In Service to the Nation: Air Force Research Institute Strategic Concept for 2018–2023

By Gen John A. Shaud

Book Id: WPLBN0002169970
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 3.25 MB
Reproduction Date: 10/10/2012

Title:	In Service to the Nation: Air Force Research Institute Strategic Concept for 2018–2023
Author:	Gen John A. Shaud
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Military Science, Air Force
Collections:	Authors Community, Technology
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Air University Press

Member Page:	Air University Press
Citation APA MLA Chicago John A. Shau, B. G. (n.d.). In Service to the Nation: Air Force Research Institute Strategic Concept for 2018–2023. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.us/

Table of Contents
DISCLAIMER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .v EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . vii 1 THE USAF TODAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 FRAMING THE QUESTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 THE CURRENT FIGHT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Irregular Warfare: Winning the Long War . . . 6 Air Mobility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Strategic Communication: Spreading the Word . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Culture and Language in the Expeditionary Air Force . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Distributed Planning: The Key to Centralized Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Unmanned Aerial Systems: The Air Force in Transition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Intelligence Reform: The Secondary Effects of Merging Intelligence with Surveillance and Reconnaissance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 The Total Force in Transition . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Air Base Disaster Planning: Contingency Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 4 RECASTING THE FUTURE (2018–23) . . . . .25 Definitions from CSAF White Paper (December 2007) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Proposed “Recasting” of Definitions . . . . . . 26 5 THE FUTURE FIGHT: MAINTAINING USAF TECHNOLOGICAL SUPERIORITY . . . . . . . . . 29 Acquisition Reform: Fixing the Process . . . . 29 Nuclear Surety and Deterrence: USAF at a Crossroads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Modernizing ICBMs: America’s Nuclear Deterrent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 Long-Range Strike: Range, Payload, Persistence—The Essence of Airpower . . . . . 37 Space: The Ultimate High Ground . . . . . . . .38 Cyberspace: Boundless Opportunity and Significant Vulnerabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43 6 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . .51 Current Fight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 Future Fight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54 Appendices A Title 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 B Funding Lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61 C United States Air Force History . . . . . . . . 65 American Airpower Strategic Thought—1901–2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65 The Origins: WW I, 1916–18 . . . . . . . . . . .66 The First Pursuit Age: 1919–26 . . . . . . . . . 68 The Industrial Web and Rise of the Bomber: 1927–41 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70 WW II and Balanced Airpower: 1941–45 . . . 73 The Heyday of the Nukes and Buffs: 1945–60 Containment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75 The Coming of ICBMs, Parity and the Second Fighter Era: Counterinsurgency, False Dawn of Détente, 1960–91 . . . . . . . . 78 The Era of Balance, Precision, C3, and Space: 1991–2001 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 The Age of Strategic Extension: 2008–23 . . 85 D Quick Look (Background) Papers . . . . . . .87 E Interview Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107 F Personnel Interviewed . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109 G A Timeline of USAF Strategic Thought . . .111