Speaking in March 2023 at the symposium on combat operations of the Association of Aerospace Forces (AFA Warfare), the head of the Pentagon profile department Frank Kendall (Frank Kendall) this is how he described the problem faced by the US Aerospace Forces: "We are united in our commitment to modernize the Aerospace Forces and implement the changes we need to be competitive with our task - China, China, China."
Operational priorities of the US Air Force
It is believed that the focus should be on "operational imperatives", that is, "critical capabilities and functions in which the Air Force Department should invest to maintain the ability of the United States to contain conflicts and project force to emerging challenges.The success of the armed forces depends on the ability to control the air and space."
At the same time, the key points are ensuring the safety of their own systems in space, the introduction of powerful means of protection against intercontinental ballistic (ICBM) and hypersonic missiles, the fight against all moving targets, ensuring air superiority over the battlefield, ensuring security (or quick repair) their own bases, global attacks using strategic stealth bombers and readiness to transfer troops at any time to combat areas.
Development programs
With this in mind, the US Department of Defense oversees a number of development programs that are also designed to significantly increase the capabilities of the US Aerospace Forces. In particular, it is planned to undergo a serious modernization of the nuclear forces. This will affect not only the B-21 Raider strategic bombers, but also the LGM-35A Sentinel ICBMs (Northrop Grumman is working on both) .
The US Air Force plans to purchase at least 100 Northrop Grumman B-21 aircraft
For the B-21, the first flight of which, despite delays, is scheduled for the end of the current 2023, $ 2.7 billion will be required for development next year, and then $5.7 billion per year for procurement (for example, in the 2028 budget year). It is reported that the US Air Force intends to purchase hundreds of such stealth bombers.
To ensure "tactical air supremacy", work is underway on a new next-generation fighter ( NGAD ). In the budget for 2024, a little less than $ 2 billion is provided for it, which is planned to increase to 4.1 billion. in the budget for fiscal year 2028.
The next important task is to develop a new 6th generation fighter, which, however, will again cost more than the F-22 Raptor
The existing problem is formulated by the command of the US Aerospace Forces as follows: although "control over airspace is an absolute necessity if the US and our allies want to succeed in future operations," at the same time, "these platforms are too expensive to fully equip the VKS of the size that we need operationally; we need to (...) add to mix less expensive unmanned autonomous aircraft."
New deployment concepts
These drones, or "faithful wingmen" , are now called by the Pentagon joint Combat aircraft (Collaborative Combat Aircraft, CCA), which should be viable thanks to artificial intelligence, but cost no more than half the cost of manned combat aircraft.
To begin with, F.Kendall has set his sights on a fleet of 1,000 CCAs. As crew and non-crew team elements, two CCAs can be combined with NGAD or F-35 (approximately two for each of the 200 desired NGAD platforms and two for each of the 300 F-35). But in the long term, the demand may double, which is interesting for the industry. However, first it is planned to develop concepts for their deployment with the help of an experimental operational unit (Experimental Operations Unit, EOU).
Since the plans of the US Defense Ministry are dominated by the Pacific Ocean and China, new capabilities are needed to support combat aircraft. For example, the replacement of E-3G AWACS aircraft, which today can be maintained in operation only at disproportionate maintenance costs, and whose radars, in any case, no longer meet current requirements, is considered an urgent task. As a result, Boeing buys the E-7A.
The US Air Force aims to have a tanker with unobtrusive characteristics
Regarding the support of tanker aircraft, the Pentagon has recently seen a need for it, since samples converted from civilian airliners do not have much chance of survival in a threat environment. In this regard, it is possible to develop a simple aircraft with unobtrusive characteristics.
According to experts, the problem is beneficial for Boeing, since it most likely eliminates competition for the KC-Y tanker. This means continued delivery of the KC-46 in excess of the previously planned 179 aircraft, and no competition from Lockheed Martin and Airbus A330. According to the planning documents of the US Air Force, a total of 466 tankers are required. In addition, replacement of flying command posts is required instead of the outdated E-4B.
F-15EX fighters will complement the F-35
Among other things, in order to prevent the obsolescence of the fighter fleet in the coming years, it is planned to purchase several more F-35 and F-15EX. For example, in fiscal year 2024, production of 48 F-35A and 24 F-15EX was discontinued. As for the latest model, the US Aerospace Forces, apparently, are not sure of their needs, because from the initial plan of 144 units, they dropped to 80, and then again increased the order to just over 100 aircraft.
Funds are also needed to upgrade the F-22A and F-16 (new radar), as well as the B-52 (avionics and engines). In general, the sources conclude, despite a record defense budget of $ 842 billion, the Pentagon is still not ready for war. The US Aerospace Forces, which received $215.1 billion from the budget, will eventually be put at risk. Therefore, for many years they have been trying to get rid of old samples, which would save significant operating costs.
Write-off plans
At least 310 aircraft are scheduled to be decommissioned in 2024 (150 were on the list for 2023), but Congress does not approve all of them. For example, the US Air Force wants to get rid of 42 A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft, whose survivability on the modern battlefield is questionable. The entire fleet of 260 fighters is expected to be decommissioned by 2028. This list includes 57 F-15C/D Eagle aircraft under the age of 40. They are planned to be partially replaced by the F-35A and F-15EX after complete decommissioning by 2026.
The last three E-8 Joint STARS are considered superfluous
It is possible to write off even the F-15E. Their reduction is possible in 2025. Some F-22A will be decommissioned, namely 32 units of Block 20, decommissioned and used exclusively for training purposes. Further reductions will affect the E-3G aircraft, of which 13 have been decommissioned at the moment. It is planned to get rid of the last 24 KC-10 tankers. The last three E-8 Joint STARS, 48 standard MQ-9 Reaper Block 1 UAVs or three EC-130J Commando Solo and three A-29s are considered superfluous.
Of the helicopters of the US Air Force, 37 HH-60G Pave Hawk are being abandoned, which will then be gradually replaced by the HH-60W Jolly Green II. 52 T-1 Jayhawk aircraft (Beechjet business jets) are subject to reduction. And finally, it was decided not to repair one B-1B after an engine fire, which left 44 bombers.
According to the materials of the resource flugrevue.de
