Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

GPC Key Decisions

USAF Case for Change

Air Force FAQ for Reoptimizing Great Power Competition

“We need these changes now; we are out of time to reoptimize our forces to meet the strategic challenges in a time of great power competition.”

~ Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall

The United States faces a time of consequence marked by significant shifts in the strategic environment. To remain ready, the U.S. Air Force must change.

In early 2024, the Department of the Air Force unveiled sweeping plans for reshaping, refocusing, and reoptimizing the Air Force and Space Force to ensure continued supremacy in their respective domains while better posturing the services to deter and, if necessary, prevail in an era of Great Power Competition. Through a series of 24 DAF-wide key decisions, four core areas which demand the Department’s attention will be addressed: Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power and Develop Capabilities.

Today, the Air Force once again finds itself at a critical juncture—an era of Great Power Competition marked by a new security environment, a rapidly evolving character of war, and a formidable competitor. This new era requires understanding its challenges and the attributes needed to succeed.

Embracing change is not a choice; it is a necessity. The Air Force must “reoptimize” into an enterprise prepared for high-end conflicts and long-term strategic competition.

Winter Route Planning Algorithm

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center

Video by Jared Eastman, Joseph Bara, Justin Campfield

May 30, 2025 | 2:20

The U.S. Army is taking a significant step forward in cold-weather operations with the initial rollout and testing of a groundbreaking new capability designed to optimize routes for vehicles traveling in challenging winter terrain. Developed by ERDC’s Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory (CRREL), the Winter Route Planning (WRP) algorithm promises to dramatically reduce the risk of vehicle immobilization and increase overall efficiency when routing soldiers to desired target locations. The WRP algorithm isn’t just about finding the shortest distance between two points. It intelligently analyzes a complex array of factors – including detailed terrain data, current snowpack conditions, and the specific characteristics of the vehicle being used – to generate the optimal route. This optimal route can be based on time to target, fuel efficiency, on-road, off-road, a combination of both on and off-road along with other parameters. This means a path designed to minimize the chance of getting stuck, bogged down, or otherwise delayed by winter’s challenges. Currently being tested and refined, the WRP algorithm is continuously being enhanced and integrated with the widely-used Tactical Assault Kit (TAK) software. Users input their desired start and destination points within TAK, and the WRP algorithm swiftly generates the best possible route. Crucially, the route is then displayed within the TAK interface, alongside a live view of the vehicle’s current position. More