Reoptimization for Great Power Competition

GPC Key Decisions

USAF Case for Change

SecAF Memo

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.

F-35C Lightning II History: F-35C Aces First Release of an AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)

F-35 Lightning II Pax River ITF

Video by Dane Wiedmann

March 23, 2016 | 0:11

The F-35 Lightning II program made aviation history March 23 as Cmdr. Ted “Dutch” Dyckman, a U.S. Navy F-35 Lightning II test pilot, released an AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) from aircraft CF-05 over the Atlantic Test Ranges. The inaugural weapons separation test of the JSOW 1,000 lb-class guided glide bomb conducted by the F-35 Lightning II Patuxent River Integrated Test Force (ITF) was a major milestone for the U.S. Navy and F-35 program. The test featured the first non-Mk 80 series bomb ever released from an F-35 Lightning II. The JSOW safely separated from an internal weapons bay within the F-35C carrier variant, thereby maintaining the stealth characteristics of the aircraft. The addition of this guided glide bomb equips the F-35 Lightning II with a medium range all-weather weapon capable of engaging targets from further vantage points well out of range of typical enemy anti-aircraft and counter-air defenses. This lethality and survivability delivers a decisive advantage over adversaries. The F-35 Lightning II Pax River ITF joint team, assigned to the Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 aboard Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, released one JSOW during the flight. The team will release additional JSOWs throughout 2016. Working on the multi-phase testing of the F-35 Block 3F capabilities, are U.S. government, military and contractor personnel, and industry partners from Raytheon Systems Ltd. The fleet of F-35 Lightning II aircraft operating at 12 different locations worldwide surpassed the 50,000 flight hour mark in February 2016. Following the U.S. Marine Corps' July 2015 combat-ready Initial Operational Capability (IOC) declaration, the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy intend to attain service IOC this summer and in 2018, respectively. The AGM-154 JSOW is a Raytheon product, Lockheed Martin is the aircraft contractor and Pratt & Whitney is the engine contractor.

Multi-Role, Multi-Service Mission
The F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) is a multi-role, multi-service, single seat, single engine strike fighter featuring next generation stealth technology. As the backbone of U.S. air combat superiority for generations to come, the F-35 provides a common platform across three variants -
The F-35A A conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) aircraft designed for the U.S. Air Force as a complement to the F/A-22 Raptor and primary air-to-ground multi-role replacement for both the F-16 Falcon and A-10 Thunderbolt II. The F-35A is significantly more lethal and survivable in the full spectrum of air-to-air and air-to-surface scenarios than its predecessors.
The F-35B A short take-off/vertical-landing (STOVL) aircraft designed to be the single strike fighter for the U.S. Marine Corps, replacing both the AV-8B Harrier and F/A-18 Hornet. The F-35B will deliver unprecedented flexibility for use at damaged airstrips, austere expeditionary operating sites, major bases and afloat on aircraft carriers and smaller amphibious ships.
The F-35C A carrier variant (CV) designed for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps as a first-day-of-war, survivable strike fighter complemented by the F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet and replaces the F/A-18 Hornet. The F-35C is capable of overcoming a variety of threats - surface-to-air missiles, air-to-air missiles and tactical aircraft - while enhancing mission success through its unprecedented stealth-at-sea capability, advanced jamming, threat system detection, command and control supremacy, and unrivaled interoperability with other aircraft.

The joint and multi-national acquisition aspect of the F-35 5th generation fighter is of primary interest. Aside from the US Air Force, Navy & Marine Corps, there are eight partner nations and three Foreign Military Sales countries. Synopsis follows: The F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine, stealthy strike fighter that incorporates low-observable (stealth) technologies, defensive avionics, advanced sensor fusion, internal and external weapons, and an advanced prognostic maintenance capability to deliver optimum international security via integrated coalition operations. Partner nations include the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, Canada, Australia, Denmark and Norway - as well as three Foreign Military Sales (FMS) countries - Japan, Israel and South Korea. More

Documents

LATEST NEWS

“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.”

Air Force & Space Force announce sweeping changes to maintain superiority amid Great Power Competition

Tags