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.

Spain leads NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission

Natochannel

Video by Courtesy

May 25, 2020 | 6:24

Synopsis
While we continue to take all the necessary measures to protect our armed forces, our operational readiness remains undiminished. Our forces remain ready, vigilant and prepared to respond to any threat. The Spanish Air Force assumed command of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission in early May. Since then, their detachment’s six F/A-18 Hornet fighters – augmented by Typhoons from the UK Royal Air Force and Mirage 2000 fighters from the French Air Force – have flown training sorties and interceptions over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Air policing scrambles can be triggered when civilian or military aircraft flying over or near Allied air space fail to respond to air traffic controllers, or respect safe aviation norms. NATO has established air policing arrangements for Allies without their own fighter jets. NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission began in 2004, when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the Alliance. Footage includes shots of training scrambles flown by Spanish fighters, shots of French Mirage 2000 fighters and an interview with the detachment commander.
Teaser
The Spanish Air Force assumed command of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission in early May, helping ensure the safety of the skies over the Baltic region.
Transcript
1. (00:00) VARIOUS SHOTS – SPANISH PILOTS SUITING UP FOR SCRAMBLE 2. (00:09) VARIOUS SHOTS – PILOT RUNNING FROM BARRACKS INTO VAN 3. (00:20) FOLLOW SHOT – PILOT RUNNING FROM VAN TO F/A-18 HORNET FIGHTER 4. (00:47) WIDE SHOT – PILOT RUNNING TO HORNET 5. (00:54) VARIOUS SHOTS – SPANISH GROUND CREW AND PILOT PREPARING FOR TAKE-OFF 6. (01:34) WIDE SHOT – SPANISH HORNET DEPARTING HANGAR 7. (01:42) VARIOUS SHOTS – HORNETS DEPARTING HANGAR AND TAXIING FOR TAKE-OFF 8. (02:14) VARIOUS SHOTS – HORNETS TAKING OFF 9. (02:31) VARIOUS GOPRO SHOTS – HORNETS TAKING OFF AND IN FLIGHT 10. (03:07) VARIOUS GOPRO SHOTS – HORNETS FLYING IN FORMATION WITH FRENCH AIR FORCE MIRAGE 2000 FIGHTERS 11. (03:31) GOPRO SHOT – HORNETS LANDING AT ŠIAULIAI AIR BASE 12. (03:34) VARIOUS SHOTS – HORNETS LANDING AND TAXIING 13. (04:19) WIDE SHOT – HORNET TAXIING TOWARDS HANGARS 14. (04:35) WIDE SHOT – SPANISH PILOT SALUTING AS HE PASSES 15. (04:43) WIDE SHOTS – HORNET ENTERING HANGAR 16. (04:58) VARIOUS SHOTS – PILOT AND GROUND CREW ENDING SCRAMBLE 17. (05:17) GIMBAL SHOT – FLAG PATCHES OF ALL NATO NATIONS THAT HAVE PARTICIPATED IN BALTIC AIR POLICING MISSION 18. (05:22) GIMBAL SHOT – COMMEMORATIVE SIGNS OUTSIDE HEADQUARTERS 19. (05:27) SLOW-MO SHOT – SPANISH FLAG WAVING 20. (05:31) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) LIEUTENANT COLONEL JESÚS GUTIÉRREZ GALLEGO, BALTIC AIR POLICING DETACHMENT COMMANDER, SPANISH AIR FORCE “The final purpose of the Baltic Air Policing is guaranteeing that all air traffic that use the airspace of the Baltic region comply with the laws regarding a safe use of airspace.” 21. (05:50) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) LIEUTENANT COLONEL JESÚS GUTIÉRREZ GALLEGO, BALTIC AIR POLICING DETACHMENT COMMANDER, SPANISH AIR FORCE “What makes this mission so special is that a good number of the scramble missions that we fulfill over here in this region end up by intercepting Russian aircraft.” 22. (06:05) SOUNDBITE (ENGLISH) LIEUTENANT COLONEL JESÚS GUTIÉRREZ GALLEGO, BALTIC AIR POLICING DETACHMENT COMMANDER, SPANISH AIR FORCE “We intercept not only Russian aircraft but any other air track which is unknown, whenever it is unknown and doesn’t follow the rules of the air, regarding safe use of the airspace.”
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