The Connectivity Opportunity and Multi-Mission Similitude: the TTNT Example

11/08/2009
With a significant shortfall in spending for new power projection platforms, the U.S. faces a core challenge of how to most effectively build forces for the years ahead. At the heart of this opportunity will be to shape joint con-ops for the US Air Force and Navy and to ensure…

Michael Wynne on: The Industrial Impact of the Decision to Terminate the F-22 Program

10/02/2009
[caption id="attachment_630" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="Michael Wynne at Normandy"][/caption] Secretary of the Air Force Donley together with the Air Force Chief of Staff Schwartz wrote an oped over this past summer wanting to put the contentious F-22 debate behind them. With their then recent installation and the heated debate on 'next…

The Evolving U.S. Military Space Paradigm: Lynchpin for a Global C4ISRD Enterprise

09/18/2009
[caption id="attachment_505" align="alignleft" width="186" caption="Delta II Launch. Photo credits: Boeing Co."][/caption] The more than 40 year history of US military space has entered a new phase. The US military space system was built as a unique overlay for the US intelligence community and the US military to provide for strategic…

The Case for New Programs in a Period of Defense Transition: The Naval UCAS Case

09/17/2009
9/17/09: The United States and its allies are in the midst of a significant financial downturn with serious consequences for defense acquisition. The “contingency operation” in Afghanistan and the “withdrawal” from Iraq both generate severe budgetary pressures and emphasize force acquisition priorities most appropriate to those operations. And the “withdrawal”…

Manufacturing for Sustainability: The F-35 Case

09/17/2009
9/17/09 A key argument for buying newer platforms compared to older ones is the savings built into a new platform over the operational and logistics costs of the older platform. In the commercial airplane business, both Boeing and Airbus design and build their newest platforms with significant enhancements in sustainability…

Rethinking Maritime Littoral Operations: The Emergence of the “Enduring Littoral Presence Mission”

09/07/2009
[caption id="attachment_1185" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="LCS"][/caption] Littoral operations for US and allied navies have largely focused on warfighting as the defining element. For a "blue water" fleet like the US Navy, the littorals are the areas passed through in shaping the battle on the air and land in confronting adversaries. The…

The Role of USMC Airpower: Enabling Multi-Spectrum Ops

08/13/2009
[caption id="attachment_1234" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="JSF on Illustrious"][/caption] The role of the air element for the USMC is essential to the future of the USMC. One can have a police force with military uniforms or one can have a flexible military force enabled by full spectrum capability. The choice depends upon…

The Emergence of a 21st Century Concept of Air Operations

08/12/2009
The evolution of 21st century air operations is unfolding under the impact of a new generation of aircraft and a significant shift in the role of air operations in support of ground and maritime forces. The "5th generation" aircraft have largely been viewed as simply a next iteration of airframes…