeL. The AIr orce musL ucceIeruLe ILs Iocus on Iong-Lerm InsLILu-
LIonuIInLegruLIonoIILsUAVIorcesbyconcenLruLIngonIourobjecLIves:
> ExundIng Lhe InLegruLIon oI unmunned uIrcruIL InLo reIerred oeruLIonuI
rouLInes;
> ConLInuIngLosLundudedIcuLed(UAV-onIy)unILs;
> CreuLIng u dedIcuLed UAV oIhcer consLILuency, IncIudIng vIubIe commund und se-
nIorIeudercureeruLhs;und
> DeveIoIng und heIdIng IoIIow-on UAV sysLems.
1q
WhIIe Lhe AIr orce Is weII on ILs wuy Lo meeLIng Lhe hrsL Lwo objecLIves due Lo Lhe
demundsoIoeruLIonsInruqundAIghunIsLun,ILhusnoLyeLdedIcuLedILseIILoLhe
oLherLwocrILIcuIusecLsoIUAVInLegruLIon,whIchwIIIuILImuLeIydecIdeLheIong-
LermIuLureoIUAVs.orexumIe,LheAIrorceconLInuesLoreIyonruLedIIoLsus
Lemorury UAV oeruLors. SInce Lhey reLurn Lo LheIr rImury IuLIorm uILer u Lour
In UAV oeruLIons, Lhey ure unIIkeIy Lo Iorm u Iong-Lerm, dedIcuLed oIhcer consLILu-
ency commILLed Lo UAV InLegruLIon.
1qq
BurrIng sIgnIhcunL chunges In Lhe ersonneI
sysLem,ILseemsunIIkeIyLhuLLheAIrorcewIIIeverdeveIosusLuInedInsLILuLIonuI
udvocucy Ior UAVs. ConsIder, Ior exumIe, LhuL no serIous deveIomenLuI rogrum
exIsLsIorPreduLor,Reuer,orGIobuIHuwkIoIIow-onsysLems.
1q
UnLIILheAIrorce
deveIos u dedIcuLed UAV oIhcer consLILuency, UAVs wIII mosL IIkeIy conLInue Lo suI-
IerIromsorudIcAIrorceInLeresL.
1q6
1q
or more on InLegruLIng dIsruLIve LechnoIogIes und sysLems InLo Lhe US mIIILury servIces, see Tom
Ehrhurd, nLegruLIng DIsruLIve TechnoIogIes In DoD . . . A BrIdge Too ur? brIehng Lo Lhe NuLIonuI
DeIensendusLrIuIAssocIuLIonConIerenceonDIsruLIveTechnoIogIes,qSeLemberzoo8,uLhLL:JJ
www.csbuonIIne.orgJqPubIIcuLIonsJPubIbruryJS.zoo8oqoq.nLegruLIng_DIsruJS.zoo8oqoq.
nLegruLIng_DIsru.dI.
1qq
MIchueI HoIImun, Are enIIsLed uIrmen nexL Lo IIoL UAVs? Air Force Times, z December zoo8,
uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.uIrIorceLImes.comJnewsJzoo8J1zJuIrIorce_enIIsLed_uus_1zz1o8J on z;
Murchzooq.
1q
TheAIrorcesAeronuuLIcuISysLemsCenLerrecenLIyreIeusedurequesLIorInIormuLIon(R)LoguLher
sysLemsconceLsIorunexL-generuLIonUAS(NGUAS).ReIuLIveLoMQ-1undMQ-q,LheRusksIor
Imroved muneuverubIIILy und endurunce, hIgh subsonIc dush, seII-deIoyubIe, survIvubIe In Iow Lo
medIumLhreuLenvIronmenLs,unddoubIeLheuyIoudcuucILy.See:hLLs:JJwww.Ibo.govJIndex?Lub=
core&s=oorLunILy&mode=Iorm&Id=1ue6qIdzqbq;uIqu1cqeb88c1I&cck=1&uu=&ck=
1q6
orucomrehensIveunuIysIsoIUAVdeveIomenLundInLegruLIonInLheUSmIIILury,seeThomusP.
Ehrhurd, Unmunned AerIuI VehIcIes In Lhe UnILed SLuLes Armed ServIces: A ComuruLIve SLudy oI
WeuonSysLemnnovuLIon,dIsserLuLIon,JohnsHokInsSAS,zoo1.
SohIsLIcuLed,IurgeUAVssuchusLhePreduLorrequIrecredenLIuIed,LruIned,UAV
IIoLsLooeruLeInconLroIIeduIrsuceundmukeoLenLIuIIyIeLhuIdecIsIonsIncom-
IexruIesoIengugemenL(ROE)envIronmenLs.However,usnoLed,LhereIucLunceLo
creuLe u communILy oI dedIcuLed UAV IIoLs LhreuLens Lhe Iong-Lerm InLegruLIon oI
UAVs InLo Lhe AIr orce. or exumIe, by hrsL ussIgnIng Iower-erIormIng or IghL-
resLrIcLed ruLed IIoLs us UAV oeruLors, Lhe AIr orce creuLed whuL chIeI oI sLuII
GeneruI NorLon SchwurLz cuIIed u Ieer coIony envIronmenL uL Lhe PreduLor wIng
oeruLIngouLoICreechABLhuLdeLrucLsIromLheuIreudydImInIshedresLIgeoIu
UAV ussIgnmenL und bodes III Ior Lhe Iong-Lerm vIubIIILy oI Lhe UAV eeL.
1q;
Moreover,
LhegrowIngdemundIorPreduLorundReuerorbILsIncurrenLcombuLoeruLIonssI-
honsoIIrosecLIveIIoLsuLuruLeLhuLcurrenLundergruduuLeIIoLLruInIngcunnoL
oIIseL,IeudIngLomoruIe-suIngersonneIoIIcIesLhuLuIsocreuLeIorce-wIderuLed
shorLIuIIsundsLuIImunnIngIssues.ArecenLdIrecLIveIromLheSecreLuryoIDeIense
Lo Increuse PreduLor orbILs, Ior InsLunce, sLoed Lhe AIr orce InILIuLIve Lo oen u
UAV course uL Lhe eIILe NeIIIs AB Weuons SchooI. AII my InsLrucLors were de-
IoyedbuckLoLheosunILsLoussIsLwILhLhesurge,suIdIeuLenunLCoIoneIDunIeI
Turner,LherovIsIonuIUAVWeuonsSchooIcommunder.
1q8
ThIsserIesoIbund-uId,
sLo-gumeusurescunnoLconLInue.
TosquureLheUAVmunnIngcIrcIe,LheAIrorceshouIduskIorcuLuInundIIeu-
LenunL voIunLeers us Lhe InILIuI cudre oI u UAV-only IIoL cureer heId - oIhcers des-
IgnuLedusUAVIIoLsbeforeLheIrLruInIngbegIns.CundIduLeswouIduLLendubbrevI-
uLedundergruduuLeIIoLLruInIngLhroughLheT-6TexunLruInerhuse,whIchuIIows
LhemLomeeLruLedmunugemenLrequIremenLsIoruIIoLIncommundundrovIdes
un InsLrumenL IghL ruLIng Ior oeruLIons In nuLIonuI und InLernuLIonuI uIrsuce. ThIs
wouIddrumuLIcuIIyreduceLheIIIe-cycIecosLsoImosLcurrenLUAVIIoLs,whowenL
LhroughLheenLIreIIoLLruInIngrogrumundexensIveugrudeInLoLheIrmunned
IuLIorms rIor Lo movIng Lo UAVs - u hIghIy IneIhcIenL, wusLeIuI rucLIce.
AILer T-6 LruInIng, Lhese IIoLs wouId sIIL oII InLo LheIr secIhc UAV uIrcruIL u-
grude LruInIng, buL Lhey wouId uIso conLInue Lo y T-6s (or some oLher Iow-cosL, eI-
hcIenL uIrIrume) us urL oI LheIr normuI rohcIency LruInIng, even uILer urrIvIng uL
LheIroeruLIonuIunIL.ThIscomunIonLruIner-LyerogrumwouIdmuInLuInubond
beLween UAV oeruLors und Lhe munned IghL communILy, whIch Is crILIcuI Ior In-
sLILuLIonuIcongruenceundcredIbIIILy,wouIdrovIdeInvuIuubIeuIrsenseunduIr-
munshILhuLshouIdImroveUAVoeruLIonuIerIormunce,undwouIduLLrucLhIgh-
quuIILy oIhcers Lo UAVs, sIgnuIIng Lhe AIr orce`s dedIcuLIon Lo ILs UAV Iorce. The cosL
1q;
GeneruI SchwurLz romIsed Lo Lurn uround Lhe cuILuruI Lrend In Loduys UAV unILs durIng u seech
uL Lhe AIr orce AssocIuLIon unnuuI meeLIng. See Ben unnoLLu, USA chIeI Iedges Lo remuke un-
munnedSRcuILure,C4ISR Journal,18SeLemberzoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.cqIsrjournuI.comJ
sLory.h?=;118onzOcLoberzoo8.
1q8
AdumJ.HeberL,WeuonsSchooIRIsIng,Air Force Magazine,SeLemberzoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJ
www.uIrIorce-muguzIne.comJMuguzIneArchIveJPugesJzoo8JSeLember%zozoo8Joqo8weuons.
usxonNovemberzoo8.
To square the UAV
manning circle, the
Air Force should
ask for captain
and lieutenant
volunteers as the
initial cadre of a
UAV-only pilot career
feld offcers
designated as UAV
pilots before their
training begins.
Lo muInLuIn T-6 IghL oeruLIons In UAV squudrons wouId be murgInuI reIuLIve Lo Lhe
benehLs. AIr NuLIonuI Guurd unILs In urLIcuIur wouId benehL Irom Lhe uddILIon oI
T-6s Lo LheIr eeL us Lhose uIrcruIL couId uIso suorL sLuLe mIssIons. The coIIocuLed
munneduIrcruILcouIduIsoheIwILhdomesLIcconLroIIeduIrsuceLrunsILIonbyre-
senLIng u reudIIy-uvuIIubIe source Ior UAV escorLs unLII unescorLed UAV oeruLIons
becomenormuIIzed.
1qq
By creuLIng u UAV-onIy cureer heId, UAV IIoLs couId enjoy Increused uccess Lo
commund osILIons us Lhey rogressed, husLenIng Lhe duy when UAV-onIy oIhcers
couId ussume squudron und wIng commund. n Lhe InLerIm, ruLed communders
wouIdrovIdeucrILIcuILrunsILIonuIIInkbeLweenLheUAVunILsundLheruLedIorce,
romoLIngusmooLhLrunsILIonIromLoduysunsusLuInubIe,sLo-gumunnIngoIIcy
LooneLhuLromoLesUAVInLegruLIonIorLheIonghuuI.
AddILIonuIIy,LoreIIeveLheressureuIIecLIngunder-munnedPreduLorundReuer
enIIsLedsensoroeruLors,LheAIrorceshouId requesLsensoroeruLorsIromArmy
RQ- HunLer und Army RQ-; Shudow UAS unILs Lo uugmenL over-Lusked, under-
munned PreduLor sensor oeruLors und rovIde un Army IIuIson resence uL Creech
AB.WILhLheLeumIngMQ-1undMQ-qcrewsurecurrenLIydoIngwILhArmyunILsIn
Lhe heId, IL mukes sense Lo Increuse cross-servIce exchunge oorLunILIes LhuL wouId
Increuse combuL uIr uLroIs over ruq und AIghunIsLun und romoLe InLerservIce
synergy.
FORCE STRUCTURE AND PLATFORM CHALLENGES
Progrums do noL dehne Lhe AIr orce; ILs eoIe do. By resLorIng exceIIence In ILs
S&TJR&D eIIorLs, recuLurIng serIousness ubouL nucIeur oeruLIons, reesLubIIshIng
credIbIIILy us un ucquIsILIon execuLIve, resLorIng ILs Inuence In Lhe joInL urenu, be-
comInguIeuderInLhedeveIomenLoIjoInLoeruLIonuIconceLs,redIscoverIngLhe
AE conceL, und creuLIng un endurIng UAV munnIng sLrucLure, Lhe AIr orce wIII
gouIongwuyLowurdsoIvIngILscurrenLInsLILuLIonuIIdenLILycrIsIs.However,Lhese
sLesmusLbeuccomunIedbyucoordInuLed,sLruLegy-busedrevIewoIIorcesLrucLure
Iuns.ThegouIoILhIsrevIewshouIdbeuIong-LermrogrumIunLhuLsqueezesLhe
mIddIeLocreuLecuubIIILIesundcuucILIesIorboLhLhehIghundIowendoIIuLure
wurIure.
ThIssecLIonroosesumenuoIoLIonsIorreconceLuuIIzIngAIrorcerogrums
LhuL uddresses Lhe Iuns-IundIng mIsmuLch LhuL Ied Lhe IusL chIeI oI sLuII Lo usk Ior
unuddILIonuI$zobIIIIoneryeur,undsImuILuneousIyruLIonuIIzesLheIorceosLure
LooneLhuLIsmorecongruenLwILhLheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL.ThIsmonogruh
1qq
GIobuIHuwkIsLheonIymIIILuryUAVcIeuredbyLheederuIAvIuLIonAdmInIsLruLIonIoruseInnuLIonuI
uIrsuce uccordIng Lo un oIhcIuI CerLIhcuLe oI AuLhorIzuLIon. AA CIeurs GIobuI Huwk or RouLIne
OeruLIons In US NuLIonuI AIrsuce, Suce DuIIy, 18 AugusL zoo, uccessed on z; Murch zooq uL:
hLL:JJwww.suceduIIy.comJnewsJuuv-ozI.hLmI.
oeruLes under u key ussumLIon - LhuL Lhe AIr orce wIII IIkeIy oeruLe under u uL
or decIInIng budgeL over Lhe nexL LwenLy yeurs. WhIIe IL does noL rescrIbe un uII-
encomussIng seL oI secIhc rogrummuLIc decIsIons Lo hL under u noLIonuI LoIIne,
IL does resenL oIIseLs LhuL wouId resuIL In u sIgnIhcunLIy Imroved Iorce sLrucLure.
The InILIuI dIscussIon covers uIr mobIIILy Iorce sLrucLure, concenLruLIng on Lhe
uerIuI reIueIIng (KC-X) Lunker rogrum, IoIIowed by some soIuLIons Lo Lhe AIr orce`s
IunguIshIng bomber rogrum. AILer LhuL, Lhe uer oens u u Iresh debuLe ubouL
uIrborne SR und udvocuLes u LIered urouch Lo sLeuILhy SRu key mIssIng eIe-
menLoILoduysIorcesLrucLure.ThIsIsIoIIowedbysomeconcreLeoLIonsLouddress
Lhe much-muIIgned suce Iorce, IoIIowed by u rescrILIon Ior u more subsLunLIuI,
dIsLrIbuLed IrreguIur wurIure Iorce sLrucLure. InuIIy, Lhere Is u secLIon ubouL hghLer
IorcesLrucLure,whIchhusdomInuLedLhedebuLeubouLLheIuLureoILheAIrorceLo
LhedeLrImenLoIumoresysLemIcurouch.PerhusLhemosLImorLunLmessugeoI
LhIssecLIonIsLhuLAIrorceIeuderscunnoLuIIowLhemseIvesLobecomeenLungIedIn
rogrummuLIcsLoLhedeLrImenLoIunbroud-busedurouchuIrowersroIeInmeeL-
IngLoduysLhreuLsundLomorrowschuIIenges.
AIR MOBILITY FORCE STRUCTURE
AIr mobIIILy combInes Lwo key eIemenLs oI US mIIILury ower rojecLIonuerIuI
reIueIIngunduIrIIIL.TogeLherLheyconsLILuLeukeycuubIIILyLhuLImucLsuImosLuny
conceIvubIe joInL mIIILury oeruLIon. The IuLure conhguruLIon oI Lhese Iorces musL
consLILuLeurImuryIocusoIunyIong-LermsLruLegy-busedunuIysIs.
Aerial Refueling Recapitalization
The sIngIe mosL comeIIIng uIr mobIIILy requIremenL Is uIso Lhe mosL crILIcuI uvIu-
LIon rogrum Ior Lhe AIr orce - Lhe recuILuIIzuLIon oI Lhe uerIuI reIueIIng eeL.
ConsequenLIy, Lhe AIr orce consIders Lhe recuILuIIzuLIon oI Lhe Lunker eeL ILs num-
beroneucquIsILIonrIorILy.OncebuIILLosuorLLheUSnucIeursLrIkeIunwhenLhe
SovIeLmIssIIeLhreuLexundedLoLhreuLenIorwurdbuseswILhudevusLuLIngreem-
LIve sLrIke, Loduy`s Lunker eeL emerged uILer Lhe CoId Wur us Lhe buckbone oI US mIII-
Lury ower rojecLIon, hndIng ILseII InvoIved uL unrecedenLed IeveIs In Lhe conIcLs
oI Lhe IusL LwenLy yeurs. AImosL every modern joInL mIIILury oeruLIon benehLs Irom
Lhe exIbIIILy oI beIng ubIe Lo reIueI uIrcruIL In-IghL.
1o
MosLwouIdbesurrIsedLo
hnd, Ior exumIe, LhuL Lhe Nuvy deends on AIr orce Lunkers Lo conducL Iong-runge
uIrcruIL currIer IghL oeruLIons.
1o
CRS#Rqq8,uge6.
The currenL Lunker eeL consIsLs oI LwenLy-nIne 1qo`s-eru mId-sIzed KC-1E
und q1; KC-1R SLruLoLunkers, uugmenLed by hILy-nIne Iurger KC-1o ExLenders.
11
AII huve commercIuIIy obsoIeLe uIrIrumes.

1z
The uveruge uge oI Lhe buckbone
SLruLoLunker eeL Is over IorLy-eIghL yeurs, whIIe Lhe younger KC-1o eeL uveruges
over LwenLy-Iour yeurs. MuInLenunce cosLs er IghL hour Ior LhIs ugIng Lunker Iorce
urehIghundsLeudIIyIncreusIng,undmIssIon-cuubIeruLesdecreusIng.
1
The uILImuLe sIze oI Lhe overuII IuLure Lunker Iorce remuIns un oen quesLIon.
1q
Muny oI Lhe recommenduLIons mude In LhIs reorL, Ior exumIe, wouId resuIL In u
smuIIer, more IueI-eIhcIenL Iorce sLrucLure, wILh u hIgher reIuLIve ercenLuge oI Iong-
runge sysLems. n Lheory, LhIs wouId urgue Ior u smuIIer uIr reIueIIng eeL. However,
oeruLIonuI exerIence uILer Lhe CoId Wur suggesLs oLherwIse. Every conIcL Irom
DeserLSLormonwurdquIckIyLurnedInLouLunkerwurdueLoLheoeruLIonuIcrILI-
cuIILyoILheuIrreIueIIngmIssIonLosusLuInIngLheuIrbrIdgeLhuLIormedunInLer-
LheuLer uIr IogIsLIcuI IIIeIIne, und LhuL rovIded essenLIuI suorL Lo AIr orce und
Nuvyduy-Lo-duyuIroeruLIons.Moreover,gIvenLheexLremerungedemundsoILhe
PucIhc LheuLer, IncIudIng Lhe growIng runge oI PRC mIssIIe sysLems, cuLLIng Lhe over-
uIIsIzeoILheLunkerIorceoruIIowIngILLouLrohycunnoLbeconsIderedoeruLIonuIIy
rudenL. As u resuIL, Lhe currenL IeveI oI KC-1 Lunker equIvuIenLs umounLIng Lo
uroxImuLeIy hve hundred, u number reInIorced by numerous sLudIes, shouId con-
LInue Lo Iorm Lhe busIs oI Lunker recuILuIIzuLIon, us u hedge uguInsL eeL obsoIescence
und us u guurunLee LhuL IuLure demunds Ior uIrcruIL runge, endurunce, und ersIs-
LenceuremeL.
1
The AIr orce recuILuIIzuLIon Iun IncIuded u Lhree-sLuge urchuse oI uroxI-

muLeIy qo uerIuI reIueIIng uIrcruIL over severuI decudes Lo reIuce Lhe ugIng KC-1
und KC-1o eeL.
16
TheLhIrLy-yeurucquIsILIoncosLoILoLuIrecuILuIIzuLIonhusbeen
esLImuLed uL over $1oo bIIIIon, mukIng IL one oI Lhe mosL exensIve und ImorLunL
AIr orce rogrums over Lhe nexL LwenLy yeurs.
1;
DesILe ILs hIgh rIorILy, Lunker
modernIzuLIon Is Iur Irom u done deuI. Moreover, Lunker udvocuLes ure hurd Lo hnd.
11
WIIIIum KnIghL und ChrIs BoIkcom, AIr orce AIr ReIueIIng: The KC-X AIrcruIL AcquIsILIon Progrum,
CongressIonuIReseurchServIce(CRS)reorL#Rqq8,ArIIq,zoo8,uge.
1z
SeeBoeIng;o;,uLhLL:JJen.wIkIedIu.orgJwIkIJBoeIng_;o;uccessedonqAugusLzoo8.
1
or uIrcruIL uge, see hLL:JJwww.guo.govJnew.ILemsJdoq8L.dI, boLh uccessed on AugusL ;, zoo8.
AIso,seeCRS#Rqq8,ugesq.
1q
orunexceIIenLunuIysIsoIhIsLorIcuIundIuLureLunkerrequIremenLs,seeRebeccuGrunL,TheTunker
meruLIve,MILcheIInsLILuLeIorAIrowerSLudIes,MILcheIIPuer#z,ArIIzooq,uccesseduLhLL:JJ
www.uIu.orgJMILcheIIJReorLsJMPz_TunkermeruLIveoqoq.dIonMuyzooq.
1
CRS#Rqq8,uges11.
16
The KC-X, Y, und Z rogrum InvoIved buyIng Lhree seuruLe IoLs oI 1;q uIrcruIL. ThIs conceL InjecLed
some IuLure exIbIIILy InLo Lhe Iun whIIe uLLemLIng Lo reInIorce LhuL Lhe Lunker eeL musL be recuI-
LuIIzed uL u sLeudy ruLe Ior u number oI yeurs In order Lo reLuIn oeruLIonuI exIbIIILy. CRS #Rqq8,
ugez.
1;
AssocIuLed Press, BoeIng: Tunker cosLs mIscuIcuIuLed, JuIy 1, zoo8, uccessed uL: hLL:JJwww.
uIrIorceLImes.comJnewsJzoo8Jo6Ju_boeIng_Lunker_hghL_o61zo8JonArII1,zooq.
WILhIn Lhe AIr orce, Lhe Lunker communILy, Iuys second hddIe Lo Lhe C-1; commu-
nILyInLheoIILIcuIhIerurchyoIAIrMobIIILyCommund,jusLusILdIdIordecudesIn
LheSLruLegIcAIrCommund.urLhermore,LheNuvyundMurIneCorsrureIysuorL
more Lunkers becuuse Lhey ure IouLh Lo udmIL LheIr reIIunce on Lhe AIr orce. The
ArmyconsLunLIyIobbIesIorC-1;sundoLheruIrIIILusseLs,buLIgnoresLhecrILIcuIIInk
beLweenuIrreIueIIngundessenLIuImIssIonsIIkeuIrIIILorcIoseuIrsuorL.
YeL Lunker modernIzuLIon musL be susLuIned. The combIned rIsks oI crIIIng eeL
sysLemIc IuIIure, shrInkIng overseus busIng oLIons LhuL munduLe Ionger mIssIon
runges, und Lhe growIng need Ior exLremeIy Iong-runge uIr oeruLIons In IrreguIur
wurIureundIuLurehIgh-endwurIurecombIneLoresenLucomeIIIngcuseIorLunker
modernIzuLIon. TukIng buck IuII resonsIbIIILy Ior Lhe uIr reIueIIng ucquIsILIon ro-
grumshouIdbeumujorAIrorceIeudershIobjecLIveInzooqzo1o.GIvenLhemuny
robIems und deIuys In Lhe Lunker rogrum, Lhe AIr orce shouId reIormuIuLe ILs KC-X
rogrum Lo uddress uerIuI LunkIng In Lhe mosL demundIng conLIngency, LhuL oI Lhe
PucIhc LheuLer, wILh Lhe ussumLIon LhuL uIr und seu buses InsIde z,ooo nuuLIcuI mIIes
oILheAsIunmuInIundwIIIIIkeIybeheIduLrIsk.
Intra-theater Airlift Fleet
ThIs dIscussIon LubIes InLer-LheuLer uIrIIIL Issues such us Lhe dIsosILIon oI Lhe C-1;
roducLIon IIne und Lhe C- modIhcuLIon rogrum Ior one sImIe reuson: reIuLIveIy
seukIng,uIrIIILIsoneoILheonIyheuILhyAIrorcecuubIIILyureus.ThereIore,oLher
uIrmobIIILyrIorILIesLukerecedence.
WILh regurd Lo Lhe InLru-LheuLer uIrIIIL eeL, Lhe AIr orce musL IoIIow Lwo dIIIerenL
uLhsdrIvenbyLheneedsoILhecurrenLundemergIngsecurILyenvIronmenL.IrsL,IL
musLbegInLoreIuceILsoIdesLC-1oEuIrIrumes,munyoIwhIchhuveburdensome
IghL resLrIcLIons, wILh newer C-1oJs. These oIder uIrcruIL, uIreudy IdenLIhed Ior re-
LIremenL,wouIdbeIncIudedInLheIorcesLrucLureBRACrecommendedIuLerInLhIs
chuLer.Thenewer,muchIonger-rungeC-1oJsLukeoneIevuLedImorLunceInLhe
PucIhc us Lhe AIr orce LrunsILIons Lo more dIsLrIbuLed oeruLIons, requIrIng u denser
IogIsLIcuI neLwork Lo muInLuIn Iur-ung oeruLIons.
Second, Lhe AIr orce needs Lo begIn LhInkIng ubouL u C-1oJ reIucemenL, und
wheLherILshouIdbedesIgnedLosuorLLheArmysushIormounLedverLIcuImu-
neuver(MVM)LhuLsuggesLsuveryheuvyverLIcuILukeoIIundIundIng(VTO)IuL-
Iorm. L Is cIeur Irom u recenL DeIense ScIence Bourd (DSB) InvesLIguLIon LhuL Lhe
IuLIorm ILseII wouId be unbeurubIy exensIve, und couId noL be buIIL In numbers
Iurge enough Lo move u sIzeubIe Iorce.
18
RAND unuIysLs conservuLIveIy esLImuLed
LhuLILwouIdcosLmoreLhun$1oobIIIIonovermunydecudesLobuIIdLheverLIcuIIIIL
18
DeIense ScIence Bourd, uLure Need Ior VTOJSTO AIrcruIL, JuIy zoo;; DeIense ScIence Bourd
TuskorceonDoDEnergySLruLegy,MoreIghLessueI,ebruuryzoo8,ugesqqo.
Taking back full
responsibility for
the air refueling
acquisition program
should be a major
Air Force leadership
objective in 2009
2010.
Iorce suIhcIenL Lo InserL onIy one brIgude.
1q
urLhermore, Lhe DSB reorL showed
LhuL Lhe LechnoIogIes underInnIng such u Iurge cruIL requIre subsLunLIuI reseurch
unddeveIomenL,undwouIdInvoIvemuchmoreengIneerIngcomIexILyLhunLoduys
muchsmuIIerV-zzOsreyLIIL-roLoruIrcruIL,whIchwenLLhroughunexLended,very
exensIve, und LroubIed deveIomenL rogrum.
16o
uLure CombuL SysLems urmored
vehIcIes huve uIreudy Iur exceeded LheIr LwenLy-Lon weIghL IImIL. AILhough Lhese
groundsysLemswererecenLIycunceIIed,successorsysLemsureIIkeIyLoweIghuLIeusL
LhIrLy Lons, und robubIy sIgnIhcunLIy more. Every uddILIonuI ound requIres u Iurger,
more exensIve VTO IuLIorm, und one LhuL Is uIso more vuInerubIe Lo ground hre
und mIssIIes. Moreover, Lhe IghL reIIubIIILy oI verLIcuI LukeoII und IundIng uIrcruIL
husuIwuysbeenreIuLIveIyoor.orexumIe,SecIuIOeruLIonsorceshuveIongre-
quIredheIIcoLer-borneussuuILsLohuve1ooercenLuIrIrumeredunduncyLouccounL
Ior uIrcruIL LhuL go down Ior muInLenunce robIems. A VTO eeL suorLIng MVM
wouId eILher requIre much hIgher IeveIs oI IghL reIIubIIILy Lhun usL verLIcuI LukeoII
undIundIngIuLIorms(wILhLheussocIuLedIncreusesInexense),orbemuchIurger
Lhun u comurubIe Iorce oI convenLIonuI Luke-oII und IundIng uIrcruIL, resuILIng In
InLoIerubIe rogrum cosLs. InuIIy, whIIe usIng gIunL LIILroLor uIrcruIL Lo IIIL ground
Lroos behInd enemy IInes on u dIsLrIbuLed buLLIeheId muy sound uIIurIng, Lhe IucL Is
LhuLUScommundershuvesLeereduwuyIromIurge-scuIeverLIcuImuneuverssInceLhe
VIeLnumWurdueLoLucLIcuIIyunLenubIeIuLIormvuInerubIIILy.AsuzooqurLIcIeIn
PurumeLersuLIL,GIvenLhereIucLunceLoemIoyevensmuIInumbersoIuLLuckheII-
coLersIndeeuLLucksuguInsLoonenLsIIkeLheruqIsundSerbs,LheIdeuLhuLLhe
ArmywouIdbewIIIIngLosendIurgenumbersoIcurgo-LyeuIrcruILdeeInLoenemy
uIrsuceIorverLIcuIenveIomenLoeruLIonsseemshIghIyImIuusIbIe.
161
Moreover,
LheLucLIcuIvuInerubIIILyoImussdeeInserLIonoeruLIonswIIIonIyIncreuseusguId-
edG-RAMMLechnoIogIesroIIIeruLe.
or Lhese reusons, AIr orce Ieuders musL chuIIenge Army uLLemLs Lo udoL Lhe
mounLedverLIcuImuneuverconceL.RuLher,LheAIrorceshouIdconLInueexIorIng
new convenLIonuI Luke-oII und IundIng uIrcruIL, such us u eeL oI suer-shorL LukeoII
undIundIng(SSTO)uIrcruILLoserveusuIoIIow-onLoLheC-1oJ.TheServIceshouId
uIsoInvesLIguLeLheneur-Lerm,oII-Lhe-sheIIucquIsILIonoIshorL-LukeoIIundIundIng
1q
The RAND cosL esLImuLe does noL consIder Lhe cosL oI escorL vehIcIes und deIense suressIon und
oLherrequIredeIemenLsoIubrIgudeInserLIon.PeLerA.WIIson,JohnGordonV,undDuvIdE.Johnson,
AnAILernuLIveuLureorce:BuIIdInguBeLLerArmy,Parameters,WInLerzoozooq,ugeo.
16o
The V-zz senL over LwenLy-hve yeurs In deveIomenL und wus cunceIed by Lhe SecreLury oI DeIense
buLreeuLedIyrevIvedbyCongress,desILesuIIerIngnumerouscosLoverruns,IuLuIcrushes,undmujor
desIgn revIsIons. The AIr orce now Ies un Imroved secIuI Iorces versIon oI Lhe Osrey cuIIed Lhe
CV-zz.SeeMurkThomson,V-zzOsrey:AIyIngShume,Time,SeLemberz6,zoo;.AccesseduL
hLL:JJwww.LIme.comJLImeJoIILIcsJurLIcIeJo,8qq,1668,oo.hLmIonArII;,zooq.
161
PeLer A. WIIson, John Gordon V, und DuvId E. Johnson, An AILernuLIve uLure orce: BuIIdIng u
BeLLerArmy,Parameters,WInLerzoozooq,ugez6.
Air Force leaders
must challenge
Army attempts to
adopt the mounted
vertical maneuver
concept.
uIrcruIL desIgned Ior rough heId oeruLIons (STO-R) Lo enhunce ILs cuubIIILy Ior
IrreguIurwurIureundLheIoreIgnuvIuLIonudvIsorymIssIon.
16z
BOMBER FORCE STRUCTURE
TheUnILedSLuLesoeruLesoveronehundredIong-rungebomberuIrcruIL,IncIudIng
LhevenerubIeB-zHSLruLoIorLress,LheB-1Buncer,undLheB-zASIrIL.TheseuIr-
cruILreresenLLheIurgesLbomberIorceInLheworId,undrovIdeLheUnILedSLuLes
unusymmeLrIcsLrIkeudvunLugeoverunyoonenL.ThebomberIs,Inmunywuys,Lhe
sIgnuLureAIrorceIuLIormundmIssIonbuLuguIn,ILcunnoLbeLhoughLoIInIsoIu-
LIon Irom Lhe busIng, reIueIIng, SR, und neLwork connecLIvILy eIemenLs oI bomber
oeruLIons.
BombersureIIkeIyLobecomeevenmoreImorLunLoverLIme.TheUnILedSLuLes
Iuces u busIng dIsudvunLuge In Lhe WesLern PucIhc, wILh onIy one mujor US muIn o-
eruLIngbuseonGuum.TheAIrorcehusuccessLomunyoLherbusesInLheregIonIn
euceLIme,buLLheIruvuIIubIIILydurIngcrIsesIsuncerLuIn.CouIedwILhLheIncreus-
IngLhreuLLoIorwurdoeruLIngbusesIromboLhshorLundIong-rungeguIdedweu-
ons und nucIeur weuons, uIrcruIL wILh exLremeIy Iong unreIueIed oeruLIng runge
(greuLerLhun,ooonuuLIcuImIIes),Iongendurunce,unduheuvyuyIoudwIIIbees-
ecIuIIyvuIuubIe.ThIsuIsohoIdsLrueIorIegucy,non-sLeuILhybombers,whIchoer-
uLe Iur ubove mosL IrreguIur uIr deIense LhreuLs und cun emIoy sLund-oII weuons
uguInsLudversurIeswILhudvunceduIrdeIenses.
The consLILuency Ior bombers wILhIn Lhe AIr orce hus uLrohIed sInce Lhe IusL
bomber IIoL chIeI oI sLuII deurLed In 1q8z. The bomber muhu`s IuII Irom gruce uc-
ceIeruLeduILerLheendoILheCoIdWur,undwILhLheuddILIonuIburdenundInLernuI
Iocus cuused by Lhe recenL nucIeur robIems, Lhe bomber communILy hus become
evenmoreuLomIzedundIuckIngInIocus.AswILhuIrreIueIIng,nooLherServIcecun
becounLedonLoserveusunouLsIdeudvocuLe.TheIoIIowIngrecommenduLIonscuI-
LuIIzeonLheAIrorcesdemonsLruLedbuLdImInIshIngcorecomeLencyInIong-runge
sLrIkeuvIuLIonbyouLIInIngumuILI-husedugrudeundexunsIonoILheAIrorce
bomber Iorce, Lo IncIude exLendIng Lhe IIIe und vILuIILy oI Lhe Iegucy bomber eeL, und
heIdIng Lhe NexL-GeneruLIon Bomber (NGB).
16z
SSTOdesIgnsIocusonIIILIngLwooILheArmysuLureCombuLSysLemsvehIcIesIromrunwuysIess
LhunoneLhousundIeeLInIengLh.SeeSuerShorLTukeoIIundundIng(SSTO)AIrcruILuLhLL:JJ
www.gIobuIsecurILy.orgJmIIILuryJsysLemsJuIrcruILJssLoI.hLm, uccessed on ArII ;, zooq. On Lhe ud-
vIsubIIILy oI STO-R uIrcruIL Ior Lhe uvIuLIon udvIsory mIssIon, see KurI P. MueIIer und RoberL C.
Owen,Airlift Capabilities for Future U.S. Counterinsurgency Operations(SunLuMonIcu,CA:RAND
CororuLIon,zoo;).
The bomber is,
in many ways,
the signature Air
Force platform and
mission but it
cannot be thought
of in isolation
from the basing,
refueling, ISR, and
network connectivity
elements of bomber
operations.
Complete Legacy Bomber Upgrades
Phuse One oI Lhe AIr orce`s Iong-runge sLrIke rogrum modIhes Iegucy bombers Lo
keeLhemreIevunL,ImrovesLheIrcuubIIILy,undIncreusesLheIrmIssIonreIIubIIILy.
Whereus conLInuuI modIhcuLIons Lo Iegucy hghLer und uIrIIIL Iorces generuIIy rere-
senL quesLIonubIe InvesLmenLs gIven Lhe churucLer oI exIsLIng und emergIng securI-
Ly chuIIenges, modIhcuLIons und ugrudes Lo Lhe bomber Iorce ure needed becuuse
ILs Iong-runge cuubIIILy Is so soreIy needed. WhIIe Lhe B-zA SIrIL Iow-observubIe
bomberIsnowbeIngugrudedLouIIowExLremeIyHIghrequency(EH)communI-
cuLIonsInneLwork-oosedenvIronmenLs,undLheB-1BuncernowemIoysLhIrd-
generuLIon SnIer XP LurgeLIng ods Lo uIIow InoInL sLrIkes uguInsL LurgeLs, oLher
needed IogIsLIcuI und IuLIorm modIhcuLIons huve been Ignored, LhreuLenIng Lhe
eeL`s Iong-Lerm vIubIIILy.
Two IurLher modIhcuLIons Lo Lhe Iegucy bomber Iorce beur secIuI consIderuLIon.
TheAIrorceIunsLokeeIorLy-IourcombuL-coded(oeruLIonuI)B-zHbombersIn
servIce Ior Lhree more decudes. However, Lhe uIrcruIL sLIII Ies usIng eIghL 1qos-eru
T- LurbojeL engInes. VurIous DoD ugencIes conducLed sLudIes InvesLIguLIng Lhe
IeusIbIIILy oI re-engInIng Lhe B-z wILh Iour hIgh-by-uss LurboIuns und rovIdIng
LheuIrcruILwILhuduLedcockILuvIonIcs,undconcIudedLhuLLheenLIrecosLoILhe
modernIzuLIonrogrumcouIdberecouedweIIwILhInLheremuInIngoeruLIonuIIIIe
oILheuIrcruIL.TheNuLIonuIReseurchCouncII,IorInsLunce,esLImuLedILwouIdLuke
LhIrLeen Lo sIxLeen yeurs Lo recou Lhe cosL oI reIucIng eIghL T- engInes wILh
Iour modern LurboIuns.
16
GIven LhuL Lhe Iunned reLIremenL duLe Ior Lhe B-zs Is
zoqo,Lhebreuk-evenduLeIoruB-zre-engInIngrogrumwouIdoccururoundzozo.
urLhermore,InugreemenLwILhuDeIenseScIenceBourdLuskIorceLhuLrecommended
unucquIsILIonIusL-LruckIorre-engInIng,LheNuLIonuIReseurchCouncIIreorLnoLed
LhuL Lhe oeruLIonuI benehLs wouId IncIude uccess Lo shorLer runwuys, hIgher LukeoII
weIghLs uL hIgh umbIenL LemeruLures, und Ionger runge und endurunce, wILh u q
ercenLIncreuseInunreIueIedcombuLrudIusundreduceddemundonLheover-Luxed
uerIuI reIueIIng eeL.
16q
AII Lhe reIevunL unuIysIs oInLs Lowurd B-zH re-engInIng
usurudenL,cosL-eIIecLIveugrudeLhuLwouIdumIIIebuckInLoLhesIowIydyIng
bomberIorce.
16
Re-engInIngLheB-zshowedLheIowesLLIme-Lo-recouoIunyIurgebodyuIrcruILInLhesLudy.AIso,
Lhe sLudy ussumed uvIuLIon IueI (JP-8) rIces wouId sLuy uL $z.o er guIIon wILh onIy moderuLe (uL
mosL q%) InuLIon over Lhe erIod. Toduy`s hIgher uvIuLIon IueI rIces subsLunLIuIIy decreuse Lhe LIme Lo
recouLheInvesLmenL.,PSURYLQJWKH(IFLHQF\RI(QJLQHVIRU/DUJH1RQ)LJKWHU$LUFUDIWNuLIonuI
ReseurchCouncII,zoo;,uge.
16q
,PSURYLQJ WKH (IFLHQF\ RI (QJLQHV IRU /DUJH 1RQ)LJKWHU $LUFUDIW, NuLIonuI Reseurch CouncII,
zoo;,ugeqq.SeeuIso,DeIenseScIenceBourdTuskorceonB-zHRe-EngInIng,DeIenseScIence
Bourd revIsed und uduLed reorL, zooq, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.ucq.osd.mIIJdsbJreorLsJzooq-o6-
bzh_re-engInIng.dI, on November , zoo8. See uIso, More CuubIe WurhghLIng Through Reduced
ueI Burden, DeIense ScIence Bourd Tusk orce on mrovIng ueI EIhcIency oI Weuons PIuLIorms,
Junuuryzoo1,uges1.
All the relevant
analysis points
toward B-52H
re-engining as
a prudent, cost-
effective upgrade
that would pump
life back into
the slowly dying
bomber force.
OI course, Lhese bombers uLIIILy deends Lo u greuL exLenL on Lhe weuons Lhey
emIoy. The currenL AIr orce Iun IncIudes sIgnIhcunL InvesLmenL In sLund-In (I.e.,
cIose-runge) GPS und Iuser-guIded recIsIon weuons, us weII us sLund-oII guIded
mIssIIes IIke Lhe JoInL AIr-Lo-SurIuce SLundoII MIssIIe (JASSM) und un exLended
runge(uroxImuLeIy6oonuuLIcuImIIe)versIonoILhesumemIssIIe,cuIIedJASSM-
ER.
16
LwouIdmukegreuLsense,LhereIore,LomodIIyLheB-zLocurryusmunyoI
LheseweuonsusossIbIe.orexumIe,byInsLuIIIngLhenewesLM-STD1;6oduLu
busInLernuIIyInLheB-z,ILcouIdcurryuLoLwenLy-eIghLJASSMsorJASSM-ERs
(LweIveonwIngyIons).
166
ThIswouIduIIowLhenon-sLeuILhyB-zLooeruLeuLLhe
erIheryoIudvunceduIrdeIenses,enhuncIngeneLruLIngsLrIkeundSRoeruLIons.
AnoLher sIgnIhcunL uugmenLuLIon Lo Lhe Iegucy bomber eeL Lo hedge uguInsL u
growIng IIsL oI sLeuILh deLecLIon meLhods InvoIves desIgnIng und rocurIng new,
Iong-runge eneLruLIng, sLundoII cruIse mIssIIes. n zoo;, Lhe AIr orce reLIred Lhe
nucIeur-onIy AGM-1zq Advunced CruIse MIssIIe (ACM) und hve hundred nucIeur
AIr-uunched CruIse MIssIIes (ACMs). Moreover, Lhe InvenLory oI convenLIonuI
AGM-86CJD ACMs Is IncreusIngIy obsoIescenL. ThIs wIII soon Ieuve JASSM-ER
usLheIongesLrungecruIsemIssIIeInLheAIrorceInvenLoryuL6oonuuLIcuImIIes.
GIvenLheremIumonrungeInLheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL,LheAIrorceshouId
ursue new Iow-observubIe convenLIonuI und nucIeur cruIse mIssIIe rogrums wILh
rungesIrom1,oouLo,ooonuuLIcuImIIes.
Field the B-3 Next-Generation Bomber
The zoo6 QDR dIrecLed Lhe AIr orce Lo deveIo u new Iong-runge recIsIon sLrIke
cuubIIILybyzo18.SInceLhen,LheAIrorceundSLruLegIcCommunddecIdedLhebesL
InILIuIoLIonIsLoursueumunnedbomberwhIchILhusdesIgnuLedLheB-.Under
currenLIuns,whIchremuIncIoIsLeredInubIuck(secIuIuccess)rogrum,LheduLe
IorLheB-sInILIuIoeruLIonuIcuubIIILy(OC)remuInszo18,wILhuIunnedIorce
oIerhusonehundredbombers.ThecosLoILherogrumcunbeesLImuLedLorunge
Irom$6o$6bIIIIon,wILhroducLIonceusIngInzoz.
16;
TheNexL-GeneruLIonBomber(NGB),orB-,IsInLendedLoserveusLhebuckbone
oILheAIrorcesIong-rungebomberIorce.AIongwILhuerIuIreIueIIng,sLeuILhySR,
und denIed-ureu communIcuLIons, Lhe B- wIII consLILuLe un IndIsensIbIe eIemenL
oIAmerIcusIong-rungeeneLruLIngsLrIkecuubIIILyIordecudesLocome.RecenLIy,
16
TheJASSMIsusLeuILhysLundoIIcruIsemIssIIewILhuzoonuuLIcuImIIerungedesIgnedLohoIdmod-
ernsurIuce-Lo-uIrsysLemsundLheIucIIILIesroLecLedbyLhemuLrIsk.TheJASSM-ERIncororuLesu
more eIhcIenL engIne Lo uchIeve 6oo nuuLIcuI mIIe runge. or more deLuII on JASSM, see: hLL:JJwww.
desIgnuLIon-sysLems.neLJdusrmJm-18.hLmI,uccessedon1ArIIzooq.
166
or u IIsL oI B-z modIhcuLIons In Lhe AIr orce rogrum, see hLL:JJwww.dLIc.mIIJdescrILIvesumJ
Yzoo8JAIrorceJo1o111.dI,uccessedon1ArIIzooq.
16;
ThIsesLImuLeIsbusedonunuverugeunILrocuremenLcosLoIIessLhun$8omIIIIon,unuverugeunIL
yuwuy cosL oI uroxImuLeIy $qz mIIIIon, deveIomenL cosLs oI $16 bIIIIon und ussocIuLed roducLIon
cosLsoI$bIIIIon.
Given the premium
on range in the
future security
environment, the
Air Force should
pursue new
low-observable
conventional and
nuclear cruise
missile programs
with ranges up
to 3,000 nautical
miles.
however,DeIenseSecreLuryRoberLGuLescunceIIedLherogrum,evIdenLIyLoexIore
wheLherLheB-(orILssuccessor)shouIdbeununmunnedsysLem.WheLherLhenexL
USbombershouIdbemunnedorunmunnedundnoLwheLherubomberIsneeded
byLheendoILhenexLdecudeueursLobeLhemujorIssuebehIndLheNGBLermI-
nuLIondecIsIon.
uckIng uccess Lo cIussIhed AIr orce Iuns, IL Is ImossIbIe Lo ussess Lhem.
AccordIngIy,LhIsreorLresenLsunoLIonuIIunIor1oB-suLuLoLuIrogrumcosL
esLImuLeduL$;bIIIIon.ThIsB-IuncuIIsIorIuII-ruLeroducLIonoILweIveuIrcruIL
er yeur Irom zo18 Lhrough zoz;, rogressIng Lhrough hve bIock ugrudes:
> BLOCK 10(LwenLy-IouruIrcruIL)wouIdbeunexLremeIysLeuILhy,munned,nucIeur-
cuubIebomberwILhIow-rIskcomonenLssuchus-engInes,sensors,undduLu
IInks;undB-zweuons,conIormuIsensors,undudvuncedIuserInIruredcounLer-
meusures(ARCM),LoweddecoysundjummersIorseII-roLecLIon.ThesewouId
reresenLLheIusLmunnedbombersInLheAIrorceInvenLory.TheAIrorceshouId
bewuryoIuIIowIngImmuLureLechnoIogIesLocreeInLoLheBIock1odesIgn,such
ussohIsLIcuLedend-gumesensorswILhrobIemuLIcsLeuILhyuerLures,IesLLhey
comromIseuneurIyOCduLe.
168
HuvIngsuIdLhuL,deIuyIngLhebomberrogrum
InorderLoskILhIsInILIuImunnedbIock,wuILIorsomekeyBIockzoLechnoIogIes
Lo muLure, und uIIow u cIurIhcuLIon oI requIremenLs mIghL be worLh consIderIng.
ThedeIuywouIdresuILInumuchmoresLruLegIcuIIyowerIuIgIobuIsurveIIIunce-
sLrIke sysLem due Lo Lhe InherenLIy suerIor desIgn und erIormunce uLLrIbuLes
obLuInubIeInununmunnedversIon,usmuybedesIredbySecreLuryGuLes.
16q
> The nexL LhIrLy-sIx uIrcruIL wouId be In un unmanned BLOCK 20 conhguruLIon,
InLegruLIng hrsL-generuLIon vurIubIe-byuss engInes (bused on AR`s AduLIve
VersuLIIe EngIne TechnoIogy or ADVENT rogrum) LhuL wouId Increuse uIrcruIL
enduruncebyoercenL.NoLIonuIIy,IIBIock1ouIrcruILossesseduz,oonuuLI-
cuI mIIe combuL rudIus uILer uerIuI reIueIIng (Lhe besL meusure oI endurunce Ior
LhIsuIrcruIL),BIockzowouIdexundLhuLLoweIIover,zoonuuLIcuImIIes.ThIs
new unmunned Iong-runge sysLem wouId IncororuLe ucLIve Iow-observubIe Ieu-
LuresundumoduIuruyIoudbuywILhudvuncedweuonsundcombuLsysLemIn-
168
SLeuILhy sensor uerLures ure some oI Lhe mosL dIIhcuIL LechnoIogy InLegruLIon chuIIenges In u sLeuILhy
uIrcruIL.AnyuLLemLLouIIowununLennuorsensoruccessLoLheouLsIdeLheoreLIcuIIyuIIowsunoLher
sensor Lo Ick u LhuL unLennus IocuLIon. EngIneerIng uerLures Lo do LheIr job whIIe reLuInIng ud-
equuLeIowobservubIIILyrequIreshIghIysohIsLIcuLedengIneerIng.BIIISweeLmun,Inside the Stealth
Bomber(NY:ZenILhPress,1qqq)ugeqq.
16q
An unmunned, Iund-bused B- oeruLIng In concerL wILh u currIer-bused N-UCAS yIng Irom weII ouL-
sIde unLI-shI mIssIIe runge wouId ose u LruIy gIobuI, sLruLegIcuIIy IndIsensIbIe surveIIIunce-sLrIke
sysLem LhuL wouId sLund heud-und-shouIders ubove Lhe sLruLegIc uLIIILy oI Loduys Iunned Iorce. or
moreonLhevILuIN-UCASrogrum,seeThomusP.EhrhurdundRoberLO.Work,Range, Persistence,
Stealth, and Networking: The Case for a Carrier-Based Unmanned Combat Air System,WushIngLon,
DC:CenLerIorSLruLegIcundBudgeLuryAssessmenLs,zoo8,uccessedonzMurchzooquLhLL:JJwww.
csbuonIIne.orgJqPubIIcuLIonsJPubIbruryJR.zoo8o618.Runge_PersIsLence_JR.zoo8o618.Runge_
PersIsLence_.dI.
LegruLIon. These IeuLures wouId uIIow BIock zo uIrcruIL Lo erIorm u vurIeLy oI
eneLruLIngroIes,IncIudIngInLeIIIgence,surveIIIunce,reconnuIssunce,sLrIke,und
suorLLosecIuIoeruLIonsIorces(SO),suchusLhesLeuILhyInserLIonorresu-
IyoISOersonneI.
1;o
> ThenexLLwenLy-IourunmunnedBLOCK 30uIrcruILwouIdbeLhemosLudvunced
B-IuLIorm,cuubIeoIuchIevInggreuLerendurunceundsuerIoruILILudeerIor-
munce over BIock 1o und zo uIrcruIL by IncororuLIng Imroved vurIubIe-byuss
engInes, hIgh-uILILude, Iow-drug AeroservoeIusLIc (ASE) wIngs (descrIbed eur-
IIer), und sohIsLIcuLed uduLubIe uuLomuLed IghL conLroIs. The BIock o mIghL
uIsoIncororuLeIncreusedeIecLrIcuIowergeneruLIonInorderLouccommoduLeu
soIId-sLuLeIuserIorseII-roLecLIonundudvuncedsensorsunduerLures.
> BLOCK 40(LhIrLy-sIxuIrcruIL)wouIduddsLuLe-oI-Lhe-urLrocessors,uuLonomous
mIssIon IunnIng und uvIonIcs soILwure und order-oI-mugnILude IghL reIIubIIILy
ugrudesLoBIockouIrcruIL.ThereIsnoreusonwhyununmunnedsysLemoILhIs
comIexILy und buIIL In LhIs LImeIrume cunnoL urouch Lhe IghL reIIubIIILy engI-
neeredInLoLoduyswIde-bodyuIrIIners,whIchureLwoordersoImugnILudegreuLer
LhuncurrenLmIIILuryuIrcruIL.
1;1
> TheIusLLenBLOCK 50 uIrcruIL wouId be very Iong endurunce, hIgh-yIng SR-onIy
versIons(RB-)Iordee,cIundesLIneeneLruLIonInLohIgh-LhreuLenvIronmenLs,
us suggesLed by senIor AIr orce oIhcIuIs us IuLe us ArII zoo8.
1;z
ThIs rogressIve bIock ugrude oI Lhe B- suLIshes Lhe Iong-runge, denIed-ureu un-
wurned surveIIIunce und sLrIke cuubIIILy Ior Lhe second decude oI Lhe LwenLy-yeur
LImesunoILhIsrojecL,undhusonIymInImumoverIuwILhroosedchungesLo
-AroducLIonusrecommendedIuLerInLhIschuLer,smooLhIngouLAIrorcero-
ducLIonIundIngInLheouL-yeurs.
TouvoIdunoLherIong-rungesLrIkesysLemroducLIonhIuLus,LheAIrorceshouId
ImmedIuLeIy begIn u bomber uILer nexL (BANX) rogrum Lo consIder reIuce-
menLs Ior Lhe B-zH und B-1B eeLs, whIch ure execLed Lo come Lo Lhe end oI LheIr
1;o
TheSOCOMversIonwouIdbeusLeuILhyudjuncLLoLheMC-1oCombuLTuIonmIssIon.
1;1
-16 und -18 hghLer uIrcruIL exerIence ubouL Lhree CIuss A (mujor) mIshus er one hundred Lhou-
sund IghL hours, whIIe Lhe Iunned IghL reIIubIIILy oI Lhe BoeIng ;q; und ;;; uIrIIners Is .o1 CIuss A
mIshus er one hundred Lhousund IghL hours. IIghL reIIubIIILy cosLs more InILIuIIy, buL equuLes Lo
IoweroeruLIonsundmuInLenuncecosLsundIongeruIrIrumeIIIesuns,undIscrILIcuIInuvoIdIngnon-
LhreuL-bused uIrcruIL Iosses In denIed LerrILory. OIhce oI Lhe SecreLury oI DeIense, Unmunned AerIuI
VehIcIe IIghL ReIIubIIILy SLudy, ebruury zoo, uge 1, TubIe - ExumIes oI Munned AIrcruIL
ReIIubIIILy.
1;z
SecreLuryoILheAIrorceMIchueIWynne,quoLedInDougIusBurrIeundAmyBuLIer,NexL-GeneruLIon
BomberSeLsSLugeIorSR,Aviation Week and Space Technology,ArIIz;,zoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJ
www.uvIuLIonweek.comJuwJgenerIcJsLory_generIc.js?chunneI=uwsL&Id=newsJuwoqz8o8z.
xmI&heudIIne=NexL-GeneruLIon%zoBomber%zoSeLs%zoSLuge%zoIor%zoSR%zoPeneLruLor on q
AugusLzoo8.
servIceIIvesuroundzoqo,ussumIngeuceLImeuLIIIzuLIonruLes.EvenunderLhuLus-
sumLIon, whIch seems uLLerIy uwed Ior uny combuL sysLem, Lhe IIkeIIhood oI Lhose
IuLIorms reLuInIng oeruLIonuI vIubIIILy In zoqo seems remoLe. ndeed, u IogIcuI
IoIIow-on Lo boLh Lhe B-zH und B-1B eeLs mIghL be u wIde-body commercIuI de-
rIvuLIve mIssIIeer uIrcruIL desIgned secIhcuIIy Ior Lhe emIoymenL oI Iong-runge,
sLund-oII mIssIIes.
1;
The deveIomenL oI u much more cuubIe und Iess exensIve
sLundoIIcruIsemIssIIebomberIorcewouIdbeusLruLegIcuIIyvuIuubIecomIemenLLo
u eneLruLIng bomber eeL. PIunners shouId commence u mIssIon ureu ussessmenL,
mIssIonneedsLuLemenL,undconceLexIoruLIonInLhezo1zo16LImeIrume,wILhu
rogrumgo-uheudseLIorzo18,undroducLIonsLurLIngInzozIorunOCoIzo.
ReuIIsLIcuIIy, Lhe BANX rogrum needs Lo meeL ILs Iunned zo IuII oeruLIng cuu-
bIIILy(OC)LouvoIdLheenLIrebomberIorcedeendIngononeIuLIorm,LheB-,Ior
u sIgnIhcunL erIod oI LIme.
AIRBORNE ISR FORCE STRUCTURE
The oId-schooI conceL oI seuruLe hghLer, bomber, und SR Iorce sLrucLures shouId
chunge us Lhe AIr orce reconceLuuIIzes IuLure oeruLIonuI requIremenLs. Modern
LechnoIogy uIIows hghLers und bombers Lo serve us ImorLunL sensors In Lhe buLLIe
neLwork, und IIkewIse, sensor-oLImIzed IuLIorms IncreusIngIy IncororuLe u suILe
oI IeLhuI cuubIIILIes. However, one sIze does noL hL uII In uIrcruIL desIgn, und some
IuLIorms musL conLInue Lo be oLImIzed Ior sensors und neLworkIng. or InsLunce,
Iong-endurunce hIgh-uILILude IghL oeruLIons requIre very Iong, hIgh usecL-ruLIo
(Iow drug) wIngs, whIch uIso cun house Iurge communIcuLIons or sensor unLennus.
urLhermore,LheosL-CoIdWurworIddecIsIveIyreInIorcedLheImorLunceoIer-
sIsLenL overheud surveIIIunce us Lhe numbers oI eeLIng, mobIIe LurgeLs Increused In
resonseLoLhedeveIomenLoIUSrecIsIonuLLuckoeruLIons.Moreover,UAVLech-
noIogyuIIowsendurunceLhuLIurexceedswhuLuhumuncunendure,uvIngLhewuyLo
uIrvehIcIeswILhoeruLIonuIchurucLerIsLIcsImossIbIeInmunneduIrcruIL.BrIngIng
uIILhoseconceLsLogeLhershouIdbeLhegouIoIAIrorceuIrborneSRIuns.
However, Lhe deIense uIrborne SR communILy hus suIIered Irom weuk InsLILu-
LIonuIsuorL,wILhIuLIormucquIsILIonhundIedexcIusIveIybyLheInLeIIIgencecom-
munILyuLo1q;q.
1;q
ThIsInLernuIconsLILuencyshorLIuIIbecumeucuLeuILerLheend
oI Lhe CoId Wur when ersIsLenL surveIIIunce demund exceeded suIy, IeudIng Lo
Lhe esLubIIshmenL oI Lhe III-IuLed DeIense AIrborne ReconnuIssunce OIhce (DARO)
1;
As u IoIIow-on Lo Lhe obsoIescence oI Lhe B-z eeL, u nomInuI eeL oI qo wIdebody commercIuI uIrcruIL
couId be consIdered Ior uround $zoo mIIIIon Lo $oo mIIIIon er uIrcruIL IncIudIng InLernuI mIssIIe
currIuge und dIsensIng modIhcuLIons, LoLuIIng unywhere Irom $8-$1z bIIIIon.
1;q
AIrborne SR rogrums IIke U-z, SR-;1 und drone reconnuIssunce IuLIorms were InILIuIIy Iunded
und munuged by Lhe NuLIonuI ReconnuIssunce OIhce (Progrum D) unLII Lhey ubundoned Lhem In 1q;q
Lo concenLruLe on suLeIIILe rogrums. JeIIrey T. RIcheIson, The Wizards of Langley: Inside the CIAs
Directorate of Science and Technology (BouIder,CO:WesLvIew,zoo1),uges1;z1;q.
The old-school
concept of
separate fghter,
bomber, and ISR
force structures
should change
as the Air Force
reconceptualizes
future operational
requirements.
In Lhe 1qqos.
1;
The unmunned revoIuLIon, whIch reduced Lhe need Ior IIoLs, onIy
sLIIIened Lhe InsLILuLIonuI burrIers Lo heIdIng Lhe rIghL number oI modern SR usseLs.
DoD musL Increuse Lhe exLernuI und InLernuI IncenLIves Lo Lhe ServIces (e.g., cureer
heIds, commund sLrucLures, IndusLrIuI muLurILy) Lo suorL Lhe heIdIng oI more so-
hIsLIcuLed,moresurvIvubIe,moreneLworkedoverheudsurveIIIuncecuubIIILIesover
LheIongLerm.
The AIr orce shouId exund und uduL ILs SR Iorce Lo meeL Lhe needs oI exIsL-
IngLhreuLsundemergIngchuIIenges.LhusuIoLoIcuLchIng-uLodo.LshouIdsLurL
by InILIuLIng deveIomenLuI rogrums Ior stealthy IoIIow-on sysLems Lo Lhe MQ-q
Reuer und Lhe RQ-q GIobuI Huwk wILh Lhe gouI oI heIdIng u robusL, Lhree-LIered
sLeuILhy SR UAV eeL by zoz.
Tier I Stealthy Theater UAV
The AIr orce currenLIy oeruLes u growIng eeL oI Iong-endurunce, medIum-
uILILude, buL non-sLeuILhy MQ-1 PreduLors; und Lhe Iurger, Lurboro-owered
MQ-q Reuers.
1;6
To LrunsILIon LhIs eeL InLo one more consIsLenL wILh oeruLIons
In un oosed envIronmenL or Ior cIundesLIne oeruLIons demunded by uII Lhree
IuLure securILy chuIIenges, Lhe hrsL LIer wouId be bused on u eeL oI one hundred
moderuLeIyIow-observubIeReuer-cIussIoIIow-onuIrcruIL.BusedonLheAIrorces
nexL-generuLIon UAS (NG UAS) requesL Ior InIormuLIon (R) reIeused eurIIer LhIs
yeur by AeronuuLIcuI SysLems CenLer (ASC), LhIs moderuLeIy sLeuILhy versIon oI Lhe
MQ-q shouId be noLIonuIIy desIgned Lo cosL uround $o mIIIIon uIece (roducLIon
yuwuy cosL). The cosL wouId be urLIuIIy oIIseL by reLIrIng Lhe hrsL generuLIon MQ-1
PreduLors, whIch ure ruIdIy runnIng ouL oI oeruLIonuI IIIe.
1;;
ThIs nexL-generuLIon
medIumuILILudeJendurunceUAVshouIdserveusumoderuLeIysLeuILhyudjuncLLoLhe
MQ-q, und uIm Ior u zo1 OC. HuvIng dIvesLed oI MQ-1s und reIuced Lhem wILh
u z; MQ-q Reuer Iorce sLrucLure by zo16, Lhe AIr orce wouId udd one hundred
sLeuILhy,ossIbIyuIr-reIueIubIeversIonsLoLheIorce.
1;8
TheIIkeIycomeLILorsIorLheNexL-GeneruLIonUASrogrumIncIudeLheUCAS-D
und GIobuI Huwk rogrums, Lhe Iow-observubIe PreduLor-C, und Lhe udvunced
1;
orusLudyoILhebIrLh,IIIe,unddeuLhoIDARO,see:ThomusP.Ehrhurd,UnmunnedAerIuIVehIcIesIn
LheUnILedSLuLesArmedServIces:AComuruLIveSLudyoIWeuonSysLemnnovuLIon,dIsserLuLIon,
JohnsHokInsSAS,zoo1,ChuLerq.
1;6
The MQ-1 PreduLor Ies very sIowIy, buL Ior uroxImuLeIy zq hours uL uILILudes u Lo z, ooo IeeL, und
cun curry Lhe HeIIhre mIssIIe. The MQ-q Reuer Is Lurboro-owered UAV ubIe Lo y u Lo o,ooo IeeL,
und currIes Iour HeIIhre mIssIIes und u vurIeLy oI Iuser- und GPS-guIded bombs. hLL:JJwww.uIrIorce-
LechnoIogy.comJrojecLsJreduLorJ,uccessedonArII1,zooq.
1;;
orucomrehensIveIIsLoIrequIremenLs,mIssIons,undIeuLures,seeLheAeronuuLIcuISysLemsCenLer
(ASC) reIImInury requesL Ior InIormuLIon, whIch Is on hoId endIng u IundIng decIsIon, uL hLLs:JJ
www.I bo.govJIndex?s=oorLunILy&mode=Iorm&Id=q6ud1eqqdubuuc;qqI6d68c16udc;1&Lub=
core&_cvIew=1,uccessedon1OcLoberzoo8.
1;8
TheIunnedMQ-qIorcewIIIrequIreubouLz;uIrvehIcIesundussocIuLedconLroIsysLems.
uIIordubIe Iow-observubIe munuIucLurIng demonsLruLed by Lhe InnovuLIve, sLeuILhy
P-1; PoIecuL UAS.
1;q
OngoIng uerosuce conLrucLor InLernuI reseurch und deveIo-
menL eIIorLs couId be exIoILed Lo heId un uIrcruIL LhuL cun uchIeve Iow-observubIe
churucLerIsLIcs In secIhc, IorecusLed medIum LhreuL envIronmenLs, yeL sLIII oeruLe
In Lhe medIum uILILude (1,oooqo,ooo IooL) regIme Lo uccomIIsh u broud seL oI
mIssIons, Irom IuII-moLIon vIdeo surveIIIunce Lo dIrecL ucLIon. ThIs seII-deIoyubIe
uIr vehIcIe wouId oIIer cIundesLIne uccess Lo u number oI key ureus ussocIuLed wILh
LheongWuruguInsLsIumIsLLerrorIsLsusweIIusLoIuceswheremoresohIsLIcuLed
unLI-uIrcruILcuubIIILyhusroIIIeruLed.
Tier II Stealthy Regional UAV
AILhough IuggIng Lhe medIum-uILILude sLeuILhy SR gu Is vILuI, Lhe sIngIe mosL
ImorLunLUASshorLIuIIInLherojecLedAIrorceInvenLoryIsuverysLeuILhy,uIr-
reIueIubIeGIobuIHuwkBIockqo-cuIIberuIrvehIcIeubIeLooeruLewILhq8-hourun-
reIueIed endurunce uL uILILudes exceedIng 6o,ooo IeeL wILh u mIxed seL oI sensors
rovIdIngsLruLegIc(nuLIonuI)undLheuLer-IeveIsurveIIIunce.ThesLuLedjoInLrequIre-
menL Ior LhIs cuIIber oI uIr vehIcIe hus been on Lhe books sInce Junuury 1qqo, In u
JoInLRequIremenLsOversIghLCouncII(JROC)-urovedmIssIon-needsLuLemenLIor
uIongreconnuIssunce,surveIIIunce,undLurgeLucquIsILIon(RSTA)cuubIIILyubIe
LoconducLmIssIonsIndenIedureusIorexLendederIodsoILIme.
18o
YeL,IoruvurIeLy
oIreusons,desILeLhedrumuLIcuIIyIncreusedneedIorersIsLenLsurveIIIuncehIgh-
IIghLed In DeserL SLorm und reInIorced In every conIcL sInce Lhen, LhIs requIremenL
remuIns unhIIed.
181
ThuLsILuuLIonmusLchunge,undILIscIeurLhuLInLernuIconsLILu-
encIesureLooweukLomukeILhuenwILhouLouLsIdesuorLorLheersonuIInLer-
venLIonoIsenIorAIrorceIeuders.
The gouI shouId be Lo begIn heIdIng LhIs cuIIber oI sLeuILhy UAV by zo1. AILhough
IL Is unknown how much cIussIhed work on IghL demonsLruLors hus uIreudy been uc-
comIIshedsInceLhesLeuILhyUAVDurkSLurrogrumsdemIseIn1qq8,Lheussum-
LIonbehIndLhIsrecommenduLIonIsLhuLurogrumcunberesurrecLedorucceIeruLed
byusInguduLesLounexIsLIng,urLIy-LesLeddesIgn.ThemuInIssuemuynoLucLuuIIy
1;q
PoIecuLwusuqo-IooLwIngsunUAVussembIedwILhhIghIyInnovuLIvecomosILeLechnIquesundos-
sessIng very hIgh IghL reIIubIIILy IeuLures und u LwIsLed sLruL wIng Lo oLImIze Iow-drug IumInur ow
overLheuIrIoII.AmyBuLIer,ockheedMurLInSkunkWorksIsInLheUAVrucewILhPoIecuLdemon-
sLruLor,Aviation Week & Space Technology,zJuIyzoo6,uccessedonzJuIyzoo8uLhLL:JJwww.
uvIuLIonweek.comJuwJgenerIcJsLory_generIc.js?chunneI=uwsL&Id=newsJuwo;zqo61.xmI.
18o
JROC brIehng quoLed In GeoIIrey Sommer, eL uI., The Global Hawk Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Acquisition Process(SunLuMonIcu,CA:RANDCororuLIon,1qq;)uge1z.
181
ThesLeuILhyTIer-mInusDurkSLurrogrumInLhemId-1qqosoIIeredoneunswerundwusucLuuIIy
u1JscuIedemonsLruLorIorLhecunceIedAARSrogrum.DurkSLurwuscunceIedbyLheAIrorceIn
1qq8.TheruLIonuIeIorcunceIIuLIonIncIudedLherosyrojecLIonLhuLLheAIrorceIuceduIuLurewILh
reIuLIveIybenIgnuIrdeIenses.ErIcJ.ubs,eLuI.,OLIonsIorAdvuncIngLheDeurLmenLoIDeIenses
Unmunned AerIuI VehIcIe Progrums, CongressIonuI BudgeL OIhce uer, SeLember 1qq8: uges
6o6q.
be Lhe LIme Lo OC, whIch on Lhe surIuce seems ruLher uggressIve gIven Lhe uce oI
uIr und suce ucquIsILIon, buL Lhe uILImuLe Iorce sIze und uce oI rocuremenL. The
Iun envIsIoned here cuIIs Ior hve squudrons (one Ior euch roLuLIonuI AE uIr) oI Len
oeruLIonuI uIr vehIcIes, cosLIng ubouL $zoo mIIIIon euch, uL u rocuremenL cosL oI
ubouL$1obIIIIonundO&McosLsesLImuLeduLubouL$z.bIIIIonbyzoz8,Ioru$1z.
bIIIIon ouLIuy over LwenLy-yeurs.
18z
The vuIue udded Lhrough LhIs InvesLmenL, when
meusureduguInsLoLhersmunyLImesIurger,mukesLhIsrogrumuhIgh-rIorILyAIr
orceeIIorL.
Tier III Stealthy Global UAV
TheLhIrdLIeroILhezoz8AIrorcesLeuILhySRIumIIywouIdcomeIromLheBIock
o nexL-generuLIon bomber (NGB) rogrum, heIded someLIme uILer zoz. L mIghL
uIso be rudenL Lo consIder ucceIeruLIng Lhe SR vurIunL oI NGB us u rIsk-reducLIon
meusure. MovIng Lhe SR versIon Lo Lhe hrsL NGB bIock mukes sLruLegIc sense, us IL Is
robubIymoreuseIuIIorubroudersecLrumoIkeyscenurIosLhunLhebomberund
wouIdIIkeIyuIsoossessusLrIkecuubIIILy.RegurdIess,workshouIdbeeILhercon-
LInued, or InILIuLed now, Lo hnd desIgns Ior un udvunced versIon oI u TIer sLeuILhy
gIobuIUAVwILhenduruncemeusuredInweeksormonLhswILhouLLheneedIorreIueI-
Ing.AIurge,verysLeuILhy,LruIygIobuIUAVwouIdbeumujorsLeIorwurdInsLruLegIc
wurnIng,hIgh-cuIIbermunhunLIng,undcommunIcuLIonsreIuy,undwouIdhuveuLII-
ILyucrossLhevurIoussLruLegIcchuIIengeshIghIIghLedInLhIssLudy.
SPACE FORCE STRUCTURE
SucecuubIIILIeshuveIongbeenunAmerIcunusymmeLrIcudvunLuge,undLheywIII
remuInImorLunL.However,ILuIsoseemsIIkeIyLhuLsucewIIIbecomeunIncreus-
IngIyconLesLedoeruLIngmedIum.AdversurIeswIIIuLLemLLodImInIshLheUSud-
vunLugeInsuce.ThePRCcouId,usnoLed,hoIduIIUSsuceusseLsuLrIsk,buLLhIs
couIdexundLomuchIesssohIsLIcuLedudversurIeswhocouIdjumorInLerruLun-
roLecLedsucecommunIcuLIonsbunds.
ArrIvIng uL u coherenL nuLIonuI securILy suce vIsIon wIII be u dIIhcuIL Lusk gIven
Lhe IrucLured, over-comurLmenLed (hIghIy cIussIhed) suce communILy. The suce
communILyssLuLeoIdIsorgunIzuLIon,uIongwILhLheconLInuInguLrohyoIbusIcuero-
suce InIrusLrucLure und humun cuILuI, wIII muke IL exLremeIy dIIhcuIL Lo conducL
LheLhoroughreIormsouLIInedbeIow.Moreover,OSDIsnowumujorIuyerInLhede-
18z
AIrvehIcIecosLesLImuLesurebusedonexerIenceIromLheGIobuIHuwkrogrumundIessonsIeurned
IromoLhersLeuILhyuIrcruILroLoLyes,undIncIudeO&MesLImuLesbusedonuconservuLIve$mIIIIon
eruIrcruILeryeur,whIchussumeshIghoeruLIonuILemosLhroughouLILsIIIesun.
veIomenLoIsucecuubIIILIes,huvIngsLrIeducquIsILIonundexecuLIveugenLuu-
LhorILyIromLheAIrorce,mukIngLheIoIIowIngdIscussIonsomewhuLsecuIuLIve.
18
The AIr orce musL work Lo uccomIIsh u mInImum oI hve objecLIves: (1) reverse
LheuLrohyInLheUSsucedesIgnundIndusLrIuIbuse,undILsussocIuLedmunower
buse; (z) uddress Lhe IoomIng dehcIL In Lhe joInL Iorce`s ubIIILy Lo LrunsmIL crILIcuI
InIormuLIonLodeIoyedIorcesInoosed-neLworkenvIronmenLsvIuIong-huuI,hIgh
bundwIdLhroLecLedsuLeIIILecommunIcuLIons(SATCOM);()ImroveroLecLIonIor
uII currenL und Iunned suce usseLs, even Lhose In geo-sLuLIonury orbIL (GEO); (q)
deveIoLhemeunsLoruIdIyreIenIshdesLroyedordIsubIedsuLeIIILes;und()LuckIe
Lhe Iuck oI suce recIrocILy In Lhe DoD bureuucrucy LhuL Ieuds Lo requIremenLs
goId-IuLIng und IrucLured hscuI IncenLIves.
Address Space Human Capital Atrophy
The nuLIonuI securILy suce desIgn und IndusLrIuI buse suIIers Irom u rogressIve
erosIonoIAmerIcusuerosuceS&TInLeIIecLuuI,skIII,undengIneerIngdesIgnLuIenL
buse. UnIorLunuLeIy, suce sILs uL Lhe IeudIng edge oI LhuL Lrend, und hus been Lhe hrsL
LoIeeIILsdebIIILuLIngeIIecLs.
CurI von CIuusewILz dehned u cuImInuLIon oInL us LhuL momenL In un uLLuck when
onecunnoIongermounLuneIIecLIvedeIensebecuuseLheIogIsLIcuIsuIyIInescun-
noLsuorLIL.AILerSuLnIk,AmerIcuwenLonusuceoIIensIveLhuLImosedLerrIbIe
cosLs on Lhe SovIeL UnIon Ior decudes. Now, Lhe US suce oIIensIve hus exhuusLed
ILskeyIogIsLIcuIsuIyIIne:securILy-cIeurubIe,Lo-noLchscIenLIsLsundengIneers
ubIeLodesIgn,buIId,munugeundoverseesuLeIIILerogrumsILhusreuchedILscuI-
mInuLIon oInL. ndeed, Lhe LuIenL ooI oI scIenLIsLs und engIneers who cun geL Lhe
urorIuLesecurILycIeuruncesundIoIIowLhroughwILheIIecLIveconceLuuI,desIgn,
munuIucLurIng, und Iuunch work on suLeIIILes und subsysLems robubIy ussed LhuL
oInLsomeLImeugo.ThesuceworIdsByzunLIneIubyrInLhoIshIILIngsecurILyro-
grumsexucerbuLesLherobIembyIockIngouLwhoIecudresoIexerIencedscIenLIsLs
undengIneersIromvurIousrogrums.
WorseyeL,USunIversILIesurenoIongerroducIngenoughscIenLIsLsundengIneers
LoIeedLheUSuerosucedesIgnundIndusLrIuIbuse,rImurIIybecuuseunIncreusIng
numberoIscIenceundengIneerInggruduuLes,oILenLhebesLones,ureIoreIgnnuLIon-
uIs who huve dIIhcuILy obLuInIng securILy cIeurunces. ConsequenLIy, suLeIIILe conLruc-
LorsbIdIorconLrucLsunderLheussumLIon(orhoe)LhuLLheycunhIreenoughLuIenL
IromLhenon-seIecLedcomunIes,oruseLhemussubconLrucLors,InorderLocomIeLe
Lhe rogrum. More oILen Lhun noL, Lhey IuII becuuse Lhere jusL Is noL enough scIenLIhc
18
AILerLhezooDruyunAIIuIr,LheAIrorceLrunsIerreduIIoIILsmujorucquIsILIonrogrumsLoOSD
AT&, buL OSD never LrunsIerred mIIesLone decIsIon uuLhorILy Ior suce rogrums buck Lo Lhe AIr
orce.GuIIPuLrIch,PenLugonuIIssucedecIsIonsIromUSA,NRO,Defense News,JuIy8,zoo8,
uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.vnIuwIng.comJIorumJvIewLoIc.h?L=1qo8&sLurL=z1o&sId=ud81u16eqee
b6oc;Ico8I6;ueIonqSeLemberzoo8.
und engIneerIng LuIenL Lo go uround. As u resuIL, whIIe reIuLIveIy hIgh-LechnoIogy,
uncIussIhed ueronuuLIcuI sysLems IIke Lhe BoeIng ;8; rogress uL un ucceLubIe uce,
sImIIurIy comIex cIussIhed deIense sysLems cunnoL.
TouddressLhIschuIIenge,LhesucecommunILycouIdscuIebuckrequIremenLsund
rebuIIdorLweukrovendesIgns.However,LhIswouIdserIousIyhumerInnovuLIon.
AILernuLIveIy, IL couId uIso Iund hIgh rohIe, very exensIve, hIgh-rIsk rogrums und
hoe LhuL LhIs wIII Ieud Lo hIgher S&T suIurIes, enLIcIng more LuIenL InLo Lhe heId und
enubIIng IuLure udvunces. The rIsk here Is LhuL Lhe rogrum wIII uImosL sureIy IuII,
sIhonIngdoIIursIrommoresensIbIerojecLs.ArudenL,mIddIe-oI-Lheroudcourse
wouIdbeLodosomeoIboLh,buseduonunobjecLIveundersLundIngoILheIndusLrys
sLrengLhsundweuknesses.
However, Lo do LhIs, Lhe AIr orce wouId huve Lo uddress ILs uIoremenLIoned
deurLh oI LechnIcuIIy quuIIhed Ieuders - ersonneI who undersLund whuL cun be
doneLechnoIogIcuIIywILhInreusonubIebudgeLsundscheduIes.ThIsIsumIcrocosm
oI u rImury IuIIIng oI Lhe enLIre deIense ucquIsILIon sysLem: decIsIon-mukers who
Iuck undersLundIng oI Lhe rucLIcuI cuubIIILIes und shorLcomIngs oI Lhe LechnIcuI
communILy.orLooIong,LheAIrorcehusreIIedonconLrucLorsundsub-conLrucLors,
ederuIIy-undedReseurchundDeveIomenLCenLers(RDCs),undconsuILunLsLo
deLermIneundvuIIduLeILsneeds.AsuresuIL,LheAIrorcenoIongerhusLheBernIe
SchrIevers und ew AIIens - Lhe Lough, comeLenL mId-IeveI oIhcers who do Lhe
necessurygrILLy,deLuIIedrojecLmunugemenLwork.ThIssILuuLIonmusLbereversed,
undusLhereurenoshorL-cuLs,sLurLIngsoonerruLherLhunIuLerseemswIse.
Improve Long-Haul, High-Bandwidth
Protected Space Communications
Toduy,LheAIrorcesnon-sLeuILhyuIrborneSRsysLemsIIkeLheGIobuIHuwkUAV
reIyonreguIuLed,consLruInedsucecommunIcuLIonsIInksLhuLusohIsLIcuLedudver-
sury wIII IIkeIy InLerruL or jum durIng u conIcL. The Iuck oI reIIubIe, hIgh-bundwIdLh
communIcuLIonsundduLusuorLLoIorcesonLhemoveremuInsucrILIcuIjoInLIorce
dehcIency. The soIuLIon Lo boLh oI Lhese robIems Is Iound In ExLru-HIgh requency
(EH) und Iuser suLeIIILe communIcuLIons, whIch rovIde hIgh LhroughuL cuucILy
(e.g., bundwIdLh) und ure exLremeIy dIIhcuIL Lo jum. SysLems wILh Lhese churucLerIs-
LIcsuregenerIcuIIycuIIedroLecLedSATCOM.
The AIr orce hud u Lwo-sLe rogrum Lo rovIde hIgh-bundwIdLh roLecLed
SATCOM. The hrsL InLerIm sLe cume In Lhe Iorm oI Advunced ExLru-HIgh requency
(AEH)suLeIIILes.ThesecondsLewusLhe(recenLIycunceIIed)$zobIIIIonLrunsIor-
muLIonuI suLeIIILe (TSAT) rogrum, u consLeIIuLIon oI hve Iurge GEO suLeIIILes LhuL
wouId rovIde hIgh bundwIdLh roLecLed EH und Iuser suLeIIILe communIcuLIons.
UsIngTSAT,IuLurenon-sLeuILhyundsLeuILhyuIrbornesurveIIIunce-sLrIkeIuLIorms
und mobIIe joInL Iorces wouId enjoy IW\ WLPHV Lhe bundwIdLh In un unreguIuLed
The Air Force no
longer has the Bernie
Schrievers and Lew
Allens the tough,
competent mid-level
offcers who do the
necessary gritty,
detailed project
management work.
secLrum usIng u smuII, sLeuILhy 1. Inch unLennu urruys.
18q
RecenLIy, however,
DeIenseSecreLuryGuLesdecIdednoLLoroceedwILhLheTSATrogrumInIuvoroI
IuunchInguddILIonuI,Iower-cosLAEHsuLeIIILes.
WhIIe Lhe need Ior TSAT-Lye cuubIIILIes couId noL be more urgenL In Lhe os-
ILed IuLure securILy envIronmenL, Lhree rImury urgumenLs Ied Lo Lhe rogrums
cunceIIuLIon. IrsL, LechnoIogy und desIgn muLurILy were un Issue. AccordIng Lo Lhe
GovernmenL AccounLubIIILy OIhce (GAO), In zooq Lhe AIr orce roceeded wILh suLeI-
IILerIskreducLIonunddesIgndeveIomenLevenLhoughonIyoneoIsevenkeyTSAT
LechnoIogIeshuduchIevedLherequIredLechnoIogyreudInessIeveI.
18
ComeLIngcon-
LrucLorssuyLheyuddressedLheremuInIngsIxcrILIcuILechnoIogIes,buLLhIsIeudsLo
LhesecondoInL:ILIsnoLcIeurwheLherLheuvuIIubIegovernmenLorconLrucLorucquI-
sILIonInIrusLrucLurecunsuorLTSATuIongwILhoLhercrILIcuIsucerogrums.n
u zoo; reorL, Lhe GAO noLed secIhc suce ucquIsILIon ersonneI shorLIuIIs In cosL
esLImuLIonundrogrummunugemenLushumerIngTSATdeveIomenLscheduIes.
186
ThosesumeshorLIuIIsuIyLoLhescIenLIsLsundengIneersLuskedwILhdesIgnIngund
buIIdIngTSAT.AccordIngLoIong-LImesucesysLemengIneerundNROveLerunTerry
DunIuvey,LhereurenoLenoughexerLsIeILInLhebusInessserIousIy,LheIndusLrIuI
buse jusL IsnL Lhere.
18;
n u recenL reorL ubouL Lhe Iuck oI LechnIcuIIy quuIIhed oI-
hcers Lo oversee suce rojecLs, US SLruLegIc Commund chIeI und Iormer usLronuuL
GeneruI KevIn ChIILon commenLed: We recognIze LhuL us u chuIIenge, unIorLunuLeIy,
wecunLgrowLheseeoIeovernIghL.
188
Thus,conLrucLorussuruncesLhuLLechnoIogy
reudIness IeveIs huve Imroved shouId noL rovIde suIhcIenL grounds Ior roducLIon
go-uheud.
18q
18q
See Don M. Boroson, user CommunIcuLIons In Suce, MT IncoIn uboruLory brIehng, SeLember
6, zoo; uL hLL:JJwww.osu.orgJnewsJoIIcyrogrumsJsecIuIevenLsJdon%zoboroson%zo-%zoIuser-
com.dI,uccessedonOcLoberzoo8.AswILhmunyAIrorcecuubIIILIes,uIILheServIcesundoLher
users wunL TSAT Iuser IInks Ior LheIr Iorces, IeuvIng sIgnIhcunL doubL us Lo wheLher AIr orce usseLs
wouId guIn uny benehL Irom u rogrum Iunded by Lhe AIr orce budgeL.
18
UnILed SLuLes GeneruI AccounLIng OIhce (GAO), TrunsIormuLIonuI SuLeIIILe Progrum, reorL GAO-
oq-;1R, December q, zoo, uges ;, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.guo.govJnew.ILemsJdoq;1r.dI on 8
SeLemberzoo8.
186
UnILed SLuLes GovernmenL AccounLubIIILy OIhce, Suce AcquIsILIon: AcLIons Needed Lo Exund und
SusLuInUseoIBesLPrucLIces,reorLGAO-o;-;OT,ArIIzo,zoo;,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.guo.govJ
new.ILemsJdo;;oL.dIon;OcLoberzoo8.
18;
Terry DunIuvey, InLervIew, OcLober , zoo8. or u very concIse ouLIIne oI Lhe robIem, see: PuLrIcIu
MuIoneyundMIchueIeon,TheSLuLeoILheNuLIonuISecurILySuceWorkIorce,Aerospace,SrIng
zoo;,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.uero.orgJubIIcuLIonsJcrossIInkJsrIngzoo;Jo1.hLmIonzMurchzooq.
188
GuyIe PuLrIch, USA work Iorce cuLs muy ose nexL robIems Ior suce rogrums: GAO, Defense
News,ArIIzo,zoo;,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.vnIuwIng.comJIorumJvIewLoIc.h?L=1qo8&sLurL=z1o
&sId=ud81u16eqeeb6oc;Ico8I6;ueIonOcLober1o,zoo8.
18q
BoeIng und TEAM TSAT Conhrm ReudIness oI Advunced SuLeIIILe EIecLronIcs, BoeIng news reIeuse,
ArII 8, zoo8, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.boeIng.comJnewsJreIeusesJzoo8JqzJo8oqo8u_nr.hLmI on
1o OcLober zoo8. ockheed MurLIn Teum SuccessIuIIy DemonsLruLes HIgh PerIormunce RudIuLor
TechnoIogy Ior TSAT Progrum, ockheed MurLIn news reIeuse, SeLember 18, zoo8, uccessed uL
hLL:JJhndurLIcIes.comJJurLIcIesJmI_mqPRNJIs_zoo8_SeL_1;JuI_nz86868on1oOcLoberzoo8.
Contractor
assurances
that technology
readiness levels
have improved
should not provide
suffcient grounds
for production go-
ahead.
The hnuI reuson Ior cunceIIIng Lhe TSAT Is LhuL ILs cuubIIILy wIII noL be IuIIy usubIe
unLII Lhe DoD Iunds u suorLIng eeL oI uIrborne, hIgh uILILude objecLIve guLewuys
or reIuys LhuL cun y ubove cIoud cover, receIve hIgh bundwIdLh oLIcuI InIormuLIon,
und LrunsmIL IL Lo Lhe rIghL receIvers. Over o ercenL oI Lhe eurLh Is shrouded In
cIoudsuLunygIvenmomenL,undIusersdonoLeusIIyeneLruLecIoudsoroLheruLmo-
sherIcobscurunLs.TheonIywuyLoensureLhuLInIormuLIonmukesILLoUSIorcesIs
Lo buIId u eeL oI uIrborne communIcuLIons nodes us urL oI Lhe objecLIve guLewuy,
unnLerneL-LyeneLworkIorhIgh-bundwIdLhInIormuLIon.
1qo
NoneoILheseIuLIorms
urenowInLheDoDrogrum.
Upgrade Satellite Defensive Measures, Including Geo Satellites
The PRCs zoo; demonsLruLIon oI u dIrecL-uscenL unLI-suLeIIILe (ASAT) hIghIIghLed
LhegrowIngvuInerubIIILyoIUSsucesysLems.AccordIngLosLruLegIsLAshIeyTeIIIs,
ChInusdesLrucLIonoIunugIngweuLhersuLeIIILeuLunuILILudeoIoveromIIesdem-
onsLruLedunoeruLIonuIcuubIIILyLodesLroyIow-undevenmedIum-eurLhorbILIng
suLeIIILes.
1q1
UnIorLunuLeIy,ILuIsodIverLeduLLenLIonuwuyIromumuchmorecomeI-
IIng,neur-LermIssue:GEOsuLeIIILevuInerubIIILy.GEOsuLeIIILessuchusTSAT,orbIL-
Ing ubouL zz,ooo mIIes ubove Lhe eurLh, reresenL u huge InvesLmenL und rovIde
crILIcuIcuubIIILIesLhuLcunnoLbereudIIyreconsLILuLed.
ndeed,evenIIgovernmenLundIndusLrycouIdmukeTSATworkonLImeundon
budgeL, uLLIng u reIuLIveIy vuInerubIe, concenLruLed, und yeL crILIcuI cuubIIILy on
orbIL In zo18 wILhouL udequuLe suce sILuuLIonuI uwureness (SSA), good suce IndI-
cuLIons und wurnIng, und suLeIIILe deIensIve meusures does noL seem sLruLegIcuIIy
sound. ndeed, urorIuLe deIensIve meusures musL be go, no-go crILerIu oI uny
IuIIy-Iunded TSAT deIoymenL Iun. A sysLem IIke TSAT LhuL Is secIhcuIIy desIgned
Lo oeruLe In un oosed LerresLrIuI envIronmenL shouId noL be Iuunched unLII uII
IuusIbIe usecLs oI udversury oosILIon over ILs on-orbIL IIIesun (Lo IncIude co-
orbILuI ASATs) cun be reusonubIy counLered. TSAT shouId noL move Iorwurd us u
rogrumunLIIucomrehensIveIunIorsImuILuneousIy-deIoyedSSAunddeIensIve
meusuresuredesIgnedundIunded.ThecurrenLIunshouIdbedeIuyedunLIITSATs
oeruLIonuIvIubIIILyandsurvIvubIIILycunbeussured.ThesumegoesIoruIIhIgh-end
GEOsuLeIIILes.
AccordIngIy, Lhe AIr orce shouId ImmedIuLeIy emburk on u broud-bused GEO
suLeIIILe deIense eIIorL. US GEO suLeIIILes sIL In sLubIe, redIcLubIe orbILs, brIngIng
1qo
or InIormuLIon ubouL Lhe objecLIve guLewuy rogrum, see MIchueI PeLerson, ObjecLIve GuLewuy:
nIormuLIon Lo Lhe BuLLIeheId`s Edge, RUS DeIence SysLems, June zoo;, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.rusI.
orgJdownIoudsJusseLsJPeLerson,_ObjecLIve_GuLewuy.dIon1oOcLoberzoo8.SeeuIso,BIIISweeLmun,
-zzund-SuIIerIromNeLworkGus,Defense Technology International,December11,zoo;.
1q1
AshIeyTeIIIs,PunchIngLheUSMIIILurysSoILRIbs:ChInusAnLIsuLeIIILeWeuonTesLInPersecLIve,
CurnegIe EndowmenL Ior nLernuLIonuI Peuce PoIIcy BrIeI #1, June zoo;, uges 1, q. Accessed uL:
hLL:JJwww.curnegIeendowmenL.orgJhIesJb_1_LeIIIs_hnuI.dI,onArII1,zooq.
The Air Force
should immediately
embark on a broad-
based GEO satellite
defense effort.
Lo mInd Lhe buLLIewugons unchored In BuLLIeshI Row on December ;, 1qq1. GEO
suLeIIILes desIgned Ior Lhe Iong huuI shouId be engIneered wILh onbourd LhreuL
deLecLIon und dIugnosLIc sensors. They shouId conLuIn exLru muneuver roeIIunL,
und shouId move erIodIcuIIy Lo demonsLruLe LheIr mobIIILy. PussIve deIenses IIke
IIghLweIghL InuLubIe decoys shouId be IncIuded In u GEO suLeIIILe`s deIensIve suILe.
ToenhuncewurnIngcuubIIILIes,LheAIrorceshouIddesIgnuconsLeIIuLIonoIGEO
SSA roLecLIon mIcrosuLs Lo rovIde hIgh-hdeIILy, LImeIy, conLInuous GEO suLeIIILe
churucLerIzuLIonundLhreuLdeLecLIon.
TheseeIIorLsmusLbesuIemenLedbyucuubIIILyLodIsubIeLhreuLenIngsuce-
cruIL. Advunces In soIId sLuLe Iusers mIghL muke Lhe desIgn oI un ucLIve roLecLIon
escorL sysLem IeusIbIe, usIng shorL or uILru-shorL uIse Iusers LhuL wouId rechurge
usIngsoIurowerundwouIdoseuveryeIIecLIvedeLerrenLLounyoneconLemIuLIng
hoIdIngAmerIcunsuLeIIILesuLrIsk.ThroughuugmenLedsucesILuuLIonuIuwureness,
couIed wILh ussIve und ucLIve deIenses, Lhe US IuLure suce eeL mIghL udequuLeIy
deIendILseII,LherebysuIeguurdIngAmerIcusubIIILyLorojecLdecIsIve,gIobuImIII-
Luryower.
AsLhIsshorLdIscussIonsuggesLs,LheAIrorcessuceeIIorLsmusLuddresssys-
LemvuInerubIIILyundcuubIIILyussurunce.orIurLooIongLhesucecommunILyhus
IocusedoncuubIIILymuxImIzuLIonInununoosedsuceenvIronmenL.AsuresuIL,
suce sILuuLIonuI uwureness und deIensIve meusures exIsL mosLIy In brIehngs, noL on
orbIL;undLhuLmusLchunge.
Operationally Responsive Space (ORS) Reconstitution
Even wILh Imroved wurnIng und ucLIve und ussIve deIenses, some US suLeIIILes
muynoLsurvIveunuLLuck.ConsequenLIy,LheAIrorceneedsLodeveIonewmeuns
Lo reserve und ruIdIy reconsLILuLe suce cuubIIILIes. Two rogrums sLund ouL us
rIme cundIduLes Ior IurLher deveIomenL. The hrsL ure RudIuLIon BeIL RemedIuLIon
(RBR)LechnoIogIesLoeIImInuLeorreduceLheIeLhuIILyoIumedrudIuLIonbeILsIoI-
IowInguhIghuILILudenucIeurdeLonuLIonLhuLcouIddImInIshLheIIIeoIunhurdened
EOsuLeIIILes.
1qz
Second,recenLdesIgnudvuncesuIIowIIghL-weIghL,Iow-cosL,ruId-
Iuunch suLeIIILes Lo reconsLILuLe or buckhII gus In Lhe US suLeIIILe consLeIIuLIon. AIr
orce Suce Communds OeruLIonuIIy ResonsIve Suce (ORS) rogrum exIores
cosL-eIIecLIve,ruIdreIenIshmenLLucLIcuIsuLeIIILesuIongwILhcommercIuIbucku
oLIons Lo rovIde quIck Lurn-uround suLeIIILe reIucemenL durIng u mujor conIcL.
ThecosLoIORSwouIdIncIudeubouL$zomIIIIonerIuunchoIreIurbIshedMInoLuur
IuunchvehIcIesundubouL$qomIIIIonersuLeIIILe,wILhucuucILyIorLwosuLeIIILes
1qz
Numerous sLudIes hIghIIghLIng Lhe LhreuL Lo EO consLeIIuLIons by hIgh-uILILude nucIeur deLonu-
LIon.SeeBurryWuLLs,The Military Use of Space: A Diagnostic Assessment(WushIngLon,DC:CenLer
Ior SLruLegIc und BudgeLury AssessmenLs, zoo1) uge z1, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.csbuonIIne.orgJ
qPubIIcuLIonsJPubIbruryJR.zoo1ozo1.The_MIIILury_Use_oJR.zoo1ozo1.The_MIIILury_Use_o.dI
onAugusLzoo8.
The Air Forces
space efforts must
address system
vulnerability
and capability
assurance. For
far too long the
space community
has focused
on capability
maximization in an
unopposed space
environment.
er Iuunch or $o mIIIIon er suLeIIILe.
1q
AL u IrucLIon oI Lhe cosL oI Loduys gIunL
suLeIIILerojecLs,ORSLucLIcuIsuLeIIILescouIdrovIdeon-cuIIsuceuugmenLuLIon,
enubIecrIsIsreconsLILuLIon,undboIsLercrIsIssLubIIILyunddeLerrence.
1qq
Addressing Space Requirements Dysfunction

One oI Lhe mosL ressIng bureuucruLIc Issues ImucLIng AIr orce suce ucquIsILIon
InvoIvesescuIuLIng,unconsLruInedsucerequIremenLs.DesILesomecomIuInLson
Lhe urL oI DoD oIhcIuIs LhuL Lhe AIr orce`s suce rogrums ure noL suIhcIenLIy su-
orLed, u quIck Iook uL recenL budgeLury hgures suggesLs u dIIIerenL sLory. Due Lo Lhe
IncreusIng enLhusIusmund demundIor suce-bused servIces by non-AIr orce
ugencIes, Lhe AIr orces InvesLmenL In suce doubled over Lhe usL Len yeurs. ThIs
buIIoonIngsuceLuxcomesuLLheexenseoIoLherAIrorcerogrums,sInceOSD
neILher udequuLeIy screens Lhese resource demunds nor comensuLes Lhe AIr orce
IorLhem.
orexumIe,IILheAIrorceneededLorovIderoLecLedsuLeIIILecommunIcuLIons
LoILsownIorces,LheburdenonLheAIrorcebudgeLwouIdbeIurIessLhunLhe$o
bIIIIonLheAIrorceIsexecLIngLouyoverLhenexLLwenLyyeurs.MosLoILhuLbund-
wIdLh Is devoLed Lo suorLIng requIremenLs Imosed by oLher ServIces und ugen-
cIes Ior Iree AIr orce servIces. Those requIremenLs wIII IIkeIy conLInue Lo grow,
ushIgh-undIow-endudversurIesdemonsLruLeLheIrubIIILyLojumunroLecLedcom-
munIcuLIons,whIchreresenLLhebuIkoIcurrenLsucebundwIdLh.TheIuckoIsuce
requIremenLs oversIghL IncenLIvIzes oLhers Lo exuggeruLe LheIr suce requIremenLs,
und, IuckIng udequuLe OSD or JoInL SLuII urbILruLIon, Iorces Lhe AIr orce Lo shorL-
chunge LheIr own suce und uIr rogrums. VuIuIng und churgIng Ior joInL servIces
wouId reLurn Lhe requIremenLs rocess Lo u more murkeL-bused IncenLIve sLrucLure
ruLher Lhun Lhe currenL sysLem LhuL LreuLs exLruvugunL joInL rogrums us musL-dos
undAIrorcecoremIssIonsusIeILovers.(ndeed,LhesumegoesIoroLherrogrums,
suchusuerIuIreIueIIngundUAVcombuLuIruLroIrequIremenLs.)
AsuceworkIngcuILuIIund,sImIIurLoLheLrunsorLuLIonworkIngcuILuIIund
ouLIInedInChuLer1,subjecLLoOSDurbILruLIon,couIdumeIIoruLemunyoILherob-
IemsussocIuLedwILhunconsLruInedsucerequIremenLs.LwouIdeILherdemundre-
cIrocuIservIcesorchurgeoLherugencIesIorsuLeIIILebundwIdLhusIsnowdoneIor
sLruLegIcundLucLIcuIuIrIIIL.ThuL,InLurn,wouIdmoderuLerequIremenLsundmuke
suce rogrum munugemenL much more sLreumIIned und eIhcIenL.
1q
A noLIonuI ORS ruId Iuunch cuucILy oI hILy LucLIcuI suLeIIILes wouId cosL $z. bIIIIon.
1qq
NuLIonsconLemIuLIngunuLLuckonUSEOsuceusseLswouIdhuveLocuIcuIuLeLheossIbIIILyLhuL
LheIr uLLuck mIghL onIy murgInuIIy reduce US suce cuubIIILIes, ruIsIng LheIr cosL-benehL ussessmenL.
IRREGULAR WARFARE (IW) FORCE STRUCTURE
195
IkeLheoLherServIces,LheAIrorcehusbeensIowLouduLLoIong-duruLIonIrregu-
Iur wurIure oeruLIons. L oeruLes Loduy wILh u eeL desIgned Ior 1q8o`s mujor combuL
oeruLIons,curryIngouLIrreguIurwurIureLuskseIIecLIveIy,buLuLununsusLuInubIe
cosL In IueI und ucceIeruLed uIrIrume weur. or exumIe, Lhe AIr orce comonenL
oILheUSCenLruICommund(LheregIonuIcombuLunLcommundresonsIbIeIorruq
und AIghunIsLun) Is yIng urmed reconnuIssunce und overwuLch mIssIons wILh ug-
Ing jeL hghLers IIke Lhe -16 und -1 uL u cosL oI $;,ooo Lo $1;,ooo er IghL hour,
und exends unoLher $8,ooo er IghL hour Ior uerIuI reIueIIng Lunker IghLs, noL
IucLorIngInIueIcosLs.
1q6
By conLrusL, II AIr orce IIoLs ew Lhe sume mIssIons wILh u
smuII, Lurboro-drIven, modIhed LruInIng uIrcruIL, cosLs wouId decreuse Lo uround
$1,ooo-$z,ooo er IghL hour wILh u more exIbIe uIrcruIL ubIe Lo y Irom more uIr-
heIds und rovIde more coveruge In benIgn envIronmenLs.
1q;
TheseIow-endIuLIorms
couIduIsorovIdeLhebusIsIoruveryImorLunLexorLIorcedesIgnedLoboIsLerIor-
eIgncounLer-InsurgencyeIIorLs,reresenLInguwIn-wInroosILIon.TheAIrorce
benehLs Irom emIoyIng Lhe uIrcruIL In Lhe LruInIng buse und uIso geLs un IrreguIur
wurIureIuLIorm;uIIIescunbuyuseIuIIuLIormsLheycunucLuuIIyuIIordundmuIn-
LuIn;undLheAIrorcesLundsLoenhunceILsreIuLIonshIswILhoLhermIIILurIes,wILh
Lhe rosecL oI oLenLIuI Increused IoreIgn buse uccess. BuyIng und heIdIng such un
uIrcruIL Is noL u LrIvIuI Lusk, buL even uILer hve yeurs oI IrreguIur wurIure, no Iunded
deveIomenLIunsIorsuchInexensIveuIrcruILexIsL.
The AIr orce shouId uIso deveIo un IrreguIur wurIure Iorce sLrucLure LhuL buI-
unces ILs oeruLIonuI comeLencIes wILh hscuI reuIILIes. To be sure, whIIe IrreguIur
wurIurewIIIbeuersIsLenLchurucLerIsLIcoILheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL,ILwIII
noLdemundLhekIndoIcommILmenLosedbyLhePRCsmIIILuryexunsIon.YeLLhe
AIrorcecIeurIyhusunImorLunLroIeLoIuy.
or exumIe, Lhe AIr orce shouId consIder creuLIng un uvIuLIon LruIn, udvIse,
und ussIsL cudre Lo LruIn IoreIgn uIr Iorces Lo oeruLe, muInLuIn, susLuIn, und ro-
grumLheIrownIorces.TheAIrorceshouIduIsouugmenLLhe6
Lh
SecIuIOeruLIons
Squudron(6
Lh
SOS),IncreusIngILscuucILyLoconducLersIsLenL,muILIIe-nuLIonIor-
eIgnInLernuIdeIense(D)oeruLIonsInsuorLoIsecIuIoeruLIonsuvIuLIon.AIr
orce udvIsors und LruIners shouId be ussIgned Lo regIonuIIy-secIuIIzed squudrons
und receIve Iunguuge LruInIng. They shouId quuIIIy In severuI Lyes oI D uIrcruIL,
1q
AIrorceWundsecIuIoeruLIonsIorcesLrucLureIsdIscusseduLsomeIengLhInLheongHuuIreorL
on SecIuI OeruLIons orces. See RoberL MurLInuge, SecIuI OeruLIons orces: uLure ChuIIenges
undOorLunILIes,WushIngLon,DC:CenLerIorSLruLegIcundBudgeLuryAssessmenLs,SLruLegyIorLhe
ongHuuISerIes,zoo8.
1q6
or DoD hxed wIng uIrcruIL reImbursubIe ruLes LhuL show cosLs er yIng hour Ior vurIous uIrcruIL,
seeYzooqReImbursubIeRuLes:IxedWIng,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.deIenseIInk.mIIJcomLroIIerJ
ruLesJIyzooqJzooq_I.dIonzMurchzooq.
1q;
Murcus WeIsgerber, ACC OIhcIuIs WunL AIr orce rreguIur WurIure IeeL oI AIrcruIL, Inside the Air
Force,;Novemberzoo8.
The Air Force
should consider
creating an aviation
train, advise, and
assist cadre to
train foreign air
forces to operate,
maintain, sustain,
and program their
own forces.
LoIncIudeuIrIIIL,SR,undsLrIke.TruInersundudvIsorsshouIdbesuorLedbydedI-
cuLedAIrEducuLIonundTruInIngCommund(AETC)unILs.
1q8
FIGHTER FORCE STRUCTURE
GIven Lhe runge oI IuLure oeruLIonuI chuIIenges ouLIIned In ChuLer z, emergIng
LhreuLs wIII IIkeIy Iorce un evoIuLIon uwuy Irom u wurhghLIng urudIgm cenLered on
mussed oeruLIons wILh shorL-runge, muILI-roIe hghLer-bombers. ndeed, uL some
oInL over Lhe nexL Lwo decudes, shorL-runge, non-sLeuILhy sLrIke uIrcruIL wIII IIke-
Iy huve IosL uny meunIngIuI deLerrenL und oeruLIonuI vuIue uguInsL Lhe PRC In Lhe
WesLern PucIhc. They wIII uIso Iuce mujor IImILuLIons In boLh IrreguIur wurIure und
oeruLIons uguInsL u nucIeur-urmed regIonuI udversury due Lo Lhe IncreusIng LhreuL
Lo Iorwurd uIr buses und Lhe roIIIeruLIon oI modern uIr deIenses LhuL wIII render
non-sLeuILhy sLrIke-hghLers unusubIe on Lhe hIgh end, whIIe Lhey remuIn over-
desIgnedundIurLooexensIveIorIow-endLhreuLs.nshorL,Lheso-cuIIedLuc-
uIr shorLIuII or hghLer gu Is onIy u robIem II one beIIeves LhuL (1) Iegucy Iorce
sLrucLurereIucemenLIsuIIordubIe;und(z)ILsuLIIILywIIIendureInLheIuLuresecu-
rILyenvIronmenLreIuLIveLooLherInvesLmenLs.
1qq
BusedonCSBAsunuIysIs,neILheroI
Lhese condILIons Is IIkeIy Lo hoId Ior sLrIke hghLers over Lhe nexL LwenLy yeurs.
However, sLeuILhy uIr suerIorILy uIrcruIL IIke Lhe -zz wIII IIkeIy reLuIn sIgnIhcunL
uLIIILy over Lhe nexL LwenLy yeurs, wILh Lhe urgency growIng In Lhe neur Lerm. The
roIIIeruLIonoIsohIsLIcuLedRussIunuIrdeIensesysLemsmeunsLheonIyUSsysLems
LhuLcunreIIubIyeneLruLeundmuInLuInuhIghsurvIvubIIILyruLeInLheresenceoI
InLegruLed uIr deIenses ouIuLed by SA-zoB und SA-z1 surIuce-Lo-uIr sysLems und
modern RussIun or RussIun-derIvuLIve (e.g., Su-BM) hghLers wIII be Lhe -zz und
LheB-z.norderLoconducLumodernuIrcumuIgn,LheUnILedSLuLesmusLbeubIeLo
conducL oIIensIve hghLer swees In conLesLed uIrsuce, muInLuIn ersIsLenL deIensIve
uIr uLroIs Lo guurd uguInsL IncomIng suersonIc or Iow-observubIe cruIse mIssIIes,
deIendLunkers,AWACS,JSTARS,RIveLJoInL,SRundjummeruIrcruIL,undsuress
enemy uIr deIenses (SEAD). AgIng Iegucy hghLers IIke Lhe -1C EugIe, Lhe AIr orce`s
IronL-IIneuIrsuerIorILyuIrcruILsInceLheeurIy1q;os,cunsLIIIconducLsomeoILhese
mIssIonsInbenIgnuIrsuce(e.g.,InCONUS).However,LheIruseIuIoeruLIonuIIIIe
cunnoLbeexLendedmuchbeyondonedecudewILhouLexLensIve,veryexensIveund
comIIcuLed mujor uIrIrume modIhcuLIons.
oIIowIngLhIsIogIc,LheIoIIowIngrecommenduLIonsuresuggesLedusexumIesoI
LyesoIucLIonsLheAIrorceshouIdLukeLoshedsomeoIILsCoIdWurbuggugeund
ruLIonuIIzeILseIILoLheIuLuresecurILyenvIronmenL.TheybegInwILhdIscussIonubouL
oneoILhemosLconLroversIuIuIrcruILInLheAIrorcerogrum:Lhe-zzRuLor.
1q8
RoberL MurLInuge, SecIuI OeruLIons orces: uLure ChuIIenges und OorLunILIes, WushIngLon,
DC:CenLerIorSLruLegIcundBudgeLuryAssessmenLs,SLruLegyIorLheongHuuISerIes,uges;o;z.
1qq
GruhumWurwIck,IghLerHundoII,Aviation Week and Space Technology,zqSeLemberzoo8:6.
F-22 OPTIONS.The-zzRuLorwIIIveryIIkeIyroveLobeunIncreusIngIyImor-
LunLIuLIormdueLoILssuerIoruIr-Lo-uIrcuubIIILy,whIchresIdesInILsuII-usecL
IowobservubIIILy,seed,undhIgh-uILILudeerIormunce.TheubIIILyLouLroIuLuILI-
Ludes ubove hILy Lhousund IeeL uIIows IL Lo rovIde u sLeuILhy overwuLch LhuL greuLIy
Imroves IuLIorm survIvubIIILy und exLends Lhe erIormunce oI ILs Iong-runge uIr
InLerceL mIssIIes. As un udded benehL, ILs ubIIILy Lo conducL sLeuILhy uIr-Lo-ground
ruIdsIromLhoseuILILudesrovIdesucredIbIesLrIkeLhreuLevenuguInsLudvunceduIr
deIenses.OwIngLoILscuLLIng-edgecuubIIILIes,deIoymenLoILhe-zzcunserveus
uneIIecLIvedIIomuLIcsIgnuIusweII.MosLImorLunLIy,udvuncesInudversurycuu-
bIIILyIndIcuLeLhuLweureIIkeIyenLerIngunewhuseoIuIr-Lo-uIrcomeLILIonLhuL
wIIIrequIreLhe-zzLosusLuInLheAIrorcesIong-heIdudvunLuge.
zoo
The-zzhusuroxImuLeIyLhesumeorgunIcendurunceusLhe-AIghLIng
JoInLSLrIkeIghLer.BoLhuIrcruILmusLbeuIr-reIueIedLoreuchLheIong-rungeLurgeL
und uLroI ureus. As u resuIL, In u buse-consLruIned envIronmenL IIke Lhe PucIhc, uIr
reIueIIngbecomesunImorLunLIucLorInunyuIrcumuIgn.ImILeduIrreIueIInguLs
u hIgh rIorILy on suorLIng Lhe uIr suerIorILy hghLer Iorce uL runge, mukIng IL es-
senLIuI LhuL euch hghLer be us cuubIe und heuvIIy-urmed us ossIbIe. Comured Lo Lhe
-,Lhe-zzenjoysgreuLeruII-usecLsLeuILh,uhIgheroeruLIonuIceIIIng,greuLer
seedundmuneuverubIIILy,undugreuLermIssIIecurrIugecuucILy.AIso,unIIkeLhe
-A,whIchremuInsInunexLendeddeveIomenLrogrumundwIIInoLuchIeveIuII
oeruLIonuIcuubIIILyunLIIzo1;,LheRuLorIsuroven,IuIIyoeruLIonuIIuLIormIn
roducLIon.
Moreover, Lhe -zz exceIs In roIes where Lhere ure no suILubIe subsLILuLes. L Is
u much beLLer oIIensIve or deIensIve counLer-uIr IuLIorm Lhun Lhe -, und mosL
IuLuresLrIkemIssIonscunbecurrIedouLmuchmoreeIIecLIveIybyIong-rungebomb-
ers.AsrevIousIydIscussed,bombersurebecomIngcrILIcuILoAIrorceIuns,boLh
InLhenon-sLeuILhysLundoIIundeneLruLIngIuLIormroIes,undLheyrequIremuch
IesscomIIcuLedundvuInerubIeLunkersuorLdueLoLheIrgreuLInherenLrunge.
zo1
However, desILe Lhe -zzs uLIIILy, revIous AIr orce Ieuders mude Lhree decI-
sIonsLhuLsubsLunLIuIIydImInIshedILsIong-LermoeruLIonuIImucL.IrsL,Lheyre-
ducedLheoLImuIsquudronsIzeIromLherovencombuLsLundurdoILwenLy-IouruIr-
cruIL.TheIurgerLwenLy-Iour-IunesquudronscunrovIdezq-hourcombuLuIruLroIs
(CAPs)wILhLwoIour-shIserCAPuLureusonubIerunge.
zoz
ThesmuIIereIghLeen-
zoo
UnIorLunuLeIy, jusL buyIng more -zzs muy be necessury, buL noL suIhcIenL Lo uddress Lhe LhreuL.
SIgnIhcunL work musL be done Lo udvunce un enLIreIy Iresh oeruLIonuI conceL Ior uIr suerIorILy LhuL
IncororuLes new LucLIcs, weuons, und Lhe re-InvIgoruLIon oI Lhe morIbund DeurLmenL-wIde eIec-
LronIcwurIureesLubIIshmenL.
zo1
Tunker Lrucks, or uerIuI oeruLIng IocuLIons, cun be IocuLed IurLher Irom enemy hghLers und oeruLe
IrombusesIessLhreuLenedbybuIIIsLIcundcruIsemIssIIeuLLuckwhensuorLIngIong-rungebombers.
ILhesILuuLIonuIIowscIoserLunkeroeruLIngIocuLIons,LhebombersLrunsIuLeLhuLrungeInLoendur-
uncebeLLerLhunLhemuchshorLer-runged-whenusedInubombIngroIe.
zoz
AIrsuerIorILyLucLIcsusuuIIyrequIreuLIeusLIouruIrcruILworkIngInconcerL,wILhLhuLgrousome-
LImes dIvIdIng InLo Lwo Iour-shIs In Lhe cuse oI vIsuuI hghLer muneuverIng.
Unlike the F-35A,
which remains
in an extended
development
program and
will not achieve
full operational
capability until
2017, the Raptor
is a proven, fully
operational platform
in production.
jeLsquudroncouIdrovIdezq-hourCAPcoveruge,buLonIyuLshorLerrungeorwILh
gusIncoveruge.ThoseguswouIdIIkeIyIncreuseoverLImeussLruInedmuInLenunce
ersonneIIuyeduIosInggumeLokeesorLIeruLesu.
zo
Second,becuuseLheInILIuI
RuLorbuywusIImILedLojusL18uIrcruIL,LogeLLhegreuLesLnumberoIoeruLIonuI
squudrons AIr orce Ieuders oLed Lo sucrIhce Lhe uLLrILIon reserve (AR) orLIon oI Lhe
ucquIsILIonrogrum.ALLrILIonreserveuIrcruILLyIcuIIyconsLILuLeubouL1qercenL
oI Lhe combuL-coded eeL, rovIdIng crILIcuI uugmenLuLIon uIrIrumes us euceLIme
und combuL oeruLIons uLLrILe Lhe Iorce.
zoq
uIIIng Lo buy Lhe uLLrILIon reserve eeL,
ubouL eIghLeen uIrcruIL, essenLIuIIy sucrIhces Lhe Iong-Lerm sLruLegIc vIubIIILy oI Lhe
-zz eeL. InuIIy, under congressIonuI ressure Lo mInImIze rogrum cosLs, Lhe AIr
orce deIuyed or IuIIed Lo Iund needed ugrudes Lo Lhe -zz LhuL wIII IurLher IImIL
ILs combuL cuubIIILy, IeuvIng Lhe eeL In vurIous dIIIerenL conhguruLIons LhuL cun-
noL be eIhcIenLIy oeruLed or susLuIned, uguIn IImILIng Lhe number oI uvuIIubIe sure
uIrcruIL LhuL couId be used us reIucemenLs us uLLrILIon occurs over LIme. ReLrohLs ure
requIred Lo brIng Lhe eeL u Lo u sLundurdIzed oeruLIonuI conhguruLIon.
The -zz oLIons suggesLed beIow hedge uguInsL - rogrum sIIuge und Lhe
oLenLIuI Ior rogrum redesIgns, whIIe uddressIng Lhe Iorce shorLIuIIs noLed ubove.
The OSD-Ied, cross-servIce CosL AnuIysIs mrovemenL Grou (CAG) recenLIy re-
orLed LhuL LesLIng oI Lhe InILIuI oeruLIonuI cuubIIILy (OC) - BIock o conhguru-
LIonwIIIIIkeIysIIunoLherLhreeyeursuLunuddILIonuIcosLoIuLo$;.qbIIIIon.
zo
I
LhuLhuens,LheAIrorcewIIIbeIorcedLochooseeILherLosLuyonILsroducLIon
scheduIe wILh InsuIhcIenLIy LesLed BIock o versIons LhuL wIII IIkeIy need cosLIy u-
grudesIuLer,orLoseLLIeIoruBIockzoderIvuLIveInLheInLerImusILIncursuddILIonuI
deveIomenL cosLs. A rudenL uILernuLIve wouId be Lo conducL IuII deveIomenLuI
LesLIng oI Lhe -A BIock o conhguruLIon, und sII Lhe Iunned zo1 OC und ro-
curemenLscheduIebyLhreeyeurs.DeIuyIngLhe-buyIorreusonsoIrogrumIn-
LegrILy,someLhIngLheAIrorcecunIIIuIIordLocomromIse,mukesLherocuremenL
oIuddILIonuI-zzsInLheInLerImmuchmoreuLLrucLIve,usjoInLIorcecommunders
geLurovenjeLyeurseurIIerLhuLuddressesLheIrmosLressInguIrsuerIorILyneeds
unLIILhe-cunroveILseII.
zo
As wILh mosL mIIILury oeruLIons, exLended conIcLs become u IogIsLIcuI exercIse. n LhIs cuse, Lhe
IogIsLIcs oI un eIghLeen-jeL uIr suerIorILy squudron degrude drumuLIcuIIy In jusL duys. urLhermore,
whereusLhe-zzIsIurmoreIeLhuILhunIegucyjeLsone-on-one,currenLudversurysuLuruLIonLucLIcs
uLuremIumonmIssIIenumbers,undLheonIywuyLocomensuLeIorLhuLIswILhuddILIonuIjeLs.
zoq
The IormuIu Ior hghLer uIrcruIL InvenLory sLurLs wILh CombuL Coded (denoLed us CC or rImury uIrcruIL
InvenLory,PA),LhenLruInIngIorces(T)urecuIcuIuLedbycuIcuIuLIngz%oICC,LesLuIrcruIL(denoLed
usCB)consLILuLe%oICC+T,LhenbuckuuIrcruILInvenLory(BA)equuLesLo1o%oICC+T+CB,Lhen
uLLrILIon reserve (AR) equuIs 1o% oI CC+T+CB+BA, und hnuIIy ToLuI AIrcruIL nvenLory (TA), whIch
reresenLs Lhe enLIre eeL.
zo
GovernmenL AccounLubIIILy OIhce, JoInL SLrIke IghLer: AcceIeruLIng ProcuremenL beIore ComIeLIng
DeveIomenLncreusesLheGovernmenLsInuncIuIRIsk,GAO-oq-o,Murchzooq,ugez,uccessed
uLhLL:JJwww.guo.govJnew.ILemsJdoqo.dIonz;Murchzooq.
TheoLIonsbeIowureIIsLedInorderoIrIorILy.
OPTION #1: UPGRADE THE CURRENT F-22 FLEET TO THE BLOCK 35 STANDARD.
ThIs oLIon Iocuses on sLundurdIzIng Lhe currenL Iorce Lo Lhe mosL udvunced BIock
sLundurd.UndercongressIonuIundDeIenseDeurLmenLguIdunceLoconLuInro-
grumcosLs,deveIomenLoImunyessenLIuI-zzcuubIIILIesIuggedroducLIon,und
some essenLIuI reLrohLs were noL Iunded In Lhe Yoq budgeL. -zzs In Lhe currenL eeL
ure LhereIore In u vurIeLy oI BIock conhguruLIons. The hIghesL-rIorILy, hIgh-uyoII,
neur-Lerm -zz InvesLmenL wouId be Lo brIng Lhe enLIre eeL u Lo Lhe mosL cuubIe
BIock conhguruLIon.
zo6
AL u mInImum, LhIs wouId IncIude modIIyIng ubouL sIxLy
jeLs In Lhe BIock o conhguruLIon Lo Lhe new sLundurd, uL un esLImuLed LoLuI cosL oI
$z. bIIIIon Ior severuI key ugrudes, IncIudIng IuII smuII dIumeLer bomb (SDB) cu-
ubIIILy, Lhe ubIIILy Lo emIoy udvunced AM-qX und AM-1zoD uIr-Lo-uIr mIssIIes,
uduLed eIecLronIc roLecLIon und udversury uIrcruIL IdenLIhcuLIon, und Lhe buseIIne
muILI-uerLureduLuIInk(MAD)IorneLworkconnecLIvILy.
zo;
ThuLwouIdresuILInLhe
oeruLIonuI eeL und ILs LhIn bucku InvenLory uchIevIng Lhe sume combuL sLundurd
ucrossLheIorce.
zo8
OPTION #2: BUY BACK F-22 ATTRITION RESERVE. ThemInImum-zzexunsIon
oLIon LhuL conLrIbuLes Lo hIIIng ouL Lhe currenL oeruLIonuI Iorce wouId be Lo buy Lhe
IosL uLLrILIon reserve eeL. n every oLher hghLer Iorce, uLLrILIon reserve uIrcruIL con-
sLILuLe ubouL 1q ercenL oI Lhe oeruLIonuI eeL, rovIdIng crILIcuI uugmenLuLIon uIr-
IrumesusedLoensuresquudronvIubIIILyoverLheIIIe-cycIeoILherogrum.ALLrILIon
reserve eeL sIze Is bused on Iune uLLrILIon uL u redIcLubIe euceLIme ruLe. As dIs-
cussedeurIIer,AIrorceIeuderschosenoLLobuyuLLrILIonreserve-zzsInorderLo
squeezeLhemuxImumnumberoIoeruLIonuIsquudronsouLoILheIImILedbuy.The
currenLIeudershImusLredressLhIsrobIemIorLheexIsLIngsevensquudrons,whIch
wouIdrequIrebuyIngunuddILIonuIeIghLeenuIrcruIL,cosLIngLheAIrorceubouL$
bIIIIonInY1orocuremenL.
zoq
BuyIngbuckLhoseeIghLeenuIrcruILwIIIuddcrILIcuI
yeurs Lo Lhe useIuI IIIe oI Lhe -zz eeL.
The hrsL Lwo oLIons consLILuLe u crILIcuI InvesLmenL In Lhe -zz`s Iong-Lerm oeru-
LIonuIvIubIIILy.
zo6
UsIngLhebIockugrudeconceL,Lhe-zzIssuosedLoreceIveunever-IncreusIngseLoIcuubIIILIes
Lhrough sLeed Increuses desIgnuLed by numerIcuI IncremenLs oI Len. BIock zo IncIudes ground uL-
Luckugrudes(joInLdIrecLuLLuckmunILIon|JDAM|undsmuIIdIumeLerbomb|SDB|)unduIrcruILduLu
IInks;BIockoIncIudessIde-IookIngrudururruysunddeIensesuressIoncuubIIILIes.
zo;
nLervIew wILh -zz rogrum oIhcIuI.
zo8
AbouL LhIrLy-hve uIrcruIL wIII robubIy remuIn In BIock zo conhguruLIon, whIch Is hne Ior Lhe LruInIng
grouuLTynduIIAIrorceBuse,IorIdu.
zoq
AssumesunuverugerocuremenLcosLoI$1;mIIIIoneruIrcruIL.
OPTION #3: EXPAND THE NUMBER OF JETS PER SQUADRON FROM EIGHTEEN
TO TWENTY-FOUR. I Lhe DoD IeudershI IeeIs LhuL exunsIon oI Lhe -zz eeL Lo hII
ugucuusedbyruLIonuIIzIngLhe-rogrumwouIdberudenL,ILshouIdbedone
busedonunoeruLIonuIIogIc.ThIsoLIonwouIdreLuInLhenumberoIRuLorsquud-
rons (seven), buL wouId hII Lhem ouL Lo u much more combuL-cuubIe LwenLy-Iour-jeL
sLundurduIongwILhLherequIsILeLruInIng,LesL,bucku,unduLLrILIonreserveuIrcruIL.
ThIswouIdrequIreunuddILIonuIIorLy-LwocombuL-codedRuLorsIoruLoLuIoIeIghLy
uddILIonuIjeLsuLubouL$1$1qbIIIIonInrocuremenLcosLs,noLIonuIIyboughLover
u Iour-yeur erIod uL Lhe currenL ruLe oI LwenLy jeLs er yeur.
z1o
Through zoz8 LhIs
oLIonwouIduIsoresuILInunuddILIonuIoeruLIonsundmuInLenunce(O&M)bIIIoI
uroxImuLeIy$qbIIIIon,IoruLoLuIOLIoncosLoI$zz$zqbIIIIonoveruLwenLy-
yeursun.ToruLIonuIIzeLhecurrenLAEmIsmuLch,LhesevenoeruLIonuIsquudrons
shouId be sIIL InLo one squudron In euch oI hve AE uIrs, wILh Lhe uddILIonuI Lwo
squudrons servIng us u sLruLegIc reserve. Euch squudron wouId consLILuLe u much
moreIormIdubIeIorce,ubIeLosusLuInzqJ;combuLuIruLroIsoveruIongererIodoI
LImeLhunLhecurrenLsquudrons.
OPTION #4: REDUCE AND ACCELERATE F-35A PROCUREMENT.The-IghLnIng
IsLheeIehunLInLheroomoILheDoDrocuremenLrogrum.LwusdesIgnedus
umuILIroIecomIemenLLoLheAIrorce-zz,reIucIngAIrorce-16s,A-1os,und
-1Es,NuvyundMurIneCorsJA-18AJCJDs,undMurIneCorsAV-8Bs.ThIsum-
bILIous gouI Is reecLed by u rojecLed rogrum cosL oI over $oo bIIIIon - u rIce LhuL
dwurIs oLher DoD ucquIsILIon rogrums. Moreover, IL wus secIhcuIIy desIgned us u
muILInuLIonuI uIrcruIL rogrum. As oI Loduy, Lhe UnILed KIngdom, Cunudu, Denmurk,
Norwuy, Lhe NeLherIunds, LuIy, Turkey, srueI, SInguore, und AusLruIIu ure eILher
cooeruLIngurLIcIunLsInLherogrumorInLendLourchusesomeuIrcruIL.
z11
UnIorLunuLeIy, whIIe Lhe -zz Is u cIeur hIgh-end sysLem wILh secIhc cuubIIILIes
crILIcuILoIuLureUSmIIILuryoeruLIons,Lhe-reresenLsucIussIcmIddIe-weIghL
cuubIIILyexcessIveIy sohIsLIcuLed und exensIve Ior ersIsLenL sLrIke oeruLIons
In Lhe benIgn uIr envIronmenLs oI Lhe deveIoIng worId und mosL IrreguIur wurIure
oeruLIons,yeLnoLcuubIeenoughLoconLrIbuLeeIIecLIveIyLousLressIngcumuIgn
uguInsL u nuLIon emIoyIng modern unLI-uccessJureu-denIuI deIenses. The eru oI
mussed sLrIke hghLers oeruLIng wILh ImunILy Irom cIose-In buses no Ionger dehnes
oeruLIonuI uLIIILy In Lhe mosL ImorLunL IunnIng scenurIos. n Lhe IuLure, uny US
muIn oeruLIng buse Ior shorL-runge hghLers wIII IIkeIy be vuInerubIe Lo boLh susLuIned
shorL-rungeundIong-rungeguIdedweuonuLLucks.ThIsrobIemuIIesequuIIyLo
Lhe-zzorLhe-,buLwILhLheroerInvesLmenLsIndIsersed,hurdenedsheILers,
z1o
AssumesunuverugerocuremenLcosLoI$1;omIIIIoneruIrcruIL.
z11
SLehenTrImbIe,oreIgnServIce:-LuckIesrIcIngIssueIorIoreIgnbuyers,Flightglobal,Murch
;,zoo8,uccesseduL:hLL:JJwww.IghLgIobuI.comJurLIcIesJzoo8Jo;JoJzzo6qJIoreIgn-servIce-I--
LuckIes-rIcIng-Issue-Ior-IoreIgn.hLmIon1ArIIzooq.
ILshouIdbeossIbIeLokeeumoderuLenumberoIhIgh-IeverugeerIormunceuIrcruIL
In Lhe hghL - IucIng u hIgh remIum on LheIr IndIvIduuI cuubIIILy. AIr suerIorILy
hghLers cun be bused cIoser Lo Lhe hghL, whIIe more eIIecLIve bombers cun oeruLe
IrommuchIongerrunge.nuddILIon,uguInsLusohIsLIcuLedIoe,hIghIyconsLruIned
Lunker resources wIII be Luxed heuvIIy In suorLIng Lhe uIr suerIorILy mIssIon,
whereLhe-,IuckIngLheerIormunceundmIssIIecurrIugeoILhe-zzRuLor,Is
cIeurIy InIerIor.
z1z
MosL ImorLunLIy, onIy bombers cun rovIde Lhe reuch, uyIoud,
undersIsLencerequIredIorLhesLrIkemIssIonInLhemosLLhreuLenIngundremoLe
urLs oI Lhe worId. Thus, whIIe Lhe - mIghL be IdeuI Ior re-hghLIng DeserL SLorm
or Kosovo, IL Is onIy murgInuIIy suILed Lo Lhe rojecLed hIghJIow LhreuL envIronmenL,
und Lhus Lhe sLruLegIc und oeruLIonuI oorLunILy cosLs oI ursuIng Lhe currenL
rogrumIsveryhIgh.
AILhoughLhecuseIorreducIngLheLoLuI-ArocuremenLhussLrongsLruLegIc
IogIc, becuuse oI Lhe muILIservIce und muILInuLIonuI usecLs oI Lhe - rogrum,
cunceIIIngLheenLIrerogrumIsnoLuvIubIeoLIon.nunyevenL,beIngumoremod-
ern desIgn Lhun Lhe -zz, Lhe IghLnIng hus greuL cuucILy Ior uduLuLIon us Lhe
uIr combuL envIronmenL evoIves. SecIhcuIIy, IL hus Lhe suce, ower, und cooIIng Ior
IusL rocessors LhuL run hIgh-order-Iunguuge sysLem soILwure, u IuII InLernuI hber-
oLIc communIcuLIons neL, und u sIew oI Iow-observubIe sensor uerLures und Iow
robubIIILyoIInLerceL(P)unLennus.The-AueursLobeusoIIddesIgnwILh
IuLure uduLIve exIbIIILy, und rovIdes needed dIversILy In Lhe IuLure hghLer Iorce.
SLIII, IL reresenLs un oorLunILy cosL LhuL oses Lhe sIngIe greuLesL LhreuL Lo Lhe
IuLureAIrorcessLruLegIcvIubIIILy,undrIsksbIeedIngLheAIrorcewhILeoverLhe
nexLLwenLyyeurs.
ThereIore,LheAIrorcecouIdundshouIdconsIdercuLLIngILsIunnedbuyLoIree
uresourcesIoroLherressIngrogrumrequIremenLs.ArudenLcomromIsewouId
beLoreduceLhecurrenLAIrorceIunLobuyoI1,;6-AsLhroughzoqbyjusL
overhuIIundIncreusIngLheurchuseruLe,resuILIngInuLoLuIoI88-s,orqo
combuL-coded -As on Lhe rum by zozo. ThIs wouId yIeId LhIrLy squudrons oI
eIghLeencombuL-coded-Asbyzoz1InsLeudoIIorLysquudronsbyzoz8underLhe
currenLIun.
z1
ReducIngLhebuywouIduIsouIIowLheAIrorceLobuyLhreeuddILIonuIeIghLeen-
Iune -zz squudrons (oLIon ubove). ThIs wouId gIve euch oI Lhe Len zoz8 AEs
z1z
- cun onIy curry Iour uIr-Lo-uIr mIssIIes In ILs mosL sLeuILhy conhguruLIon. n conLrusL, RussIun-
desIgned Su-z; Iunkers und LheIr more udvunced derIvuLIves such us Lhe Su-oMKK, Su-, und Su-
,curryLenormoreuIrInLerceLmIssIIes.SeesomecomuruLIveunuIysIsbyugrouudvocuLIng-zz
overLhe-uL:JoInLSLrIkeIghLer,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.uusuIrower.neLJjsI.hLmI,onzMurch
zooq.
z1
The secIhcs oI Lhe cuL were bused on AE Iorce sLrucLure, wILh Lhree eIghLeen-uIrcruIL squudrons er
AE, or u LoLuI oI qo oeruLIonuI jeLs, or sIx -A squudrons (1o8) er AE uIr, Lhe LoLuI umounL
uvuIIubIeIorsLeudy-sLuLe,susLuInubIedeIoymenLuLunygIvenLIme.NoLeLhuLbecuuse-AunILswIII
noLhuveurImuryuIr-Lo-uIroeruLIonuImIssIon,LheyuIsodonoLrequIreLwenLy-Iour-jeLsquudrons
LoconducLzqJ;oeruLIons,uswouIdLhe-zz.
The F-35A appears
to be a solid design
with future adaptive
fexibility, and
provides needed
diversity in the
future fghter force.
Still, it represents
an opportunity
cost that poses
the single greatest
threat to the future
Air Forces strategic
viability, and risks
bleeding the Air
Force white over
the next twenty
years.
LhreesquudronsoIeIghLeen-AsundoneoIeIghLeen-zzs.ThIsreresenLsuneL
reducLIonoI8o6uIrcruIL(qoIewer-sundqqmore-zzs)IromLhecurrenLro-
grum,resuILIngInrocuremenLsuvIngsoI$6z$;;bIIIIonoverLheIIIeoILheLworo-
grums.
z1q
urLhermore,byucceIeruLIngLhe-AbuIIdruLeLo11oeryeurundcon-
cIudIng - rocuremenL eurIIer, sIgnIhcunL uddILIonuI suvIngs couId be uchIeved.
However, O&M cosLs Irom LhIs ucceIeruLed, consLrIcLed rocuremenL scheduIe wIII
ucLuuIIy rIse by ubouL $1z bIIIIon by zoz8 due Lo Lhe ucceIeruLed buy II no oLher hghLer
Iorce sLrucLure ucLIons ure Luken, yIeIdIng u LoLuI suvIngs oI some $o$6 bIIIIon
overLheLwenLy-yeurLImesunoILheQDR.
z1
OPTION #5: CUT LEGACY FIGHTER FORCE STRUCTURE.TheAIrorceconLInuesLo
oeruLe u subsLunLIuI Iorce oI Iegucy hghLer uIrcruIL, IncIudIng -1C EugIe uIr suerI-
orILy hghLers, -1E SLrIke EugIe und -16 IghLIng uIcon muILI-roIe hghLer-bombers,
undA-1oWurLhogcIoseuIrsuorLuIrcruIL.BecuuseoILhe1qqosrocuremenLhoII-
duy,LheuverugeugeoILheseuIrcruILIsreuchIngunrecedenLedIeveIs,mukIngLhem
IncreusIngIy dIIhcuIL Lo kee In Lhe uIr.
AccordIngIy,InuddILIonLocuLLIngbuckLherocuremenLoI-As,LheAIrorce
shouId cuL buck ILs Iunned Iegucy hghLer Iorce sLrucLure some ercenL by zo1,
reuchIng ubouL one Lhousund combuL-coded hghLers, und susLuIn LhIs IeveI Lhrough
zoz8.
z16
ThIsreresenLsumoreuggressIvedruw-downLhunLhecurrenLAIrorceIun,
whIch cuIIs Ior scuIIng buck Lhe -1C Iorce Lo hILy SIIver EugIe (AESA-equIed)
NuLIonuI Guurd homeIund deIense InLerceLors, und reducIng Lhe A-1oC eeL Lo hve
eIghLeen-Iune squudrons (nIneLy oeruLIonuI jeLs) by zo1, und druwIng down Lo
zerobyzoz.TheIunwouIduIsoreLuInLhe-1ESLrIkeEugIeIorcesLrucLureuL18
combuL-codedjeLsLhroughouLLhenexLLwenLyyeurs,undwouIdmodIIyLhe-16Iorce
Lo un uII-BIock qoJo conhguruLIon, und reIuce uII oI Lhem wILh -As by zozo.
NoLIonuIIy, LhIs Iun wouId resuIL In u zoz8 oeruLIonuI hghLer Iorce oI qo8 uIr-
cruIL, IncIudIng 18o -zz RuLors, qo -A IghLnIng s, o SIIver EugIes, und
18-1ESLrIkeEugIes.ThIsIorcereresenLsuoercenLreducLIonIromLhe1,oo
LoLuI uIrcruIL In Lhe currenL Iun. However, LhIs smuIIer hghLer eeL wouId be much
newer, wILh Lhe -zz und -A modeIs comrIsIng ubouL 8o ercenL oI Lhe Iorce.
ThIsIorcesLrucLurewouIdcosLroorLIonuLeIyIessLomun,modIIy,undoeruLeus
uresuIL.WILhLhIshuseddruwdown,rojecLIngunuverugesuvIngsoI$mIIIIonIn
z1q
The Iow hgure Is bused on no IurLher reuI y-uwuy cosL growLh over currenL JoInL EvuIuuLIon Teum
(JET)rojecLIonsIordecreusIngroducLIoncosLsoverLImewILhu1oercenLIncreusedueLoLhero-
ducLIon cuL, boLh very oLImIsLIc rojecLIons. The hIgher hgure Is bused on u 1o ercenL y-uwuy cosL
growLh,undunuddILIonuI1o%growLhdueLorocuremenLcuL,umoremId-rungerojecLIon.Busedon
hIsLorIcuIerIormunceoIoLhermujoruIrcruILrogrums,unoveruIIo%Increuse(ormore)IsenLIreIy
IIkeIyundcouIdruIseLheLwenLy-yeuroIIseLrojecLIonLo$1qobIIIIon.
z1
AverugeO&MIor-AwusesLImuLedLobe$mIIIIonerjeLeryeur,LhesumeussumLIonusedIor
Lhe uggreguLe hghLer Iorce beIow.
z16
ThIsLoLuIussumesseIecLIonoIOLIon,orqquddILIonuI-zzRuLors.
The Air Force should
cut back its planned
legacy fghter force
structure some 35
percent by 2015,
reaching about one
thousand combat-
coded fghters, and
sustain this level
through 2028.
O&M cosLs er jeL er yeur (ussumIng no munower suvIngs), Lhe AIr orce shouId
reuIIzeunuggreguLeO&MwIndIuIIoIubouL$zo$zbIIIIonLhroughzoz8.
z1;
Tobe
sure, Lhe roosed cuL In -A numbers und Lhe sLeeer reducLIon In Iegucy hghLer
uIrcruILreresenLucuIcuIuLedrIsk.However,LhesLruLegIcIogIcIorLhemoveIscIeur
undcomeIIIng,usIsLheneedLoIreeuAIrorceresourcesLouddressoLhermore
ressIngrIorILIes.
OPTION #6: ADVOCATE A FORCE STRUCTURE REALIGNMENT COMMISSION.
DesILe ILs broud sLruLegIc und hscuI coherence, one druwbuck oI Lhe recommended
IunwouIdbeILsdomesLIcoIILIcuIImIIcuLIons.CongresshusbeenreIucLunLLou-
rove AIr orce Iuns Lo cuL very oId, even decreIL, KC-1E uerIuI reIueIers, C-1oE
LucLIcuI uIrIIILers, und C-A sLruLegIc uIrIIILers, uII oI whIch Iong ugo ussed LheIr
oeruLIonuIIy useIuI IIves. These uIrcruIL conLInue Lo sIhon money uwuy Irom new
rogrums us bIIIIons ure senL on ugrudes und skyrockeLIng O&M cosLs. The AIr
orce ChIeI oI SLuII recenLIy LesLIhed LhuL conLInuIng Lo y congressIonuIIy-roLecLed
uIrcruILLhuLLheServIcehusmurkedIorreLIremenLcosLsLheAmerIcunLuxuyer$q.6
mIIIIon er duy.
z18
YeL Congress conLInues Lo deny Lhe AIr orce Lhe ubIIILy Lo reLIre
LheseuIrcruIL.
ThIs cunnoL conLInue wILhouL dungerousIy IncreusIng nuLIonuI securILy rIsk. The
IuLurevIubIIILyoIAmerIcusuIrowerudvunLugehIngesonsLrongucLIononboLhsIdes
oILhebudgeLsqueezecurrenLIorcesLrucLureundnewucquIsILIons.ConsequenLIy,
somenewmeLhodoIbreukIngLheoIILIcuIIogjummusLbeexIored.OnesoIuLIonLoLhIs
deuLhbyuLhousundmodsrobIemoneLhuLIsuIsoeuLIngLheAIrorcesS&Tund
R&DseedcornmIghLbeLoconveneuBRAC-IIkerocessInwhIchucongressIonuIIy-
uoInLed commIssIon ussembIes un omnIbus Iorce sLrucLure reducLIon uckuge,
und resenLs IL Lo Congress Ior u sIngIe u or down voLe. Such u uckuge wouId
gIveCongressIonuImembersoIILIcuIcoverwhenoIduIrcruILureremovedIromLheIr
dIsLrIcLs.
OPTION #7: ADJUST FIGHTER FORCE MANPOWER. TheAIrorceshouIdconLInue
LoursueoLIonsIormoreIuIIymIxIngucLIve,guurd,undreservemunower(cuIIed
ToLuI orce nLegruLIon) Lo guIn boLh euceLIme eIhcIency und roLuLIonuI wurLIme cu-
ucILy. The benehLs oI InLegruLIon ure evIdenL In Lhe wuy Guurd und Reserve unILs
currenLIydeIoyunderLheAEconsLrucLusIngvoIunLeerIsmruLherLhunmobIIIzu-
LIon.IghLerunILcombuLcuubIIILysLemsnoLonIyIromLhenumberoIIuLIormsIn
z1;
TheucceIeruLedbuyoI-sucLuuIIyIncreusesO&MoverLheAIrorcescurrenLIun,buLonIyreIuLIve
Lo -s. When you hgure In Iegucy cuLs, Lhe uggreguLe O&M suvIngs uccumuIuLe by Lhe sLuLed umounL.
z18
MuckenzIe EugIen, AIrmen vs. ModernIzuLIon: The AIr orce BudgeL DIIemmu, The HerILuge
ounduLIon buckgrounder #zo;, Muy 18, zoo;, uccessed uL hLL:JJwww.herILuge.orgJReseurchJ
NuLIonuISecurILyJbgzo;.cImon1qSeLemberzoo8.
Continuing to fy
congressionally-
protected aircraft
that the Service
has marked for
retirement costs the
American taxpayer
$4.6 million per
day. Yet Congress
continues to deny
the Air Force the
ability to retire
these aircraft.
Lhe squudron, buL uIso Irom Lhe mIx oI IghL crew und muInLenunce munnIng und
exerIenceIeveIs.
or u more oLImIzed conhguruLIon, Lhe AIr orce shouId LrunsILIon more unILs
LouToLuIorcenLegruLIonmodeI.TwodIIIerenLexumIesexIsLLoduy,euchrovId-
IngdIIIerenLudvunLuges.
z1q
TheCIussIcAssocIuLIonIeuLuresLheucLIveIorceownIng
LheweuonsysLemunducLIngusLhehosLunIL,wILhAIrReserveComonenL(ARC)
ersonneI rovIdIng uugmenLuLIon. IghLer unILs uL ungIey AB, VIrgInIu (-zz)
und bomber unILs uL WhILemun AB, MIssourI (B-z) use LhIs modeI.
zzo
The AcLIve
AssocIuLIon modeI, on Lhe oLher hund, InvoIves Lhe ARC ownIng Lhe weuon sys-
LemundLhehosLunIL,wILhuugmenLuLIonbyucLIve-duLyersonneI.The-16unILuL
McEnLIreJoInLNuLIonuIGuurdBuse(JNGB),SouLhCuroIInu,reresenLsunexumIe
oILheAcLIveAssocIuLIon.
zz1
ExerImenLIngwILhboLhmodeIswouIdIIkeIyyIeIdIes-
sonsLhuLcouIdbeuIIedmorebroudIyLogeLmoreouLoILhesmuIIerIorcesLrucLure
recommendedbyLhIssLudy.
BoLh Lhe CIussIc und AcLIve AssocIuLIon modeIs benehL Irom Lhe muLurILy oI ARC
ersonneI.ARCIIoLsundmuInLenunceersonneIurenormuIIymuchmoreexerI-
enced Lhun ucLIve-duLy ersonneI, und cun rovIde u more vIgorous menLorIng und
LruInIngenvIronmenL.AsmenLIoned,LheAIrorcedIIIersIromLheoLherServIcesIn
LheenormoussumsILexendsonLruInIngILseoIeLooeruLeundmuInLuInhIgh-
LechnoIogy sysLems. The ARC rovIdes un IndIsensIbIe servIce by reLuInIng very
hIghIy-LruIned eoIe who wouId oLherwIse Ieuve Lhe AIr orce, Lhereby suvIng Lhe
LIme und money requIred Lo grow new IIoLs or exerIenced uIrcruIL muInLenunce
LechnIcIuns by muInLuInIng Lhem In Lhe Iorce uL u IrucLIon oI Lhe cosL. The roor-
LIonoIInsLrucLorIIoLsundweuonsschooIgruduuLes,LhemosLhIghIy-LruInedund
cuubIe AIrmen, Is LyIcuIIy hIgher uL ANG hghLer unILs, uIIowIng ussocIuLed unILs
LoconducLmoreundhIgher-quuIILyugrudeLruInIngIorLheIrucLIve-duLyIIoLs.n
Lhesumewuy,RANDunuIysLsIoundLhuLANGmuInLenunceorgunIzuLIonsroduced
more euceLIme yIng hours er erson Lhun ucLIve unILs due Lo LheIr greuLer exe-
rIence und LruInIng, In mosL cuses doubIe LhuL oI Lhe ucLIve Iorce.
zzz
AcLIve-reserve
comonenLussocIuLIonsresenLIewneguLIveLrudeoIIsundmunyudvunLuges.
The mosL eIhcIenL munower modeI Ior AIr orce squudrons bused In Lhe UnILed
SLuLes ueurs Lo be Lhe AcLIve AssocIuLe modeI where Lhe ARC serves us Lhe hosL
z1q
ALhIrdLyeoIussocIuLeunILIscuIIedLheARCAssocIuLeundcombInesANGwILhAIrorceReserve
munnIng, und does noL resenL muny eIhcIency or combuL uvuIIubIIILy udvunLuges.
zzo
Meughun McNeII, 1qznd IghLer WIng AcLIvuLes uL ungIey, 1qznd IghLer WIng PubIIc AIIuIrs,
Novemberq,zoo;,uccessedonqNovemberzoo8uLhLL:JJvko.vu.ngb.urmy.mIIJvIrgInIuguurdJnewsJ
novzoo;J1qzndungIey.hLm.
zz1
McEnLIreJNGBhusucLIve-duLyersonneIwhoureudmInIsLruLIveIyussIgnedLoneurbyShuwAB,SC.
Shuw,McEnLIreLosIgnMOUonucLIveussocIuLerogrum,ShuwABressreIeuse,OcLober1z,zoo;,
uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.shuw.uI.mIIJressJurchIveJsLory.us?Id=1zo;18zonNovemberq,zoo8.
zzz
See John G. Drew, eL uI., OLIons Ior MeeLIng Lhe MuInLenunce Demunds oI AcLIve AssocIuLe IyIng
UnILs,RANDCororuLIon,zoo8,uccesseduLhLL:JJwww.rund.orgJubsJmonogruhsJzoo8JRAND_
MG611.dIonqNovemberzoo8.
unIL und Lhe ucLIve comonenL uugmenLs wILh IghL und muInLenunce crews. L re-
quIres Iewer IuII-LIme ucLIve-duLy ersonneI Lo hII AE requIremenLs, resuILIng In
Iower ersonneI cosLs und greuLer uLIIIzuLIon oI euch combuL-coded uIrcruIL. n Lhe
evenL oI u mujor wur, deIoymenL requIremenLs ure Lhe sume regurdIess oI como-
nenL. Moreover, mIxIng exerIenced heId-grude ARC oIhcers wILh comuny-grude oI-
hcers, und more senIor ARC muInLenunce NCOs wILh junIor enIIsLed AIrmen Irom Lhe
ucLIveIorceIeudsLoIessIrIcLIonundubeLLermenLorIngenvIronmenLLhunLheCIussIc
AssocIuLIon, whIch rIsks combInIng hIgher-runkIng oIhcers und NCOs.
zz
RegurdIessoIwhIchToLuIorcemunowermodeIIsused,ILseemscIeurLhuLgreuL-
er use oI comosILe ucLIve-reserve unIL urouches wouId resuIL In cIoser reIuLIon-
shIs beLween Lhe ucLIve und reserve comonenLs, muxImIze Lhe combuL cuubIIILy
oIushrInkIngIorce,undsuvesubsLunLIuIunILsLurL-uundO&McosLsoverseveruI
decudes.
OPTION #8: HOMELAND AIR DEFENSE AND SUPPORT FUNDING.nLheIuLure,Lhe
UnILed SLuLes muy noL enjoy u cIeur deIIneuLIon beLween mujor conLIngency oeru-
LIons,homeIunduIrdeIense,undhumunILurIunsuorLmIssIons.ndeed,usuresuIL
oI Lhe rIorILIes IuvorIng overseus conLIngencIes, Lhe homeIund uIr deIense und hu-
munILurIunsuorLmIssIonshuvebeenuccordedureIuLIveIyIowrIorILybyLheAIr
orce.However,usseenonSeLember11zoo1,ILIsossIbIeIornon-sLuLeudversurIes
LobrIngLhewurLoLheAmerIcunhomeIund.Thus,everyoeruLIonuIIunIormujor
combuLoeruLIonsshouIddeveIouhomeIunddeIenseunnexLhuLIuysouLIorcesund
commund und conLroI reIuLIonshIs Ior oLenLIuI homeIund deIense mIssIons, wILh
LhegouIoInormuIIzIngIundIng,equIIng,undLruInIngIorhomeIunddeIenseund
suorLrequIremenLs.TheAIrorceshouIdIncororuLeLheroerIeveIoIIundIng
IorLhosehomeIunddeIenserequIremenLsusweII.
The nexL secLIon rovIdes recommenduLIons uIIecLIng u key eIemenL oI US uIr-
oweruIrbuses.AscoveredInChuLer1,LheAIrorcesuIIersIromuCONUSbuse
excess, und un overseus buse uccess shorLIuII. RIghLIng LhuL ImbuIunce wIII reIIeve
ressureonIuLureAIrorcebudgeLsundrovIdeuccessLocrILIcuIoverseusbuses.
AIR FORCE CONUS AND OVERSEAS BASING

ResLorIng Lhe AIr orce`s InsLILuLIonuI conhdence und reIevunce und reshuIng ILs Iu-
Lure Iorce sLrucLure Lo beLLer conIorm Lo exIsLIng und emergIng securILy chuIIenges
wIIIbecrILIcuILoLheAIrorcesubIIILyLoerIormusukeyurLoILhejoInLIorce.ThIs
eIIorLmusLuIsoIncIuderuLIonuIIzIngLheAIrorcesInLerIor(InsIdeLheconLInenLuI
UnILedSLuLes)undexLerIor(overseus)busIngsLrucLure.TheUSbusIngneLworkIsLhe
Iuunch IuLIorm Ior US uIr oeruLIons, und LhIs neLwork hus been negIecLed sInce
zz
CIussIc AssocIuLIons mIghL be u more eIhcIenL modeI Ior OCONUS buses such us In Euroe und Koreu,
where you couId hnd skIIIed AIr orce ReservIsLs who wouId sLuy on Lo uugmenL ucLIve-duLy hosL unILs.
Lhe end oI Lhe CoId Wur.
zzq
The IoIIowIng Lwo secLIons ouLIIne some ImorLunL hrsL
sLes LhuL Lhe AIr orce shouId Luke Lo remedy LhIs sILuuLIon. However, unIIke Lhe
revIous recommenduLIons Iound In LhIs reorL, whIch deend IurgeIy on Indeen-
denL AIr orce decIsIons, Lhe IoIIowIng recommenduLIons wouId requIre sIgnIhcunL
exLernuIcooeruLIon.

Close Excess Interior (CONUS) Bases
TheAIrorcehusexcessCONUSbusecuucILyIorILsIunnedIorcesLrucLure.PuyIng
IorexcessbusecuucILyweIghsheuvIIyonAIrorceIeuders,usILconsLILuLesuLuxon
unuIreudydeIeLedServIcebudgeL.ILheAIrorceunderLukesuoercenLcuLIn
Iegucy hghLer Iorce sLrucLure by zo1 us cuIIed Ior by LhIs reorL, Lhe excess buse Lux
wouId be even more deLrImenLuI. AnoLher Buse ReuIIgnmenL und CIosure round In
Lhezo1zLImeIrumewouIduIIowLheAIrorceLogeLunoLhersLecIoserLouLLuInIng
uIorceosLureLhuLmuxImIzesILscombuLowerundsuorLsumoveLowurdmore
cuubIehIgh-endIorcesundmoreeIIecLIveIow-endcuubIIILIes.
UnIorLunuLeIy,exerIenceshowsLhuLsuvIngsIrombusecIosuresurenoLreuIIzed
Ior severuI yeurs; neverLheIess, buse cIosures cun Iree u sIgnIhcunL resources over
LIme.AnuIysIsshowsLhuLLheBRACroundsIn1qqund1qqdecreusedDeurLmenL
oIDeIenseInIrusLrucLurebyubouL1zercenL.TheDeurLmenLoIDeIenseesLImuLed
LhuLusImIIur1zercenLcuLInLhezooBRACroundwouIdhuveresuILedInsuvIngs
oIubouL$bIIIIonbyzo11,undInrecurrIngyeurIysuvIngsoI$bIIIIonLhereuILer(or
$8bIIIIonLhroughzoz8).nLheend,however,onIyuIrucLIonoILheroosedcuLs
InLhezooBRACwereudoLed,onereusonwhyLheAIrorcesuIIersIromuCONUS
buseexcessrobIem.
zz
ILheAIrorcecouIdreuIIzeuzoercenLreducLIonInbusIng
InIrusLrucLureIromunewzo1zCONUSBRACrocess,LheAIrorcecouIdgeneruLeu
oLenLIuIneLsuvIngsoIubouL$zbIIIIonIromzo18Lhroughzoz8,orubouL$zbIIIIon
eryeur.
zz6
SuvIngscouIdbere-InvesLedInLherogrumsrecommendedInLhIsreorL,
oroLheremergenLneedssuchusIundIngoverseusbuseexunsIonundhurdenIng.
zzq
or Lhrough LreuLmenL oI evoIvIng US gIobuI deIense osLure sInce Lhe end oI Lhe CoId Wur, see
Andrew KreInevIch und RoberL O. Work, A New GIobuI DeIense PosLure Ior Lhe Second TrunsoceunIc
Eru, CenLer Ior SLruLegIc und BudgeLury AssessmenLs, zoo;, uccessed uL: hLL:JJwww.csbuonIIne.
orgJqPubIIcuLIonsJPubIbruryJR.zoo;oqzo.A_New_GIobuI_DeIenJR.zoo;oqzo.A_New_GIobuI_
DeIen.dIonzMurchzooq.
zz
zooqBRACReorL,uge6.
zz6
ThIs esLImuLe uses DeurLmenL oI DeIense rojecLIons Ior u zo ercenL cuL In InIrusLrucLure IunL
reIucemenL vuIue (PRV) In zoo, udds zo ercenL Ior InuLIon Irom zo11 Lo zo18, und gIves Lhe AIr
orceILscurrenLbudgeLuryshuremInusnon-dIscreLIonuryexLernuIudd-onssuchusNP(zqercenL)
oILhesuvIngsIromzo18(sIxyeursuILeruzo1zBRAC)Lhroughzoz8.
Expand Investment in Exterior (Overseas) Bases
The decIIne oI Lhe US CoId Wur overseus busIng neLwork wus Lhe nuLuruI resuIL oI
Lhe coIIuse oI Lhe SovIeL UnIon. However, overseus buse cIosures roceeded dur-
IngLhe1qqoswILhIILLIesLruLegIcruLIonuIebeyondshrInkIngLhebusIngneLworkIn
resonseLouworIdwILhouLuSovIeLLhreuL.nLhewukeoILhezoo1QDR,OSDcor-
recLedLhuLsIIdebyInILIuLIngucomrehensIvegIobuIosLurerevIew,shIILIngemhu-
sIs Irom overseus muIn oeruLIng buses Lo Iorwurd oeruLIng sILes und cooeruLIve
securILyIocuLIons.
zz;
WhIIeLhIsosLurereuIIgnmenLwus,onbuIunce,osILIveIromusLruLegIcersec-
LIve, IL dId noL go Iur enough Lo exund or Imrove US buse uccess In Lhe regIon oI
growIng ImorLunce Lo US InLeresLs: EusL AsIu. The emergence oI EusL AsIu us Lhe
newcenLeroIgeosLruLegIcgruvILysuggesLsudruw-downoIEuroeunbusesundun
exunsIon oI AsIun buse uccess (noL necessurIIy buses), urLIcuIurIy Ior Iund-bused
uIr Iorces. n Lhe PucIhc, ChInu`s exunsIon oI Iong-runge sLrIke und SR cuucILy wIII
IIkeIyIuceUSIorwurdbusesuLhIghrIsk,IorcInguuIIbuckIromLhesebusesdur-
Ing u oLenLIuI crIsIs, und quIckIy overwheImIng uvuIIubIe cuucILy uL Lhe mujor US
owerrojecLIonbusesInAIusku,HuwuII,undGuum.AccordIngIy,LheDeurLmenL
oI DeIense, US PucIhc Commund, und PucIhc AIr orces musL begIn u serIous PucIhcJ
AsIun buse ussessmenL whIch Lukes InLo uccounL Lhe growIng LhreuL Lo uII regIonuI
buses Irom Iong-runge uIr und mIssIIe Iorces. JusL us Lhey dId In Lhe CoId Wur, US
sLruLegIsLsmusLonceuguInconsIderLheIourmosLImorLunLosLureconsIderuLIons
oI oeruLIng under LhreuL oI Iong-runge surrIse uLLuck: (1) buse dIsersuI (hysI-
cuIIy und oeruLIonuIIy); (z) buse hurdenIng; () ucLIve deIenses; und (q) survIvubIe
wurnIng.
OI Lhese Iour osLure consIderuLIons, erhus Lhe mosL crILIcuI neur-Lerm ucLIon
shouId be Lhe hurdenIng oI Andersen AIr Buse In Guum, und Lhe consLrucLIon oI
uIrcruIL dIsersuI buses In Lhe NorLhern MurIunus IsIunds und PuIuu.
zz8
The Iuck oI
hurdenedorIocuIdIsersuIIucIIILIesonorneurGuumcombInedwILhLheIncreusIng
concenLruLIonoIUSmIIILuryIorcesLhereresenLsuIucruLIveLurgeLLhuLweukensLhe
regIonuImIIILurybuIunce,roducesIncenLIvesIorunudversuryLoIuunchreemLIve
uLLucks,unddeLrucLsIromregIonuIcrIsIssLubIIILy.
AnuIyses oI uILernuLIves shouId IncIude cosL-benehL LrudeoIIs beLween ussIve und
ucLIvedeIenses.ModernbusehurdenIngdesIgnsmusLuddressudIIIerenLLhreuLLhun
oId-sLyIesheILers,uswusdemonsLruLedInDeserLSLormwhenUSIuser-guIdeden-
eLruLIngbombsbreechedruqInucIeur-hurdeneduIrcruILsheILerswILhreIuLIveeuse.
zz;
See LesLImony Lo Lhe SenuLe Armed ServIces CommILLee ubouL Lhe gIobuI osLure revIew on z
SeLemberzooqbySecreLuryoIDeIenseDonuIdRumsIeIdundregIonuIcommundersuL:hLL:JJwww.
deIenseIInk.mIIJubsJdIsJqdrzoo1.dI,uccessedonz;Murchzooq.
zz8
Neur-Lerm cundIduLes Ior dIsersuI busIng In Lhe PucIhc IncIude PuIuu, TInIun, SuIun, Wuke, JohnsLon,
KwujuIeIn, BIkInI, und EnIweLok. ncreuses In uccess Lo dIsersuI busIng wILh currenL regIonuI uIIIes
shouIduIsobeursuedusurLoILhIseIIorL.
The Department of
Defense, US Pacifc
Command, and
Pacifc Air Forces
must begin a serious
Pacifc/Asian base
assessment which
takes into account
the growing threat
to all regional bases
from long-range air
and missile forces.
HurdenIng shouId Luke Lhe Iorm oI Iurge uIrcruIL sheILers mude oI uILru-hIgh er-
IormunceconcreLe(UHPC)LhuLwouIdremoveLheIncenLIveLouLLuckLhebusewILh
dIsersedcIusLermunILIons.
zzq
HurdenIngmeusuresuIsoIncIudehurdened(LhIcker)
runwuysundImrovedruIdrunwuyreuIr(RRR)cuucILyLhuLenubIesrunwuys
reconsLILuLIonquIckIyuILerbeInguLLucked.AILhoughhurdenIngoIIersLhemosLcosL-
eIIecLIveneur-LermmeusureoIuddressIngLhegrowIngLhreuLosedbyAzJADcuu-
bIIILIes, IL musL uIwuys be suIemenLed wILh dIsersuI, ucLIve deIenses, und uLLuck
wurnIngLoIncreuseLhesurvIvubIIILyoIUSowerrojecLIonIorces.
WhIIeLherecommenduLIonsInLhIschuLercunundshouIdbedebuLedIndeLuII,
consIdered LogeLher, Lhey wouId roduce u more eIIecLIve aggregate Iorce osLure
overLhenexLLwenLyyeurs.ThechuLerLhuLIoIIowsmukesuIewconcIudIngobservu-
LIonsubouLLheImorLunceoILheAIrorcessLruLegIcIoresLreIuLIveLoILsrogrum-
muLIcLrees.
zzq
UHPCsLrucLuresureubouLIourLImesLhesLrengLhoIsLundurdconcreLe(comurubIeLosLeeI)Incom-
ressIon.LIsuIsocuIIedReucLIvePowderConcreLe(RPC).SeeLheUILruHIghPerIormunceConcreLe
(UHPC), ProceedIngs oI Lhe nLernuLIonuI SymosIum oI UILru HIgh PerIormunce ConcreLe, 11q
SeLember,zooquLhLL:JJwww.uress.unI-kusseI.deJonIIneJIreIJq;8--8qq8-o86-o.voIILexL.IreI.dI,
uccessedonSeLemberzoo8.
CONCLUSIONS AND WAY AHEAD
TheroosuIsconLuInedInLhIsreorL,whIIenoLexhuusLIve,dIIIerInImorLunLwuys
Irom Lhe currenL AIr orce rogrum. As Lhe IoIIowIng shorL summury reveuIs, Lo-
geLherLheywouIdresuILInunAIrorceoverLhenexLLwenLyyeursLhuLIsbeLLerre-
uredLouddressLoduysLhreuLsundLheunIoIdIngchuIIengesoILheIuLuresecurILy
envIronmenL.
These recommenduLIons wouId creuLe un AIr orce much more cuubIe oI yIng
und hghLIng Irom Iong runge. Under currenL AIr orce Iuns, onIy 6 ercenL oI ILs
zoz8AIrorceuIrurmwIIIconsIsLoIIong-rungebombers.TheIunresenLedhere
wouId see LhuL ercenLuge uImosL LrIIe, Lo 1; ercenL oI Lhe sLrIke urm, wILh one
hundred uddILIonuI bombers und eIghLy uddILIonuI Iong-runge SR IuLIorms heIded,
mosLoILhemIow-observubIedesIgns.ThIsIunuIsoresuILsInumuchmoresLeuILhy
undsurvIvubIeIorceucrossILsLoLuIrungeoIcuubIIILIes.romuIorceLhuLInzooq
hus Iow-observubIe or sLeuILhy IuLIorms In onIy ercenL oI ILs hghLer Iorce, zo er-
cenLoIILsbomberIorce,undnoneoIILsSRIorce,LhIsIunresuILsInuzoz8AIrorce
wILh Iow-observubIe IuLIorms In 8o ercenL oI ILs hghLer Iorce, over 6o ercenL oI
ILsbomberIorce,undoveroercenLoIILsSRIorce.ThecombInuLIonoIrungeund
sLeuILhmukesLhIsIunIurmorecuubIeoIconIronLIngboLhrIsIngeersundnucIeur-
urmed regIonuI udversurIes. Moreover, subsLunLIuI Iorce sLrucLure uddILIons In Lhe
IormoIIIghLuIrcruILundUAVsmukeLhIsAIrorcemuchmoreuseIuIundsusLuInubIe
InroLrucLed,dIsLrIbuLedIrreguIurwurIureenvIronmenLs.
SImIIurIy, LhIs Iun wouId LrunsIorm Lhe ServIces suce Iorces, whIch ure com-
Ing under greuLer LhreuL. The IuLure suce Iorce, wILh beLLer suce sILuuLIon uwure-
nessundsuLeIIILeuLLuckwurnIng,ImrovedussIveunducLIvedeIensesIorsuLeIIILes
Irom Iow-EurLh Lo geosynchronous orbILs, und new oeruLIonuIIy resonsIve LucLI-
cuI reIucemenL suLeIIILes, wouId be Iur beLLer suILed Lo u IuLure In whIch oosed
suceoeruLIonsseemvIrLuuIIyguurunLeed.DeIerrIngLheTrunsIormuLIonuISuLeIIILe
Progrum(TSAT)whIIebuIIdInguLhenuLIonuIsucedesIgnundIndusLrIuIbusewIII
uIIow Lhe AIr orce Lo desIgn und heId u new generuLIon oI suLeIIILes LhuL wIII enubIe
LheUnILedSLuLesLoreLuInILsIong-heIdudvunLugeInsuce.
Under LhIs Iun, CONUS busIng wouId be ruLIonuIIzed und reduced Lo suorL u
smuIIer, more eIhcIenL Iorce sLrucLure, whIch wouId Iree u Lhe resources Lo hurd-
en und exund overseus buses, whIch ure under sLeudIIy IncreusIng LhreuL oI Iong-
runge guIded mIssIIe uLLuck. NoL onIy wouId LhIs Iun boIsLer US ower rojecLIon,
buLILwouIduIsoconLrIbuLegreuLIyLoumoreenguged,muILIIuLeruIUSIoreIgnoII-
cyInwhIchLheAIrorceussumesumoresubsLunLIuIroIeInduy-Lo-duydIIomuLIc
InLerchunge.
PerhusmosLImorLunL,LhIsreorLuIsosuggesLsconcreLewuysIorLheAIrorce
Lo resoIve ILs currenL InsLILuLIonuI IdenLILy crIsIs. DurIng Lhe 1qqos, Lhe AIr orce
shouIdered Lhe rIncIuI burden oI every mujor conIcL und seemed uscendunL. Now,
onIy u decude IuLer, IL hnds ILseII wILh ILs generuIs mosLIy shunned Irom regIonuI com-
buLunLcommunds,conIronLIngquesLIonsregurdIngILsnucIeuroeruLIons,IorIeILIng
ILsubIIILyLomunugeumujorucquIsILIonseIecLIon,undquesLIonIngILsownreIevunce
InLheongoIngwursInruqundAIghunIsLun.RIsIngouLoILhIsInsLILuLIonuIsIumre-
quIresuIocusonLheIundumenLuIs,oneoIwhIchIsrecuLurIngumeunIngIuIvIsIon
IoruIrundsuceowerundreuIIgnIngILsInvesLmenLsundIorceosLurecomosILIon
uccordIngIy.
GLOSSARY
AAV AmhIbIousAssuuILVehIcIe
A2/AD AnLI-uccessJureu-denIuI
ACC AIrCombuLCommund
ADVENT AduLIveVersuLIIeEngIneTechnoIogy
AEF AIrundSuceExedILIonuryorce
AETC AIrEducuLIonundTruInIngCommund
AFB AIrorceBuse
AFMC AIrorceMuLerIeICommund
AFRC AIrorceReserveCommund
AFSOC AIrorceSecIuIOeruLIonsCommund
AFSPC AIrorceSuceCommund
ALCM AIr-IuunchedcruIsemIssIIe
AMC AIrMobIIILyCommund
ANG AIrNuLIonuIGuurd
ASAT AnLI-suLeIIILe
ASVAB ArmedServIcesVocuLIonuIundALILudeBuLLery
AWACS AIrborneWurnIngundConLroISysLem
B-1B uncer(bomber)
B-2A SIrIL(bomber)
BRAC BuseReuIIgnmenLundCIosure
C-130E/J HercuIes(LrunsorL)
CENTCOM CenLruICommund
CMO ChIeI MunugemenL OIhcer
CSAR CombuLSeurchundRescue
DARPA DeIenseAdvuncedReseurchProjecLsAgency
F-22 RuLor (hghLer)
F-35A IghLnIngJoInLSLrIkeIghLer
FWE IghLerwIngequIvuIenL
GEO GeosLuLIonuryorbIL
G-RAMM GuIdedrockeLs,urLIIIery,morLursundmIssIIes
IAD nLegruLedAIrDeIense
ICBM nLerconLInenLuIbuIIIsLIcmIssIIe
IED mrovIsedexIosIvedevIce
IOC nILIuIoeruLIonuIcuubIIILy
ISR nLeIIIgence,surveIIIunce,undreconnuIssunce
JASSM JoInLAIr-Lo-SurIuceSLundoIIMIssIIe
JDAM JoInLDIrecLALLuckMunILIon
KC-1o ExLender(uerIuIreIueIIngLunker)
KC-135E/R SLruLoLunker(uerIuIreIueIIngLunker)
KC-X uLureuerIuIreIueIIngLunker
LEO oweurLhorbIL
MQ-1 PreduLor(unmunneduerIuIvehIcIe)
MQ-9 Reuer(unmunneduerIuIvehIcIe)
MVM MounLedverLIcuImuneuver
NGB NexL-generuLIonbomberorB-
OSD OIhce oI Lhe SecreLury oI DeIense
PACAF PucIhc AIr orces
PACOM PucIhc Commund
PLA PeoIesIberuLIonArmy(ChIneseArmy)
PLAAF PeoIesIberuLIonArmyAIrorce
PLAN PeoIesIberuLIonArmyNuvy
PRC PeoIesReubIIcoIChInu
R&D ReseurchunddeveIomenL
RQ-4 GIobuIHuwk(unmunneduerIuIvehIcIe)
RRR RuIdrunwuyreuIr
SAC SLruLegIcAIrCommund
SATCOM SuLeIIILecommunIcuLIons
SIGINT SIgnuIsnLeIIIgence
SOCOM SecIuIOeruLIonsCommund
S&T ScIenceundLechnoIogy
TSAT TrunsIormuLIonuIsuLeIIILecommunIcuLIonsysLem
UCAS UnmunnedcombuLuerIuIsysLem
UAS UnmunneduerIuIsysLem
UAV UnmunneduerIuIvehIcIe
UHPC UILru-hIgh-erIormunceconcreLe
USAFE USAIrorcesEuroe
VTOL/STOL VerLIcuILukeoIIundIundIngJshorLLukeoIIundIundIng
Acknowledgments
The author would like to thank the CSBA staff for their assistance with
this report. Special thanks go to Charlotte Brock and Eric Lindsey for
their editorial and production support and to Cutting Edge for their
GHVLJQ7KHDQDO\VLVDQGQGLQJVSUHVHQWHGKHUHDUHVROHO\WKHUHVSRQ-
sibility of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and the
DXWKRUWKHYLHZVH[SUHVVHGLQWKLVSDSHUGRQRWQHFHVVDULO\UHHFW
those of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense,
or any other government organization.
Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
1667 K Street, NW, Suite 900
Washington, DC 20006
Tel. 202-331-7990 r Fax 202-331-8019
www.CSBAonline.org

Air Force Strategy For The Long Haul

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Air Force Strategy For The Long Haul

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An Air Force Strategy

for the Long Haul

Strategic Decision-Making Structure

The AE sLrucLure cuLuIyzed u cuILuruI shIIL Lo u Iorce-wIde exedILIonury men-

The AIr Reserve ComonenL mukes u un IncreusIngIy ImorLunL usecL oI US

Ike oIhcers und enIIsLed ersonneI,

AIrorceInucLsundIgures,Air Force Magazine, Muyzoo8,ugeq8,uccesseduL

ronIcuIIy, Lhe budgeLury drug creuLed by excess CONUS buse InIrusLrucLure

Second, governmenLs wIII uImosL cerLuInIy become Iess wIIIIng Lo ucceL

Opposed Network Capability and Electronic Warfare

IMPLICATIONS: THE HIGH-LOW FORCE CHALLENGE

OLher emergIng heIds IIke mIcro-eIecLromechunIcuI sysLems (MEMS) und nunoLech-

AII huve commercIuIIy obsoIeLe uIrIrumes.

The AIr orce recuILuIIzuLIon Iun IncIuded u Lhree-sLuge urchuse oI uroxI-

Addressing Space Requirements Dysfunction

AIR FORCE CONUS AND OVERSEAS BASING

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