BLUF
In this article, David Deptula—USAF LTGEN (Retired) and currently Dean of the Mitchell Institue for aerospace studies (a think tank)—argues that the USA urgently needs to turn new technologies into operational capabilities.Summary
In this article, Deptula makes the following points:
- Due to 30 years of underfunding, America's military superiority has eroded to a dangerous degree.
- China is developing new technologies foreshadowing U.S. capabilities.
- The Air Force's aircraft inventory is outdated.
- Insufficient B-2 and F-22s were purchased.
- The only way out of this situation is to aggressively buy new aircraft while rapidly advancing concepts through testing, experimentation, and fielding.
- Using this formula, China has caught up to the United States. The United States has done nine hypersonic tests, however, in the same time China has done hundreds.
- This lean-forward mentality is how the U.S. Air Force rapidly advanced its uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) capabilities in the late 1990s.
- The Air Force's Skyborg program is sufficiently advanced to warrant aggressive operational testing.
- Results need to be secured quickly, not the decades traditionally associated with DOD programs.
- "Accelerate change or lose," says Air Force Chief of Staff General C.Q. Brown.
References
- Apr 2021 Air Force Magazine DIA Says China’s Weapon Technology Advancing Fast While Russia Falls Behind
- Apr 2021 The Washington Post The U.S. system created the world’s most advanced military. Can it maintain an edge?
- Sep 2021 Defense News The US Air Force has built and flown a mysterious full-scale prototype of its future fighter jet
