Technology Horizons : A Vision for Air Force Science and Technology 2010–30, Vol. 1

By Office of the US Air Force Chief Scientist

Book Id: WPLBN0002170887
Format Type: PDF eBook:
File Size: 4.28 MB
Reproduction Date: 10/24/2012

Title:	Technology Horizons : A Vision for Air Force Science and Technology 2010–30, Vol. 1
Author:	Office of the US Air Force Chief Scientist
Volume:	1
Language:	English
Subject:	Non Fiction, Science, United States Air Force
Collections:	Authors Community, Technology
Historic Publication Date:
Publisher:	Air University Press

Member Page:	Air University Press
Citation APA MLA Chicago Of The Us Air Force Chief Scientist, B. O. (n.d.). Technology Horizons : A Vision for Air Force Science and Technology 2010–30, Vol. 1. Retrieved from http://gutenberg.cc/

Description
Technology Horizons is our vision for key Air Force science and technology investments over the next decade that will provide us with truly game-changing capabilities to meet our strategic and joint force responsibilities. The coming decades hold high promise for amazing new capabilities across the air, space, and cyber domains. Yet the Air Force and our nation will also be confronted with substantial strategic, technology, and budget challenges. Our greatest advances will come with a focused investment of resources in the most promising technologies. The vision in Technology Horizons provides the shared awareness of the challenges and opportunities that will enable us to achieve this focus.

Table of Contents
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS . . . . . vii FOREWORD BY THE SECRETARY OF THE AIR FORCE AND CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE AIR FORCE . . . . ix PREFACE BY THE CHIEF SCIENTIST OF THE AIR FORCE . . . . xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . . . . xv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . . . . . xvii 1 INTRODUCTION . . . . 1 A Vision for Air Force Science and Technology 2010–30 . . . . 1 Lessons Learned from Prior Air Force Science and Technology Visions . . . . 5 Organization and Conduct of Technology Horizons . . . . . 8 Organization of Results from Technology Horizons . . . . . 14 Caveats . . . . 16 2 STRATEGIC CONTEXT FOR AIR FORCE S&T 2010–30 . . . . . 19 Relation to National Security Objectives . . . . . 21 Technology-Derived Challenges to Air Force Capabilities . . . . . 22 Strategic Implications of S&T Globalization . . . . 38 Federal Budget Implications for Air Force S&T Strategy . . . . . 41 3 ENDURING REALITIES FOR THE AIR FORCE 2010–30 . . . . . 43 Ensuring Interoperability with Legacy Systems . . . . 43 Sustainment Costs for Legacy Systems . . . . . 43 Importance of Low-Observable Systems . . . . 44 Energy Costs and Availability . . . . . 44 Growing Role of the Cyber Domain . . . . . 44 Need for “Soft Power” Capabilities . . . . . 45 Manpower Costs . . . . 45 Budget Constraints . . . . 45 Effective National S&T Partnerships . . . . . 46 Continued International S&T Cooperation . . . . . 46 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Workforce . . . . . 47 4 OVERARCHING THEMES FOR AIR FORCE S&T 2010–30 . . . . 49 From Platforms to Capabilities . . . . 50 From Manned to Remotely Piloted . . . . 51 From Fixed to Agile . . . . . 52 From Control to Autonomy . . . . 53 From Integrated to Fractionated . . . . 54 From Preplanned to Composable . . . . . 56 From Single Domain to Cross Domain . . . . . 57 From Permissive to Contested . . . . 58 From Sensor to Information . . . . 59 From Strike to Dissuasion/Deterrence . . . . . 60 From Cyber Defense to Cyber Resilience . . . . . 61 From Long System Life to Faster Refresh . . . . . 62 5 TECHNOLOGY-ENABLED CAPABILITIES FOR THE AIR FORCE 2010–30 . . . . 65 Alignment of Capability Areas with Air Force Core Functions . . . . . 67 Brief Descriptions of Technology-Enabled Capabilities . . . . 69 Key Potential Capability Areas . . . . 97 From Potential Capability Areas to Key Technology Areas . . . . . 98 6 KEY TECHNOLOGY AREAS 2010–30 . . . . 99 Key Technology Areas Supporting Potential Capability Areas . . . . 100 Alignment of Key Technology Areas with Overarching Themes . . . . 113 Summary of Key Technology Areas . . . . 118 7 GRAND CHALLENGES FOR AIR FORCE S&T 2010–30 . . . . . 121 Challenge #1: Inherently Intrusion-Resilient Cyber Networks . . . . 122 Challenge #2: Trusted, Highly Autonomous Decision-Making Systems . . . . . 123 Challenge #3: Fractionated, Composable, Survivable, Autonomous Systems . . . . . 124 Challenge #4: Hyperprecision Aerial Delivery in Difficult Environments . . . . . 125 8 SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY HORIZONS VISION . . . . 127 Broad Range of Inputs to Technology Horizons . . . . 127 Elements of the S&T Vision . . . . 128 Essential Focus Areas for Air Force S&T Investment . . . . 129 9 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS . . . . . 137 Recommendation #1: Communicate Results from Technology Horizons . . . . 137 Recommendation #2: Assess Alignment of S&T Portfolio with Technology Horizons . . . . . 138 Recommendation #3: Adjust S&T Portfolio Balance As Needed . . . . . 139 Recommendation #4: Initiate Focused Research on “Grand Challenge” Problems . . . . 141 Recommendation #5: Improve Aspects of the Air Force S&T Management Process . . . . . 142