Keynote: Gen. David W. Allvin | 1st Annual Airpower Futures Forum

Navigating Great Power Competition

The United States Air Force is actively re-optimizing its forces to maintain superiority amid evolving global threats. There is a clear focus on understanding the strategic landscape shaped by great power competition, which requires proactive force design rather than allowing the military's capabilities to evolve passively over time. The Air Force is emphasizing the need for cohesive training among units to combat peer adversaries effectively, moving away from the piecemeal approach of previous decades. Adapting to the modern combat environment calls for an urgent assessment of current capabilities to ensure readiness for complex missions from day one.

Holistic Force Improvement

Reoptimization is focused on enhancing readiness and lethality through a comprehensive assessment of the current force structure. The approach includes implementing a new force presentation model centered around deployable combat wings that will train together to create a cohesive fighting force. Evidence of this model's effectiveness was demonstrated during recent deployments, highlighting the importance of integrated training in achieving rapid response capabilities. Upcoming large-scale exercises are planned to test and refine this training, ensuring that the force can operate effectively in a high-demand combat environment.

Adapting to Technological Change

The Air Force's modernization strategy includes the establishment of an Integrated Capabilities Command, aimed at eliminating silos between different functional areas and improving communication across the force. This initiative seeks to align the development of capabilities with a holistic view of mission requirements, thereby improving operational effectiveness. By fostering interdepartmental collaboration, the Air Force plans to enhance agility in response to technological advancements and fluctuating global security dynamics. The focus is on ensuring that each system and capability not only meets its mission goals but also contributes to the overall objectives of national defense.

Strategic Principles for Force Design

The Air Force's force design is grounded in adapting to the changing nature of warfare while remaining flexible enough to respond to emerging threats. Key principles include prioritizing speed and agility, ensuring survivability tailored to specific threat levels, and maintaining a focus on lethality. A comprehensive understanding of threat density helps in structuring capabilities that can operate effectively in varied combat scenarios, from low to high-intensity environments. The necessity for connectivity and situational awareness is paramount in the design, enabling real-time decision-making and coordinated responses to adversaries.

The Mitchell Institute’s Aerospace Nation Podcast

Keynote: Gen. David W. Allvin | 1st Annual Airpower Futures Forum

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Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Navigating Great Power Competition

Holistic Force Improvement

Adapting to Technological Change

Strategic Principles for Force Design

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