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Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 9/97 USAF OUTLINES VISION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY by Karl Schwarz Following the downsizing process of the past years, the USAF is again looking far ahead into the future. In order to protect their worldwide interests, the United States will have to be in a position to react quickly to all kinds of crises, says US Defence Sectretary William Cohen. The American military forces under Chief of Staff John Shalikashvili have interpreted this directive by trying to achieve a "full spectrum dominance": no matter if it's a humanitarian or a peace keeping mission, a local conflict or a large-scale employment - the opponent is not to have any chance. The Air Force is contributing a major share to this "Joint Vision 2010". Following one and a half years of intensive studies, the USAF presented a strategy paper in the fall of last year, which sums up the six most important capabilities of the air and space forces. According to General Ronald R. Fogleman, Chief of Staff of the USAF, the first priority is the absolute dominance of their own forces in air and space, also over hostile territory. Only this would allow them to accomplish their own missions untroubled and attack hostile positions to their own liking. Two of the decisive systems in this respect are the new F-22 fighter and the airborne laser (ABL) which allows them to intercept ballistic missiles in the launch phase. This dominance allows precise attacks on selected targets. Fogleman is sure that "in the 21st century, we will be able to find, to follow, and to hit anything that is moving on earth." New weapons, such as JDAM and JASSM (bombs with GPS receivers), are to allow precisely dosed attacks with minimized collateral damage. The USAF expects that, also in the future, it might have to conduct attacks over global distances. This applies to nuclear deterrence as well as to conventional bomb attacks, for example as was demonstrated by Guam-based B-52s against Iraq. The most powerful means in this aspect in the future will be the B-2 with its stealth capabilities. Furthermore, under the cue "Global Attack", the so called "Air Expeditionary Forces" will be able to deploy to any location on earth within three days. In any case, the fast transport of soldiers and equipment is playing an increasingly important role since the number of US bases abroad has been drastically reduced. The procurement of the C-17 Globemaster III has the first priority. Also, more civil capacities are to be used and the supply system optimized. According to the USAF, the logistics system must become more flexible and also cheaper, such becoming a service partner for the operational units. The supply sector is not the only one in which the USAF will become more dependent on computers and electronics. It is no wonder that the superiority in data collection and processing is evaluated as being one of the vital capabilities for the future. The spectrum of the activities stretches from reconnaissance aircraft, such as the U-2 and Predator, along with numerous satellites for position finding and communications and flying command centers like the E-3A AWACS and E-8C Joint STARS. Not to forget the information war to protect their own systems and jam or manipulate the ones of the opponents. The USAF has set up six "Battle Laboratories" in order to implement the high-flying plans. These units will be working on the employment of unmanned aircraft, information warfare, the continued development of the Air Expeditionary Forces, the space projects, command and control systems, and the protection of their own forces. All efforts serve the purpose of forming space and air forces which will help to secure America's global influence and power - at costs which the taxpayers will accept to pay. From page 12 of FLUG REVUE 9/97 Home | Update | Latest Issue | Gallery | FR Profile | Datafiles | FR 9/97 Copyright 1997 by Motor-Presse Stuttgart. All rights reserved. Last updated August 5, 1997 FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany