Strategy Archives - The Air Power Journal

Command and Control, Information Superiority

A New Battle Command Architecture for Air Force-Led All Domain Operations

The new American joint warfighting concept intends to optimize the synergy of effects that accrues from operating in an integrated fashion across all domains and the electromagnetic spectrum. To be successful, a new battle command architecture and command and control (C2) paradigm that enables automatic linking and the transfer of data securely, reliably, and seamlessly is essential.

David A. Deptula, Lieutenant General (Ret.), United States Air Force, Dean, Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies, United States

Innovation, Space

Implications of Commercial Space: Enabling Capability and Introducing New Dynamics into Competition

The rapid growth of commercial space positions it at the forefront of innovation and activities relating to the expanding use of space. Militaries have much to gain from commercial space as they attempt to unlock the full potential that space-enabled capabilities can provide for military activity, but this will also introduce new dynamics into the competition for dominance.

Dr. Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Australia

Innovation, Leadership

Leading Innovation: The Transformation from Closed Defense Industrial Bases to Open Innovation Ecosystems

Open innovation (OI) models represent a new strategy inducing huge transformation for defense organizations such as air forces and their industry partners, particularly lead systems integrators. The shift from closed to OI models has become essential, but implies paradigmatic changes to be managed relating to the design and appraisal of complex military programs.

Dr. Valérie Merindol, Professor and Co-Director, newPIC Chair, Paris School of Business, France

Command and Control, Interoperability

De-Centralized Command and Control: Implications for Air Battle Management and Mission Command

Future C2 architectures are being developed with some degree of decentralization to make it harder for opposing forces to find, target, and degrade key C2 nodes. A highly automated, decentralized C2 and data-sharing network however remains beyond reach and without the ability to replace human crews, air forces will remain dependent on centralized legacy systems.

Professor Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow, Royal United Services Institute, United Kingdom

Innovation, Leadership

Identifying Future Technology and Workforce Requirements for Air Operations

The national defense strategy emphasizes the importance of skills like cyber security and drone piloting. Using a strategies-to-tasks approach helps translate high-level goals into practical plans, guiding resource allocation. Aligning strategy with mission roles requires careful planning, particularly with advanced technologies like hypersonics and AI. Overcoming cultural barriers and addressing workforce training are essential for successful transformation.

Dr. Sherrill Lingel, Program Director for Force Modernization and Employment, RAND Corporation, United States

Embracing Big Data and AI Strategically: The Digital Transformation of the IDF

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are undergoing a strategic transformation, integrating branches into a unified digital architecture driven by AI. The Momentum program enhances real-time intelligence-sharing and interactions, harnessing big data’s potential. AI promises exponential gains for the IDF’s future warfare paradigm.

Yaakov Lappin, Research Associate, Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, Israel

Innovation

Innovation and Military Strategy: Shifting to Decentralized and Dispersed Approaches

In today’s dynamic landscape, traditional military strategies face challenges. Case studies like the Afghanistan withdrawal and the Ukraine conflict highlight emerging trends: decentralization, dispersal, and privatization. Embracing a diverse ecosystem and rethinking financing models are crucial to prevent strategic obsolescence.

Robert Murray, Senior Fellow, Scrowcroft Center for Strategy and Security, Atlantic Council, United States

Innovation, Interoperability

Innovation and Capability Development in a Multinational Context: The Costs and Benefits of Cooperation

Military capability development is a highly complex process, and when it happens in a multinational context, the complexities increase significantly. Militaries manage these complexities using several models, but each model presents trade-offs. The most relevant trade-off is between coordination and political costs on the one hand and economic and military benefits on the other.

Dr. Bence Nemeth, Senior Lecturer, Defense Studies Education, King’s College London, United Kingdom

Interoperability

Integration and Interoperability for Multi-Domain Operations in the Coalition Environment

Multi-domain operations promise new operational advantages and will reshape air combat, but also necessitate changes in approaches to joint and coalition operations. The challenges of interoperability are reframed however there are no readily available solutions to bridge differences when partner air forces each bring their own sets of capabilities, tools, and platforms to the fight.

Professor Olivier Zajec, Director, Institute of Strategic and Defense Studies, Jean Moulin University, France

Human-Machine Teaming, Information Superiority

Future Options for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Assisted Decision-Making in Air Warfare

AI has well-known problems in that it can be fooled, cannot transfer knowledge gained in one task to another, and is entirely reliant on data for its performance. Although AI will significantly change decision-making in air warfare, not all air forces will use the same technology in the same way – even in the narrow area of decision-making.

Strategy