Well, are we flying to China?
Yes, the beginning of the new year was marked by serious shocks for the American army. It went to the ground forces, marines, the fleet, but in the same way that the Air Force fell under the distribution, no one got it.
We have already talked about the complete curtailment of the FARA helicopter program, but, as it turned out, everything is just beginning there, and the fight for the future structure of the Air Force and its equipment has only just begun.
It would seem - for what? For money? At first glance, the cutting slogan “We will destroy to the ground, and then... we will build something there,” which the United States masters perfectly, is logical, but it is not. You yourself will understand that this is not entirely true and there are people in the US military department who understand what they are planning. The goals, of course, are very so-so, but the paths to them are quite logical.
So, the United States has clearly switched to a new military threat - China. Well, this is the country, they cannot live without an external threat. They have practically defeated terrorism, Russia, which is stuck in the Northeast Military District, is definitely not their enemy, at least it is not threatened by anything, which means that China remains. With its communism-social capitalism and desire to live not simply, but very well.
And this is a threat. Very weighty too. Even more significant than “the Russians are coming!” with which Americans have been frightened for several decades. It also turned out recently that the Russian president, whom the whole world was also afraid of, is quite a Christian and is capable of talking about things for half an hour without paper or electronic prompts. stories of your country. Unlike the American President, who talks smartly with space and Mitterrand, but is unable to talk about how delicious the lunch that ended three hours ago was.
And here’s a new cry: “The Chinese are coming!” And the States began to stir. Well, do you really need to react somehow?
To counter the growing threat from China, the air force will be rocked by major changes in both organization and operation. Details of the initiative, called Optimizing for Great Power Competition, were announced at the Air and Space Symposium in Denver by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and other senior leaders.
What were they talking about? About changes first. The changes will span the entire spectrum of the Air Force's work, from when operational units begin to be organized to when new weapons systems are acquired. This proposal was made by Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.
You see, the question here is not so much about money, but about its implementation. If the Pentagon today realizes that its Air Force is not as good for the future as it thought, it's serious.
Yes, the strategy of previous years, aimed at riveting seemingly modern aircraft in huge volumes and based on this confidence that the security of tomorrow is in the hands of Americans, gave the US Air Force a large number of aircraft with seemingly excellent characteristics.
But what has worked for 20-plus years of counterinsurgency or against enemies with limited weapons will not work against China or Russia, Hunter noted.
Well, the old familiar “Higher, further, stronger!”, isn’t it?
Here it is worth thinking hard about what and how will be modernized. Of course, they won’t reveal all the plans to us, moreover, everyone understands perfectly well that they won’t reveal even a small part of it, but... Is it possible to make an assumption based on the statements of private individuals who were related to the Air Force? Can. In the USA they are very actively involved in this, there are also those who then like to say in the spirit of “I warned you!”
As many American experts believe, changes could affect the entire structure, from the level of major commands (MAJCOM) to the wing level (a structure larger than the Russian air regiment, consisting of three squadrons).
The thing to say about the changes to MAJCOM is that this is a very important point. MAJCOM or Major Command is an air force organization subordinate to Headquarters of the United States Air Force. Major commands have headquarters and subordinate organizations at lower levels.
The USAF is currently organized into nine major MAJCOM commands (seven functional and two geographic), with the Air National Guard component reporting to Headquarters Air Forces (HAF). In fact, it is the executive part of any strategic plan or doctrine.
As many on the other side of the world understand and say, the Air Force will soon announce the consolidation of some of its major commands, the integration of fighters and bombers into single units, and an increase in its budget and planning (this will surprise no one).
But combining fighters and bombers into one unit is an interesting move that could be considered on our side.
Although this is generally our idea, which worked normally during the Great Patriotic War: the bomber regiment was assigned a fighter squadron, the planes of which were engaged in direct cover of bombers or attack aircraft. Such regiments were called mixed.
SAPs worked quite efficiently; there was no need to waste time coordinating the departure time and meeting place of fighters and bombers, those who arrived first did not burn fuel in vain, and so on. This worked very well in the early years of the war, when there was tension with aircraft. Of course, when in 1944-45 they were already flying regiment to regiment, then, naturally, the problem disappeared by itself.
And so - as they say, back to the future. To a future where fighters and bombers can operate together as one unit. And all this is part of a major plan to reorganize the Air Force. And the plan is really large, because you will have to cut and sew to the quick.
The Air Force operates nine MAJCOMs. Some, such as Air Mobility Command (AMC), operate to provide refueling capabilities in every conceivable location on the globe. Air Combat Command (Air Combat Command) provides the air combat force, while Global Strike Command provides the force for strategic nuclear deterrence (that's how they spell it!) and global strike. Others, such as United States Air Forces Europe and United States Air Forces Africa (USAFE), cover regional Air Force responsibilities.
Here are some of these MAJCOMs that can be combined.
At the operational level, the Air Force is considering a "composite wing" concept, where aircraft capable of destroying enemy air defenses, engaging in air combat and refueling operate under one command structure rather than several.
This is the point: crews of different aircraft will regularly train together, which will simplify coordination and reduce time costs. New – well forgotten old?
It is clear that this is not an entirely new concept. The Air Force tried to do this back in 1991, at the initiative of Chief of Staff of the Air Force Merrill McPeak. The 366th Wing at Mountain Home AFB became a guinea pig for what was then called the Air Intervention Wing organization. However, for a number of reasons, this concept was eventually abandoned.
Let us note that the logic behind this concept was quite clear, although there were certainly shortcomings and obstacles to its implementation in accordance with the original plan. And there is no secret to be revealed here, everything lies on the surface.
The main reason why the idea didn’t take off was, naturally, money. Having five different types of aircraft in operational units on one base seemed extremely costly. Each aircraft had its own infrastructure and logistics needs, and with only one squadron of each type, logistics went quietly crazy, following the finance department. And there was simply nothing to save on.
But the idea did not die, it was simply put aside “to be thought out”, and it was thought out for 30 years. But since the era of total US dominance had arrived, and repeating the concept of mixed wings as tactical strike units (or invasion units) in an era of cutting armies and budgets would be practically impossible, the idea lay on the back burner for these 30 years.
But the world was changing, not immediately, gradually, but now new horizons had already emerged, from behind which a threat was peeping out. I will repeat, probably, because China’s policy does not seem to a sober look to threaten the United States, but if the authorities said that it was necessary, then it will be so.
We don't yet know enough details about how the concept will be changed in accordance with the new plan, but creating mixed units makes sense. And experience in Syria has shown that without proper cover, a bomber can become a very easy target for the enemy. And how the Northern Military District demonstrated this to the whole world...
The idea of a bomber and a covering fighter taking off from one point also has its weaknesses, but there is still a rational grain in it. It consists of initial preparation for joint operations of aircraft for different purposes and the development of a unique hybrid model of interaction tactics, which in the long term can become very effective. Especially if you add regular teamwork training for crews to the tactics.
In our time, this will work no worse than during the Second World War. You need to understand the mechanics of the action as a whole: fighters took off from their airfield, bombers from theirs, the former waited for the latter, formed a flight formation and went to the meeting point. There they met and together began to move towards the goal.
In the forties, this was normal, the same British and American bombers hung in the air for hours, getting into formation for a flight to German cities, and in the event of a raid on Cologne, it was generally fun: the latter were still gathering in nines over the airfields, and the first were already returning, having been bombed.
Today everything is worse, today radars can see very far and the enemy will become aware of such a show much earlier than the planes reach the strike lines. The enemy, for example, today is simply well aware of when our Tu-95 and Tu-22M take off and where they are heading, which allows them to at least minimally prepare for attacks. As for aircraft of smaller classes, then it’s worth talking about the so-called ambushes that the Ukrainians have repeatedly arranged for our pilots.
But this, I emphasize once again, is only preliminary calculations based on the statements of former US Air Force pilots. At the decision-making level in the Air Force command, everything is only in the development and discussion stage, but as they say, the process has begun. And the fact that Air Force generals and colonels are silent indicates that the scope of changes is quite significant and not simple.
Indeed, Air Force commanders have a lot of work to do, because they face not only a change of tactics and strategy, but also a complete change of region. Europe and even Russian territories are not the Pacific Ocean, where there is nothing but vast spaces. And from base to base there can be hundreds, or even thousands of kilometers. And jostling there with such an enemy as China is not so easy.
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall III shared his thoughts on how the flying branch will change in an interview with Air & Space Forces Magazine on January 26.
It must be said that the Secretary of the Air Force is somewhat different from what we are used to understanding as the title of this position. He doesn’t make tea or coffee for anyone and doesn’t send letters. The Secretary of the Air Force is a civilian position, appointed by the President of the United States with the mandatory approval of the Senate. Head of the Air Force and Space Forces Department.
The term "department," when used with respect to the military department, means the executive portion of the department and all field headquarters, forces, reserve components, installations, activities, and functions under the control or supervision of the secretary of the department.
A very big bump, as you understand.
Kendall hinted at the need for these changes specifically to counter China last September during an AFA symposium in National Harbor, Maryland.
In general, you don’t need to quote further, everything is clear. China has been designated as the main adversary for the near future, but it turns out that the United States is completely unprepared for the kind of confrontation that analysts envision. The most important thing is missing: reference points from which it is possible to conduct at least some kind of struggle with a great power.
If, in a hypothetical confrontation with Russia, the US had any number of strongholds in Europe, which, in fact, is now being demonstrated in the Northern Military District, when supply and repair bases are located in Slovenia, Romania, Germany, Poland and the Baltic states, and it’s quite another thing to organize something similar near China.
Yes, there are South Korea, Japan and other US allies in blocs such as Thailand and Indonesia, but China has North Korea, and participation in any mess of this small state can result in very big headaches for both South Korea and Japan. So “Hold My Soju” performed by the North Korean army – this also needs to be taken into account.
It is very difficult to take and redirect the work of the country’s Air Force to an almost new and very large theater, in which, moreover, the United States does not have many bases.
But perhaps the Air Force knows what it wants to do. How this will play out under the realities of modern American budget constraints and competing interests between services remains to be seen.
One more thing. If after the upcoming elections there is a change of president, the unimaginable may happen, such as a new turn somewhere else. It is worth closely observing the process that has begun.
We have already talked about the complete curtailment of the FARA helicopter program, but, as it turned out, everything is just beginning there, and the fight for the future structure of the Air Force and its equipment has only just begun.
It would seem - for what? For money? At first glance, the cutting slogan “We will destroy to the ground, and then... we will build something there,” which the United States masters perfectly, is logical, but it is not. You yourself will understand that this is not entirely true and there are people in the US military department who understand what they are planning. The goals, of course, are very so-so, but the paths to them are quite logical.
So, the United States has clearly switched to a new military threat - China. Well, this is the country, they cannot live without an external threat. They have practically defeated terrorism, Russia, which is stuck in the Northeast Military District, is definitely not their enemy, at least it is not threatened by anything, which means that China remains. With its communism-social capitalism and desire to live not simply, but very well.
And this is a threat. Very weighty too. Even more significant than “the Russians are coming!” with which Americans have been frightened for several decades. It also turned out recently that the Russian president, whom the whole world was also afraid of, is quite a Christian and is capable of talking about things for half an hour without paper or electronic prompts. stories of your country. Unlike the American President, who talks smartly with space and Mitterrand, but is unable to talk about how delicious the lunch that ended three hours ago was.
And here’s a new cry: “The Chinese are coming!” And the States began to stir. Well, do you really need to react somehow?
To counter the growing threat from China, the air force will be rocked by major changes in both organization and operation. Details of the initiative, called Optimizing for Great Power Competition, were announced at the Air and Space Symposium in Denver by Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall and other senior leaders.
What were they talking about? About changes first. The changes will span the entire spectrum of the Air Force's work, from when operational units begin to be organized to when new weapons systems are acquired. This proposal was made by Hunter, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics.
“We want to realize the ability to integrate across our procurement organizations, as well as the operating community across the department, to a much greater extent than is the case today.”
, Hunter said while speaking at an Atlantic Council event.“Optimizing for Great Power Competition goes beyond just looking at modernization... not just monitoring acquisition programs, but having a broader view of all the work across the Department of the Air Force to answer the question, 'Is the structure we have today fit? , to carry out the tasks assigned to the Ministry of the Air Force? Or is the Air Force still under pressure from the legacy of previous strategies—previous national defense, security focuses?”
You see, the question here is not so much about money, but about its implementation. If the Pentagon today realizes that its Air Force is not as good for the future as it thought, it's serious.
Yes, the strategy of previous years, aimed at riveting seemingly modern aircraft in huge volumes and based on this confidence that the security of tomorrow is in the hands of Americans, gave the US Air Force a large number of aircraft with seemingly excellent characteristics.
But what has worked for 20-plus years of counterinsurgency or against enemies with limited weapons will not work against China or Russia, Hunter noted.
"In order to be successful, we've been able to leverage this huge investment over the last 20-plus years to do very high-precision, high-impact things like precision airstrikes around the world, in very modest numbers."
, said Hunter. “What we're looking at from a strategic competition perspective is the need to do the same thing, but at a pace and scale that's completely different from anything we've done before.”
Well, the old familiar “Higher, further, stronger!”, isn’t it?
Here it is worth thinking hard about what and how will be modernized. Of course, they won’t reveal all the plans to us, moreover, everyone understands perfectly well that they won’t reveal even a small part of it, but... Is it possible to make an assumption based on the statements of private individuals who were related to the Air Force? Can. In the USA they are very actively involved in this, there are also those who then like to say in the spirit of “I warned you!”
As many American experts believe, changes could affect the entire structure, from the level of major commands (MAJCOM) to the wing level (a structure larger than the Russian air regiment, consisting of three squadrons).
The thing to say about the changes to MAJCOM is that this is a very important point. MAJCOM or Major Command is an air force organization subordinate to Headquarters of the United States Air Force. Major commands have headquarters and subordinate organizations at lower levels.
The USAF is currently organized into nine major MAJCOM commands (seven functional and two geographic), with the Air National Guard component reporting to Headquarters Air Forces (HAF). In fact, it is the executive part of any strategic plan or doctrine.
As many on the other side of the world understand and say, the Air Force will soon announce the consolidation of some of its major commands, the integration of fighters and bombers into single units, and an increase in its budget and planning (this will surprise no one).
But combining fighters and bombers into one unit is an interesting move that could be considered on our side.
Although this is generally our idea, which worked normally during the Great Patriotic War: the bomber regiment was assigned a fighter squadron, the planes of which were engaged in direct cover of bombers or attack aircraft. Such regiments were called mixed.
SAPs worked quite efficiently; there was no need to waste time coordinating the departure time and meeting place of fighters and bombers, those who arrived first did not burn fuel in vain, and so on. This worked very well in the early years of the war, when there was tension with aircraft. Of course, when in 1944-45 they were already flying regiment to regiment, then, naturally, the problem disappeared by itself.
And so - as they say, back to the future. To a future where fighters and bombers can operate together as one unit. And all this is part of a major plan to reorganize the Air Force. And the plan is really large, because you will have to cut and sew to the quick.
The Air Force operates nine MAJCOMs. Some, such as Air Mobility Command (AMC), operate to provide refueling capabilities in every conceivable location on the globe. Air Combat Command (Air Combat Command) provides the air combat force, while Global Strike Command provides the force for strategic nuclear deterrence (that's how they spell it!) and global strike. Others, such as United States Air Forces Europe and United States Air Forces Africa (USAFE), cover regional Air Force responsibilities.
Here are some of these MAJCOMs that can be combined.
At the operational level, the Air Force is considering a "composite wing" concept, where aircraft capable of destroying enemy air defenses, engaging in air combat and refueling operate under one command structure rather than several.
This is the point: crews of different aircraft will regularly train together, which will simplify coordination and reduce time costs. New – well forgotten old?
It is clear that this is not an entirely new concept. The Air Force tried to do this back in 1991, at the initiative of Chief of Staff of the Air Force Merrill McPeak. The 366th Wing at Mountain Home AFB became a guinea pig for what was then called the Air Intervention Wing organization. However, for a number of reasons, this concept was eventually abandoned.
Composition of early air intervention wing aircraft at Mountain Home AFB
Let us note that the logic behind this concept was quite clear, although there were certainly shortcomings and obstacles to its implementation in accordance with the original plan. And there is no secret to be revealed here, everything lies on the surface.
The main reason why the idea didn’t take off was, naturally, money. Having five different types of aircraft in operational units on one base seemed extremely costly. Each aircraft had its own infrastructure and logistics needs, and with only one squadron of each type, logistics went quietly crazy, following the finance department. And there was simply nothing to save on.
But the idea did not die, it was simply put aside “to be thought out”, and it was thought out for 30 years. But since the era of total US dominance had arrived, and repeating the concept of mixed wings as tactical strike units (or invasion units) in an era of cutting armies and budgets would be practically impossible, the idea lay on the back burner for these 30 years.
But the world was changing, not immediately, gradually, but now new horizons had already emerged, from behind which a threat was peeping out. I will repeat, probably, because China’s policy does not seem to a sober look to threaten the United States, but if the authorities said that it was necessary, then it will be so.
We don't yet know enough details about how the concept will be changed in accordance with the new plan, but creating mixed units makes sense. And experience in Syria has shown that without proper cover, a bomber can become a very easy target for the enemy. And how the Northern Military District demonstrated this to the whole world...
The idea of a bomber and a covering fighter taking off from one point also has its weaknesses, but there is still a rational grain in it. It consists of initial preparation for joint operations of aircraft for different purposes and the development of a unique hybrid model of interaction tactics, which in the long term can become very effective. Especially if you add regular teamwork training for crews to the tactics.
In our time, this will work no worse than during the Second World War. You need to understand the mechanics of the action as a whole: fighters took off from their airfield, bombers from theirs, the former waited for the latter, formed a flight formation and went to the meeting point. There they met and together began to move towards the goal.
In the forties, this was normal, the same British and American bombers hung in the air for hours, getting into formation for a flight to German cities, and in the event of a raid on Cologne, it was generally fun: the latter were still gathering in nines over the airfields, and the first were already returning, having been bombed.
Today everything is worse, today radars can see very far and the enemy will become aware of such a show much earlier than the planes reach the strike lines. The enemy, for example, today is simply well aware of when our Tu-95 and Tu-22M take off and where they are heading, which allows them to at least minimally prepare for attacks. As for aircraft of smaller classes, then it’s worth talking about the so-called ambushes that the Ukrainians have repeatedly arranged for our pilots.
But this, I emphasize once again, is only preliminary calculations based on the statements of former US Air Force pilots. At the decision-making level in the Air Force command, everything is only in the development and discussion stage, but as they say, the process has begun. And the fact that Air Force generals and colonels are silent indicates that the scope of changes is quite significant and not simple.
Indeed, Air Force commanders have a lot of work to do, because they face not only a change of tactics and strategy, but also a complete change of region. Europe and even Russian territories are not the Pacific Ocean, where there is nothing but vast spaces. And from base to base there can be hundreds, or even thousands of kilometers. And jostling there with such an enemy as China is not so easy.
Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall III shared his thoughts on how the flying branch will change in an interview with Air & Space Forces Magazine on January 26.
It must be said that the Secretary of the Air Force is somewhat different from what we are used to understanding as the title of this position. He doesn’t make tea or coffee for anyone and doesn’t send letters. The Secretary of the Air Force is a civilian position, appointed by the President of the United States with the mandatory approval of the Senate. Head of the Air Force and Space Forces Department.
The term "department," when used with respect to the military department, means the executive portion of the department and all field headquarters, forces, reserve components, installations, activities, and functions under the control or supervision of the secretary of the department.
A very big bump, as you understand.
“...If we are called upon to support an operation plan in the Pacific or in Europe, say, against a great power, we need deployable units that can do the job. And that's not what we have now.
...The units themselves need to be structured so that they have all the capabilities they need when they go out on the road, and you want those units to have unity of command. We don’t have that now.”
...With the current state of affairs in the structure, when a new commander arrives where combat missions need to be carried out, his team appears on the same day, and they simply begin to do what they do. And we are used to it. It was an efficient way to do what we've been doing for the last 20+ years. But this is not the way to get involved in a conflict between great powers.”
...The units themselves need to be structured so that they have all the capabilities they need when they go out on the road, and you want those units to have unity of command. We don’t have that now.”
...With the current state of affairs in the structure, when a new commander arrives where combat missions need to be carried out, his team appears on the same day, and they simply begin to do what they do. And we are used to it. It was an efficient way to do what we've been doing for the last 20+ years. But this is not the way to get involved in a conflict between great powers.”
Kendall hinted at the need for these changes specifically to counter China last September during an AFA symposium in National Harbor, Maryland.
“China has created two new branches of the armed forces, the Rocket Force and the Strategic Support Force, and this has significantly increased the capabilities of both the People's Liberation Army Air Force and the PLA Navy. The Missile Force is designed to strike America's valuable assets, aircraft carriers, forward airfields, and key decision-making centers and logistics hubs."
Soldiers from the PLA Missile Forces brigade install a ballistic missile system into position. March 12, 2020.
“The Strategic Support Force is designed to achieve superiority in the space and cyber domains, including by targeting our space-based capabilities. China has been reshaping its forces for great power competition and to prevail over the United States and the Western Pacific for more than 20 years. We must do the same."
In general, you don’t need to quote further, everything is clear. China has been designated as the main adversary for the near future, but it turns out that the United States is completely unprepared for the kind of confrontation that analysts envision. The most important thing is missing: reference points from which it is possible to conduct at least some kind of struggle with a great power.
If, in a hypothetical confrontation with Russia, the US had any number of strongholds in Europe, which, in fact, is now being demonstrated in the Northern Military District, when supply and repair bases are located in Slovenia, Romania, Germany, Poland and the Baltic states, and it’s quite another thing to organize something similar near China.
Yes, there are South Korea, Japan and other US allies in blocs such as Thailand and Indonesia, but China has North Korea, and participation in any mess of this small state can result in very big headaches for both South Korea and Japan. So “Hold My Soju” performed by the North Korean army – this also needs to be taken into account.
It is very difficult to take and redirect the work of the country’s Air Force to an almost new and very large theater, in which, moreover, the United States does not have many bases.
But perhaps the Air Force knows what it wants to do. How this will play out under the realities of modern American budget constraints and competing interests between services remains to be seen.
One more thing. If after the upcoming elections there is a change of president, the unimaginable may happen, such as a new turn somewhere else. It is worth closely observing the process that has begun.
Information