Air Force Vanguards
Abstract
This Program develops and delivers transformational operational capabilities through advanced technology solutions which focus on five strategic capabilities: Global Persistent Awareness; Resilient Information Sharing; Rapid, Effective Decision-Making; Complexity, Unpredictability, and Mass; and Speed and Reach of Disruption and Lethality. Department of the Air Force Vanguard programs are focused, priority initiatives with enterprise commitment which incorporate multidisciplinary solutions to advance and accelerate emerging Science and Technology driven capabilities and warfighting concepts. High risk by design, Vanguards seek to answer specific questions to inform future acquisition programs and identify gaps where additional research is still needed. The DAF Technology Executive Officer partners with Air Force Futures (A5/7), USSF (CTIO, USSF/S5B), and the Deputy Assistant Secretary (Science, Technology and Engineering) to identify and to recommend emerging technologies as Vanguard Prospect investments through a deliberate, multidisciplinary and multifunctional process. The Future Transformational Capabilities major thrust enables the Department of the Air Force to respond rapidly to these emerging Science and Technology investment opportunities within the budget cycle and launch future Vanguard Program candidates closely aligned to validated DAF future force needs. The subsequent process to commission new Vanguard Programs is co-chaired by the Under Secretary of the Air Force, Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and Vice Chief of Space Operations. The current Air Force Vanguard programs are Skyborg, Golden Horde, Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3), and Rocket Cargo. Skyborg will integrate artificial intelligence into autonomous unmanned air vehicles to enable future manned-unmanned teaming. Golden Horde will transition the demonstrated networked collaborative autonomous weapon core capability into a digital ecosystem for additional advancement. NTS-3 will demonstrate technologies and tactics involving space, control, and user equipment for advanced satellite navigation, in order to provide robust and resilient, agile augmentation to the GPS system. Rocket Cargo will demonstrate new trajectories and ways to fly large rockets, the ability to land rockets at austere locations, and design & test an ejectable pod for air drop. This program is in Budget Activity 3, Advanced Technology Development because this budget activity includes development of subsystems and components and efforts to integrate subsystems and components into system prototypes for field experiments and/or tests in a simulated environment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 630320_0603032F_3_3600_PB_2023
Related Documents
- Root: Future AF Integrated Technology Demos
- Child Accomplishment: Future Transformational Capabilities
- Child Accomplishment: Navigation Technology Satellite 3 (NTS-3)
- Child Accomplishment: Skyborg
- Child Accomplishment: Golden Horde
- Child Accomplishment: Rocket Cargo