Fiscal Year 2006 Research Agenda

Project AIR FORCE-Wide Research

PAF Direct Assistance to the Air Staff Quadrennial Defense Review

In support of the QDR, AF/XPX has requested that PAF have an on-site presence in its QDR cell. This presence facilitates reach-back capability into ongoing RAND research and provides direct analytic support to AF/XPX.

Sponsor: AF/A8X
Project Leader: Alex Hou

Renewing the Force: A Methodology for Planning Investments in Force Modernization, Modification and Replacement

The objective is to dynamically integrate understanding and analysis of various attributes of weapon systems in order to develop an analytic method that will reasonably forecast when weapon systems need to be replaced in the broadest sense, to include modifications/upgrades prior to a total fleet replacement. The initial point is a capability requirement, which determines the original buy and its characteristics. The need to upgrade and/or replace components or entire systems is affected by the age of the system and the use it is put to, in order to produce various capabilities. Aircraft availability, weapon system performance in all of its missions, cost to maintain, flight safety, etc., all change throughout the life of a weapon system and must be considered in the rolling decision regarding whether to modify or to replace.

Sponsor: AF/CV; AF/A4/7E; AF/A3/5 SAF/AQ
Project Leader: Michael Kennedy

The Defense Budget and the New Strategy

At a macro level analyze the effects of changes in the federal budget resulting from a variety of national changes (including changes in entitlement programs due to population aging) and the pressures these changes will place on the defense budget and the Air Force budget, including an analysis of where all the money goes at all levels. Integrate this with the effects of national security strategy changes on potential Air Force investments.

Sponsor: AF/A8X
Project Leader: Kevin Lewis

Managing and Sustaining a Low Observable (LO) Force

The new strategy places great emphasis on support to land forces in GWOT operations while at the same time requiring the capability to operate in MCOs with significantly more severe threats. This study will address these survivability issues at the operational and tactical levels to include TTPs and investments in technology where required.

Sponsor: SAF/AQ; ACC/A8
Project Leader: Natalie Crawford

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