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.

The Historical Development of Synthetic Aperture Sonar at NSWC Panama City Division

Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division

Video by Robert Lindee, Shauna Love-vonKnoblauch

Sept. 22, 2025 | 32:13

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This presentation records Dr. Dan Sternlicht, Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Subsea/Seabed Warfare Mission Capability manager, as he explains the history of mine countermeasures (MCM) sonar technology. He discusses advances in Synthetic Aperture Sonar (SAS) technology, including circular and spiral SAS imaging techniques for volumetric acoustic imaging. He also highlights advancements in materials, transducers and electronics leading to size, weight, power and cost reductions, enabling integration into smaller UUVs (unmanned underwater vehicles) as well as deep learning neural networks, automation, and structural acoustics. Dr. Sternlicht concludes with current and future trends and emerging MCM systems. As a result, these innovations are paving the way for enhanced detection capabilities, greater autonomy, and improved overall effectiveness in safeguarding naval operations from underwater mine threats. More