QDR General: USAF Must Rethink Strategies

[hobbitcid]

Interesting - Maj. Gen. Steven Kwast said, responsible for the USAF portion of the QDR is giving a more balanced view of the USAF's tech future. In what might be seen as a challenge to the USAF Chief Scientist's report, Gen Kwast argues against placing all of the USAF's "eggs" into the RPA basket. In essence, he sites the the immature nature of the technology and the need to develop achievable operational and technical capabilities. Good points all... Further he denies any rumours of F-35 cancellation, calling it an important part of the overall concept of operations.

Note that this is just the USAF point of view, and that once the QDR starts many pre-concieved notions will change. But it is an interesting and public disagreement among the leaders who will shape the USAF in both the short and long term.

http://www.defensene...hink-Strategies

[Vprdrvr69]

The type of leadership and guidance we're hungry for. I think his words are spot on. It's crazy what a small USAF it is; this dude was the OG when I was at UPT. He was a guest help IP that taught me acro. Total Santa Clause and a great ######ing guy to look up to. Seems like they have been further and fewer ever since...

[Dupe]

Interesting - Maj. Gen. Steven Kwast said, responsible for the USAF portion of the QDR is giving a more balanced view of the USAF's tech future. In what might be seen as a challenge to the USAF Chief Scientist's report, Gen Kwast argues against placing all of the USAF's "eggs" into the RPA basket. In essence, he sites the the immature nature of the technology and the need to develop achievable operational and technical capabilities. Good points all... Further he denies any rumours of F-35 cancellation, calling it an important part of the overall concept of operations. Note that this is just the USAF point of view, and that once the QDR starts many pre-concieved notions will change. But it is an interesting and public disagreement among the leaders who will shape the USAF in both the short and long term. http://www.defensene...hink-Strategies

To me, this is all not very earth-shattering stuff.

-RPAs will continue to grow in capability and relevance. At the same time, placing all of our resources towards RPAs (or any) single option is fool-hardy

-Though the F-35 has much trouble, there is nothing else on the horizion that will be able to accomplish the role of strike and interdiction in a highly contested and denied environment. For that reason alone, the JSF is unlikely to be cancelled.

The real nut-cutter is what we do with all the capability that we just don't need anymore (infrastructure, personnel, and programs), and this primer into the QDR didn't even touch upon it. Maybe the real QDR will.

[Magellan]

The real nut-cutter is what we do with all the capability that we just don't need anymore (infrastructure, personnel, and programs), and this primer into the QDR didn't even touch upon it. Maybe the real QDR will.

Shit can all the products made by GA for starters.

[frog]

The reliance on technology is also a weakness. Some day some dude is going to launch with a compass and a clock to go find a target.

[RescueRandy]

The reliance on technology is also a weakness. Some day some dude is going to launch with a compass and a clock to go find a target.

Any pilots besides Rucker students still do this? "Clock to map to ground" was a significant portion of our training at Rucker in '08-'09.

[Spinner]

Any pilots besides Rucker students still do this? "Clock to map to ground" was a significant portion of our training at Rucker in '08-'09.

I make my students use this method when backing up the nav student.

[busdriver]

"Clock to map to ground" was a significant portion of our training at Rucker in '08-'09.

I'm old, it's official. I no longer need a map or a clock to navigate around the NTTR, Pilotage rules the roost.

[Tonka]

The reliance on technology is also a weakness. Some day some dude is going to launch with a compass and a clock to go find a target.

http://www.theverge....acht-off-course

University of Texas at Austin students used a custom-built GPS signal spoofer to send a yacht off course. The $80 million vessel relies entirely on GPS for navigation, and with the owner's permission the students used their device to mimic a GPS signal. The yacht's on-board navigation system detected the signal and used it as a triangulation point; no alarms were triggered, and the crew obeyed their computer and changed course.

Not exactly cutting edge technology either.

[Hacker]

There has been a subtle undercurrent of "RPA backlash" (for the precise reasons Killer mentions -- putting too much faith that technology is going to magically solve the weaknesses current RPAs have for operating in denied environments) around HAF for many years. Killer just seems to be the first one to actually say anything about it out loud, and to someone who might be listening.