Project Air Force is Making a Difference with the Air Force

Research Spotlight

Bolstering U.S. Air Bases Against Chinese and Russian Attacks
There's a growing consensus that China and Russia represent major threats to U.S. interests and there are calls to counter the threats cost-effectively. Air base resilience requires close familiarity with the threat, a systematic approach for addressing it, and sustained efforts to build on investments in protection.

From the Forum

Can the War in Ukraine Help the United States Address Security Concerns in the Indo-Pacific?
Even as the Russian military continues to struggle in Ukraine, Air Force leaders and top national security experts at the 2022 West Coast Aerospace Forum warned not to expect similar outcomes in a potential conflict with China. The 7th annual event focused on applying lessons learned from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to the security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
Dec 14, 2022

Recent Work

Managing the Escalation Risks of U.S. Military Activities in the Indo-Pacific
Grounded in 14 case studies of reactions by the People's Republic of China (PRC) to U.S. military activities and other events in the Indo-Pacific, this brief offers U.S. military planners a framework to identify the PRC perceptions that are likely to cause an aggressive or escalatory PRC response.
Ensuring Mission Assurance While Conducting Rapid Space Acquisition
What streamlining techniques are being used to accelerate U.S. Space Force acquisition? The authors of this report examine the risks associated with those techniques, their potential impact on mission assurance, and the possible mitigations.
Managing Escalation While Competing Effectively in the Indo-Pacific
In response to China's expanding military activity in the Indo-Pacific, the United States has increased its activity in the region over the past decade. How can America continue to safeguard its interests while limiting potential risks of escalation with China?
Improving the Technical Requirements Development Process for Weapon Systems: A Systems-Based Approach for Managers
Oversights during development of technical requirements for new weapon systems can result in cost or schedule overruns or unsuitable operational performance. This report describes a systems-based approach to help improve this process.
Options for Improving Strategic Utilization of the Air Reserve Component for Sustained Active-Duty Missions
How do statutes, personnel policies, and resource policies constrain how Air Reserve Component (ARC) personnel are utilized to perform frequent or long-term active component operational requirements? Authors suggest potential changes that would make accessing the ARC more efficient, and suggest specific strategic solutions for an operational ARC.
Systematic Method for Prioritizing Investments in Game-Changing Technologies
This report summarizes a demonstration of an Evaluation and Comparison Process framework that U.S. government and private-sector organizations can use to evaluate and compare potential game-changing technologies to make a preliminary determination about where to best invest limited resources.
Improving Defense Acquisition
Informed by 35 years of RAND research on defense acquisition, a new analysis describes overarching trends that affect DoD's acquisition system, outlines challenges in the acquisition process, and suggests improvements that might help address those challenges.

China's Overseas Military Diplomacy and Implications for U.S. Interests

Unhoused Population Increased by 18 Percent in Three Hot-Spot L.A. Neighborhoods

Software Supply Chain Risk Is Growing, but Mitigation Solutions Exist

Appreciating U.S. Ground Force Contributions to Operation Inherent Resolve

RAND Experts Discuss the Implications of China Easing Zero-COVID Rules

The Policy Currents Podcast

Helping Coastal Communities Plan for Climate Change

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Measuring Wellbeing to Help Communities Thrive

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

Project Air Force is Making a Difference with the Air Force

Research Spotlight

Bolstering U.S. Air Bases Against Chinese and Russian Attacks

From the Forum

Can the War in Ukraine Help the United States Address Security Concerns in the Indo-Pacific?

Recent Work

Managing the Escalation Risks of U.S. Military Activities in the Indo-Pacific

Ensuring Mission Assurance While Conducting Rapid Space Acquisition

Managing Escalation While Competing Effectively in the Indo-Pacific

Improving the Technical Requirements Development Process for Weapon Systems: A Systems-Based Approach for Managers

Options for Improving Strategic Utilization of the Air Reserve Component for Sustained Active-Duty Missions

Systematic Method for Prioritizing Investments in Game-Changing Technologies

Improving Defense Acquisition

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