Report
Modeling Rapidly Composable, Heterogeneous, and Fractionated Forces: Findings on Mosaic Warfare from an Agent-Based Model
Mosaic warfare is named for the idea of creating a complex image from small pieces. This report studies Mosaic warfare and explores complexity of platforms, complexity of targets, and relative density of platforms and targets.
Jan 5, 2021
Report
Operationally Relevant Artificial Training for Machine Learning: Improving the Performance of Automated Target Recognition Systems
The authors explore whether an object-detection model trained on artificial images could evaluate real images as an automated target recognition system, an important advancement in artificial intelligence and machine learning for the U.S military.
Nov 18, 2020
Report
Joint All-Domain Command and Control for Modern Warfare: An Analytic Framework for Identifying and Developing Artificial Intelligence Applications
The authors examine and recommend opportunities for applying artificial intelligence and, more broadly, automation to deliberate planning for joint all-domain command and control for the U.S. Air Force.
Jul 1, 2020
Report
Air Dominance Through Machine Learning: A Preliminary Exploration of Artificial Intelligence–Assisted Mission Planning
U.S. air superiority is being challenged by global competitors. In this report, the authors prototype a new artificial intelligence system to help develop and evaluate concepts of operations for the air domain.
May 29, 2020
Report
Needs, Effectiveness, and Gap Assessment for Key A-10C Missions: An Overview of Findings
This report analyzes several missions assigned to the A-10C aircraft and the needs this mission set could generate over the next five years. It also assesses existing and planned forces' effectiveness and capability gaps in performing those missions.
Mar 2, 2017
Report
The Foundations of Operational Resilience — Assessing the Ability to Operate in an Anti-Access/Area Denial (A2/AD) Environment: The Analytical Framework, Lexicon, and Characteristics of the Operational Resilience Analysis Model (ORAM)
Describes a modeling framework and lexicon for conducting a detailed analysis of future Air Force operational resilience in an anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environment.
Jul 7, 2016
Research Brief
Chinese Attacks on U.S. Air Bases in Asia: An Assessment of Relative Capabilities, 1996–2017
Discussion about China's military modernization has included little comparative analysis of Chinese and U.S. military capabilities. This brief focuses on improvements to China's ability to disrupt or degrade U.S. operations by attacking air bases.
Sep 14, 2015
Research Brief
Chinese Threats to U.S. Surface Ships: An Assessment of Relative Capabilities, 1996–2017
Discussion about China's military modernization has included little comparative analysis of Chinese and U.S. military capabilities. This brief focuses on improvements to China's ability to target U.S. surface ships, especially aircraft carriers.
Sep 14, 2015
Research Brief
Tallying the U.S.-China Military Scorecard: Relative Capabilities and the Evolving Balance of Power, 1996–2017
Discussion about China's military modernization has focused on new weapon systems, with little comparative analysis of Chinese and U.S. military forces and development. This brief summarizes a RAND Project AIR FORCE study that seeks to fill this gap.
Sep 14, 2015
Research Brief
U.S. and Chinese Air Superiority Capabilities: An Assessment of Relative Advantage, 1996–2017
Discussion about China's military modernization has included little comparative analysis of Chinese and U.S. military capabilities. This brief focuses on improvements to China's ability to contest U.S. air superiority in an Asian conflict.
Sep 14, 2015
Report
The U.S.-China Military Scorecard: Forces, Geography, and the Evolving Balance of Power, 1996–2017
A RAND study analyzed trends in the development of Chinese and U.S. military capabilities in two scenarios (centered on Taiwan and the Spratly Islands) and multiple types of operations from 1996 to 2017.
Sep 14, 2015
Report
Shaking the Heavens and Splitting the Earth: Chinese translation (traditional characters)
This monograph (translated into traditional Chinese characters) analyzes published Chinese and Western sources about current and future capabilities and employment concepts of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and provides recommendations about actions that should be taken in response.
May 6, 2014
Report
Shaking the Heavens and Splitting the Earth: Chinese Air Force Employment Concepts in the 21st Century
This monograph analyzes published Chinese and Western sources about current and future capabilities and employment concepts of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and provides recommendations about actions that should be taken in response.
Feb 17, 2011
Testimony
Potential Effects of Chinese Aerospace Capabilities on U.S. Air Force Operations
Testimony presented before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission on May 20, 2010.
May 12, 2010
Research Brief
Test and Evaluation Facilities and Capabilities: Is the Air Force Overinvested?
This research brief describes a RAND examination of the costs and benefits of a proposed consolidation of Air Force test and evaluation facilities that had raised concerns among a broad set of interested parties, including members of Congress.
May 28, 2008
Report
Cost-Benefit Analysis of the 2006 Air Force Materiel Command Test and Evaluation Proposal
The Air Force proposal to consolidate and divest a portion of Eglin Air Force Base's test and evaluation capabilities has both financial merits and risks that the Air Force should address.
May 15, 2008
Research Brief
New Approaches to Planning, Executing, and Assessing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations
This research brief summarizes research detailing a methodology for assessing the benefits and costs of U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance employment strategies.
Apr 13, 2008
Report
Methodology for Improving the Planning, Execution, and Assessment of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Operations
Presents alternative methods to approach U.S. Air Force intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) tasking and assessment processes and presents a methodology for assessing the benefits and costs of different ISR employment strategies.
Mar 29, 2008
Research Brief
New Tools Can Make Intelligence Collection More Responsive to Time-Sensitive Targets
This research brief describes three proposed frameworks (a ''strategies-to-tasks'' framework, utility framework, and probability framework) to better handle fleeting targets on rapidly changing battlefields—all to improve ISR planning and execution.
Apr 9, 2007
Report
A Strategies-to-Tasks Framework for Planning and Executing Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Operations
To move ISR planning and execution forward from a fixed target and deliberate planning focus to one centered on emerging targets, we propose enhancing the collection management process with a strategies-to-tasks and utility framework.
Apr 8, 2007
Research Brief
Analysis of Alternatives for Recapitalizing the Air Force's KC-135 Aerial Refueling Tanker
This research brief describes an analysis that assessed alternatives for recapitalization of the ageing KC-135 air tanker fleet.
Mar 9, 2006
Report
Analysis of Alternatives (AoA) for KC-135 Recapitalization: Executive Summary
Aerial refueling is critical to U.S. military and national security strategy; this analysis assessed alternatives for recapitalization of the ageing KC-135 fleet.
Mar 6, 2006
Report
Developing Countries & Global Climate Change: Electric Power Options for Growth
This report, prepared for the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, investigates policy and technology choices in the electric power sector that can lower carbon dioxide and other air emissions, while maintaining or improving economic growth.
1999
Research Brief
Developing an Affordable Fighter for the Future
Analyze fighter inventory levels, affordability, and mission needs for the new fighter, to augment Air Force and contractor studies. Found that the constraints of future budgets will severely circumscribe Air Force options for the JSF.
1997
Report
The Next-Generation Attack Fighter: Affordability and Mission Needs
This report examines key affordability and mission needs issues for the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) and is tailored to support the Air Force in developing a Mission Needs Statement and Operational Requirements Document and in evaluating contractor studies.
1997
Report
Trends in Recognition Technology
This paper surveys the current state of recognition technology with the aim of providing the business community with "strategic intelligence" for evaluating the potential for investment or commercial development. A brief tutorial describing recogniti...
1997
Report
Dual-use rotorcraft technology : market factors and technology development
Dual-use rotorcraft technology : market factors and technology development
1996
Report
Dual-Use Technology Program for a Passenger-Cargo Rotorcraft
Declining budgets are reducing the number of new military acquisition starts. The Army needs to consider new ways of doing business that will permit it to get the most from the acquisition dollars available.
1995