The Pentagon has decided to reorganize the US Air Force ahead of the era of “great power competition”

The United States is beginning to reorganize the Air Force; the current Air Force does not meet modern requirements and is not able to compete with similar structures in other countries. This was stated by US Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall.

The United States is entering an era of “great power competition,” so it is necessary to prepare the American armed forces, including the Air Force, for a possible confrontation with them. Changes in the structure of the Air Force will begin in January next year; they will be optimized to meet modern requirements. The changes will affect both the command structure and combat units; issues of supply of new aircraft, pilot training, etc. will be resolved.

The goal is to outline and begin implementing by January 2024 a range of changes that will once again optimize the Department of the Air Force for great power competition (...) We have no time to waste

Kendall stated.

As noted, first of all, all changes are aimed at confronting China, which is considered in Washington to be the main geopolitical adversary of the United States. Russia also poses a threat to Americans, but not to the same extent. According to US intelligence, while Russia is at war with Western-backed Ukraine, China is preparing for war, and with the United States. A collision is likely and could happen at any time. Therefore, the United States must meet it “fully armed” and, of course, “defeat.”

Transformations in the US Air Force have actually begun, the creation of three new operational-tactical groups has been announced, two of which will be assigned to the US Central Command, and one will go to the Indo-Pacific region to “contain China.” At the moment, this area is considered the highest priority in the Pentagon.

Comments

[Magellan]

... the current Air Force does not meet modern requirements and is not able to compete with similar structures in other countries.

In fact, it’s strange to hear this from them. At the RAND Corporation, aerospace has always been a priority area of ​​research and development - a well-known fact...

[Arkadich]

An article about the reorganization of the US Armed Forces.
What does the RAND Corporation, a non-profit global policy think tank, have to do with this?

[Magellan]

Sorry, for some reason I am not receiving notifications about replies.
Alexander Shevyakin
8 STEPS TO THE DEFEAT OF THE SOVIET POWER

Aviation and space are a primary and ongoing area of ​​focus for the RAND Corporation. Even in the “worst years”, a third of the company’s turnover worked for the Air Force and NASA.
One of the main problems in the upcoming war with the USSR was the geopolitical invulnerability of some remote areas. This problem was solved with the help of the developments of the RAND Corporation [4.10] on the deployment of air bases around the USSR. However, it was also necessary to create a system of non-stop flights over unprecedentedly long distances for loitering in the air, so that some of the aircraft would be in constant readiness to strike the territory of the USSR. To refuel bombers through brainstorming, the idea of ​​​​creating an “air tanker” was developed.
...
Perhaps the most important work ever undertaken by the RAND Corporation in the field of strategic development began with a routine request for advice from the Air Force and led to the adoption of a new defense concept by the United States. The research that led to its creation has come to be referred to as the “new gospel of deterrence,” which deserves to be discussed in more detail.
In 1951, the Air Force leadership turned to the corporation with a request for assistance in choosing the locations of additional air bases that were supposed to be created abroad in the period 1956-61. ...
...
Subsequent research by A. Wohlstetter's group and others led to new policy changes. One paper recommended a "warranty procedure" for nuclear bombers, which was adopted by the Strategic Air Command.

[tralflot1832]

Crazy Biden is still dragging the world towards a nuclear war, for Western LGBT values. It’s not for nothing that God spoke about Sadd and Gomorrah, when I will destroy, so that they don’t turn around, so that there is no memory of these “rear-wheel drive” ones. But now they have climbed into power and We got to the nuclear button. Who will be the new messiah, who will stop this “action”.

[bukhach]

The ground forces are also being reorganized, returning divisions of various types, space in the process, really preparing for a big war with a strong enemy and not a weakling. Although they could not cope with the Taliban despite all their military power and strong economy, and they spent so much time and effort, allies were attracted.

[Constantine N]

who said that the Taliban could not be dealt with? those who were not needed were removed, but those who were needed were left with a mountain of weapons and they are waiting for their moment to attack their neighbors

[rocket757]

Everything is logical... it is clear that people with brains convinced the thick-headed that the world is changing and the armed forces will have to cease.

[Avi2023]

The United States cannot fight a country that has nuclear weapons. Once they attack a nuclear country, tactical and strategic nuclear weapons will be used.
It is enough that only New York will be destroyed.
And certainly if dozens of cities are destroyed
America will not go back to the way it was.
America has no immunity and in addition
Countries around the world are increasing their economic and demographic power over time and becoming
stronger, so it’s more difficult to fight against them even with traditional methods. What about Türkiye? Iran? Pakistan? Brazil? China? Russia? India?
Weak countries?
All countries become stronger over time.
And the US will have a hard time against them.
Of course not if they have nuclear weapons.

[Bingo]

Your mother! But what about the “stealth”, “which has no analogues in the world”, it turns out they were only suitable for chasing the Taliban? All this spending, when the annual defense budget of the United States was equal to the total budget of the next 6 countries - was it all spent over decades on weapons that are generally incapable of fighting with anyone except a stoned single suicide bomber? All this high-precision - high-precision fell into a puddle?
In short, the US Air Force was the first from Matrasia to stand up and declare - “all polymers are the same.” At least someone admitted that they didn’t do anything in the USA besides making money, because they didn’t know how to do anything

[rotmistr60]

The Pentagon has decided to reorganize the US Air Force ahead of the era of “great power competition”

Is this despite earlier statements about the power of the American army and the best air force in the world? This means that the understanding has come that words are one thing, but practice is completely different. As I understand it, the definition of “great power competition” implies the inevitability of military action, which the United States is not quite ready for today.

[Tektor]

In this regard, the news is very pleasant that we may have the first flight of the MiG-41 at the end of this year. It is positioned as generation 5++ or almost sixth. The maximum speed is above 4M and below 5M, and they are still silent about the ceiling, but it could be 90 km. We created it 1,5 years ahead of schedule.

[Peaceful SEO]

Quote: Tektor

In this regard, the news is very pleasant that we may have the first flight of the MiG-41 at the end of this year. It is positioned as generation 5++ or almost sixth. The maximum speed is above 4M and below 5M, and they are still silent about the ceiling, but it could be 90 km. We created it 1,5 years ahead of schedule.

I'm wildly sorry, but how will he fly 90 km? Like a ballistic missile? :))

[Tektor]

There was a prototype: GELA X-90, which weighed 15 tons, had one scramjet engine, which accelerated the baby to 4,5 M and, according to unconfirmed data, it managed to climb above 30 km. But there is no information about the ceiling yet, because... haven't tried it. And the higher he can rise, the greater the speed and range he can achieve.