Even radical concepts such as those considered under the “Land Warrior” project do not involve outlandish technologies or flights of science fiction. Many already exist today, .....
above, further investments in the Joint Strike
Fighter program would be more expensive
still and would forestall any major
transformation efforts. Therefore, the Air
Force should:
• Complete its planned F-22 procurement while terminating its participation in the JSF program and upgrading the capabilities of existing tactical aircraft, especially by purchasing additional precision munitions and developing new ones and increasing numbers of support aircraft to allow for longer-range operations and greater survivability;
• Increase efforts to develop long-range
and high-endurance unmanned aerial
vehicles, not merely for reconnaissance but for strike and even air-combat missions;
• Pursue the development of large bodied
stealthy aircraft for a variety of roles, including lift, refueling, and other support missions as well as strike missions.
• Target significant new investments
toward creating capabilities for operating in space, including inexpensive launch vehicles, new satellites and transatmospheric vehicles, in preparation for a decision as to whether space warfare is sufficiently different from combat within earth’s atmosphere so as to require a separate “space service.”