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-35B STOVL DT-III Wrap Up Video - F-35B Lightning II Completes Operations Aboard USS America (LHA 6)

F-35 Lightning II Pax River ITF

Video by Matthew Short

Nov. 17, 2016 | 4:59

PACIFIC OCEAN (NOV. 17, 2016) The F-35 Lightning II Pax River Integrated Test Force (ITF) wrapped up its third and final developmental test phase (DT-III) of the F-35B Short Takeoff and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant aboard amphibious assault ship USS America (LHA 6) on Nov. 17. The Pax River ITF’s highly diverse cadre of technicians, maintainers, engineers, logisticians, support staff and test pilots embarked aboard USS America with two F-35B aircraft from Air Test & Evaluation Squadron (VX) 23 at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland on Oct. 28 to conduct F-35B carrier suitability and integration testing. During the three week detachment, the Pax River ITF completed the F-35B Launch and Recovery Bulletin for the fleet, attained the F-35B’s final flight clearances for operating from L-Class ships, and achieved 126 Vertical Landings (VL)s, 128 Short Take Offs (STO)s, and two Vertical Take Offs (VTO)s across 60 flights that logged 53.5 flight hours during sea states that routinely featured +/- 5.5 degrees of roll and +/- 2 degrees of pitch. The F-35B STOVL DT-III lays the groundwork for upcoming U.S. Marine Corps F-35B deployments aboard U.S. Navy amphibious assault ships beginning in 2018. Also conducting F-35B operations aboard USS America with the Salty Dogs of VX-23 were Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 from Edwards AFB, California and Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 211 from MCAS Yuma, Arizona. (U.S. Navy Video by Matthew Short & Jeff Patnaude/Released) More