State of the Air Force and Space Force 2023
Abstract
The U.S. Air Forces year brought an unexpected first: an air-to-air kill by an F-22 Raptor. But the shootdown wasn't of an enemy fighter jet; instead, the Raptor brought down a suspected Chinese spy balloon. The incident and the subsequent downings of three more unidentified flying objects drew attention to the security of United States airspace, the role the Air Force plays in national security, and above all, the potential threat from China .Its a threat that's been top of mind for the Air Force for years, and while Chief of Staff Gen. C.Q. Brown says he doesn't see conflict with China as imminent or inevitable, he does want the service to be ready, just in case. My goal is to be ready today, tomorrow, next week, next year, next decade. And set ourselves as an Air Force to have capability and capacity to be able to provide options for the President, Brown said during a recent event at the Brookings Institution. That looming threat as well as competition with Russia, which is flying wingtip-to-wingtip with U.S. jets in the Middle East will continue to drive Air Force programs and policies in 2023 and beyond.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 02, 2023
- Accession Number
- AD1195769