Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) Flight Plan: 2016-2036. Bridging the Gap Between Tactical and Strategic
Abstract
The Air Force has reached an inflection point. 25 years of continuous combat operations coupled with budget instability and lower-than-planned top lines have made the Air Force the smallest, oldest, and least ready force in its history. Yet, our nation faces an ever growing and evolving list of challenges ranging from near-peer nation-state expansionism to the rise and prominence of regional violent extremist organizations with global ambitions, Concurrently, the global technology proliferation enables capabilities once reserved for select few Nation-states. Additionally, the Air Force must continue to support a majority stake in the shared global commitment to address emerging humanitarian crises around the globe at a moment's notice. While each of these challenges drive an increase in the demand for responsive and persistent airpower, the Air Force faces an operating environment where unpredictable and eroding budgets have shrunk force structure capacity as well as the defense industrial base upon which it heavily relies. In an effort to meet these challenges, the past two decades have seen the rise of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) providing a unique and cost effective projection of airpower effects. However, an insatiable demand continues to drive requirements that greatly outpace capacity and budgets. to reverse these trends within the context of fiscal reality, now is the time to capitalize on mature RPA advancements born over a decade of war and leverage the technological explosion of commercial Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) that is upon us.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 30, 2016
- Accession Number
- AD1013675
Entities
People
- Robert P. Otto