Fiscal Year 2006 Research Agenda

Improving Air-Ground Integration, Interoperability and Interdependence

Recent conflicts have highlighted the importance of close coordination between air and ground forces, and RAND has examined elements of this issue at the strategic, operational and tactical levels. This project will explore options for ensuring a future collaborative air-ground environment at the operational and tactical levels across the spectrum of conflict. It will support proactive USAF collaboration with the U.S. Army, U.S. Marines, and U.S. Special Operations Command on command, control and communications issues; the division of ISR responsibilities; delivery of lethal and non-lethal effects; the mobility and sustainment of ground forces; intra-theater distribution approaches and systems and doctrine.

Sponsor: AMC/A5; ACC/JAGO
Project Leaders: John Stillion and Jody Jacobs

Building the Planning Force

This QDR has highlighted the degree to which strategy and operations have shifted in the post-September 11 era. This shift has changed the underlying strategic landscape that has driven U.S. force planning, as well as the character of individual operations and their associated objectives and targets. In addition, warfare is increasingly conducted jointly and often with coalition forces. This project will carefully examine options and make recommendations regarding how the USAF should adapt and modernize its force structure to best meet future demands in a constrained budget environment. It will assess the capabilities and affordability of force mix alternatives in the light of the changing roles of the USAF and the associated demand for its capabilities; resource constraints; and the exploitation of new and emerging technologies.

Sponsor: AF/CV; AF/A8
Project Leader: Donald Stevens

Tasking and Employing USAF ISR Assets to Support Effects-Based Operations

The objective of this effort is to determine appropriate methods to task and employ ISR assets and to allocate assets between multiple demands. It will consider tasking and employment strategies using modeling techniques, tasking methods for national systems appropriate for theater commanders, and the allocation of assets across Joint Task Forces and combatant commands. This effort is a planned continuation of FY05 research.

Sponsor: PACAF/CC; ACC/A2; AF/A2
Project Leaders: Carl Rhodes and Sherrill Lingel

USAF Roles in Warfare Against Non-State Actors

The Air Force, along with other elements of DoD, is engaged in an intensive effort to identify responses to the asymmetric tactics and weaponry being employed by insurgents in Iraq. It is at times like this that objective assessments of alternatives are most important. This project will identify and assess ways that the USAF can best leverage strike, ISR and IO to support joint operations against insurgents and terrorists. Key issues include new challenges posed by asymmetric threats, the range of potential joint operations, contributions of new and existing technologies, and new platforms or modifications to the existing force structure.

Sponsor: AF/A5X
Project Leader: Thomas Hamilton

Focused Analysis of the Capabilities Review and Risk Assessment Process

The CRAA process is becoming the central analytically based driver for major decisions affecting USAF capabilities and resources. As the CRAA process evolves and matures, new opportunities to insert quantitative analysis and assessment will present themselves. This project will support early and effective PAF participation in the CRAA analysis and implementation process through 1) regular interaction with CONOPS champions, 2) focused analysis of specific issues, and 3) effective communication of RAND research to CRAA participants.

Sponsor: AF/A5X
Project Leader: Daniel Norton

The Future of Counterspace: Rationale and Strategy

Few argue the need to develop effective situation awareness for space or to effectively defend our space assets. Less consensus exists, however, on the feasibility and desirability of offensive counterspace operations. This study will examine and make recommendations regarding the appropriate level of investment for USAF offensive counterspace capabilities. It will draw from related activities and studies by the NSSO, AFSPC, AFRL, etc. It will consider the threat, now and in the future; political and bureaucratic issues; and the potential capability of future systems to successfully execute offensive counterspace missions.

Sponsor: AF/A3S; AFSPC/A3
Project Leader: Myron Hura

Developing an Affordable Counterinsurgency Platform (COIN-P)

At the request of the Air Warfare Battlelab, examine platform options for performing counter-insurgency and counterterrorism missions, to include assessments of their likely cost and effectiveness. This investigation will include consideration of weapon systems that were successful in past counter-insurgency and counterterrorism operations. Its primary focus will be on the potential contributions of available platform, sensor, weapon and communications technologies.

Sponsor: AF/A8; ACC/A8
Project Leader: William Stanley