1. h"p://www.sldinfo.comh"p://www.sldforum.com1

2. Amixofnon-kine9c,kine9candinforma9onwarfareelementsareblendedintoanasser9veadversarypoli9cal-militarypolicyagainstdemocra9cinterests.Ineffect,thedemocraciesareworkingtogetherineitheranexplicitorimplicitsetofalliancestoprotecttheirinterests.TheUSiscertainlyakeyplayerinthissystem,butwhatmightbecalledaleadna9onapproachisemergingwithinwhichthekeyregionalplayersaretakingprimaryresponsibilityfortheirowninterestsandalliesareinaposi9ontosupporttheleadna9onorna9ons.TheUSmightbethefirstamongequalswithinthisdynamic,butitisjustthat:intheleadsome9mes,butinsupportmoreoKenthannot.2 3. Thepastdecadehasbeenshapedbythegroundwars,butundertheinfluenceofeventsinEuropeandtheMiddleEast,anevolvingpa"ernof21stcenturyconflictisemerging.Itisapa"erninwhichstateandnon-stateactorsareworkingtoreshapetheglobalorderintheirfavorbygenera9ngconflictsagainsttheinterestsofthedemocraciesbutwhichthedemocraciesareslowtoreact.Theassump9onofISISterroristsandPu9nsRussianUkrainianadventureandtheChineseleadershiprelyinginpartonthePLAtoexpandthedomainofChinesesovereigntyisthattheslowdecisionmakingcyclesofdemocraciescanbeexploitedtomakegains.Andgainscanbeachievedonapiecemealbasis,ratherthangoingforthebiggrabwhichcanprovideadrama9ceventusablebydemocra9cleaderstomobilizepublicopinionandgenerateresourcestorespond.3 4. Ithinktheadvancehereisyoudonthavetodothatanymore.WehaveyouonaJTACbutitdoesalsotalktothefactthatweownthesky.AndweownedtheskyinVietnam,butwedidntknowhowtouseit.WedidntknowhowtouseitbecausewedidnthaveGPS.EvenaslateastheFirstGulfWar;thecloseairsupportrevolvedaroundstand-offlineswheretheMarineexperienceallowedforcloserairsupportthantheArmy.IfIcanlightuptheareawithanoverheadcamera,IsuddenlyseemaneuverspacethatIneversawbefore.InowhaveaNapoleonicmapthatshowstheredguysalllinedup,theblueguysalllinedup.InthisnewbaNlespace,aslongasAmericaownstheskies,theexploitaOonofthisdominanceallowstheJTACandtheforwardarOllerycontrollerareoneinthesamepeople.TheJTACisanarOlleryspoNer,buthesgotafarbeNermap.EventransmiPngthestuffbacktotheFADCCs,theFireandDirecOonControlCenter,itisamiracleifIcouldgetthesamepictureastheguyontheground.Heresapicturefromtheground,heresthebirdtakingapictureandnowyoucanseewherethearOlleryislandingordinance.Thisislikeamiracle.Wecannowplacethisindirectfirewhereveranybodywants.ItsarevoluOoninconnecOngshootersandsensorstogetherandhowdowedoit?WhattheAirForcebroughttoIraqandAfghanistanwasanextraordinarilypushoftechnologyintoasystemthatdidntunderstandhowyouwouldusethatkindofsensor-shooterconnecOon.Somepeoplegotit;thearOlleryguysgotit,butnottheinfantryguys.Thespecialoperators,especiallythejointteamsgotitearly;aswasevidencedbytheearlydaysofAfghanistanwithcontrollersonhorsebackandB-52sindirectfiresupporttotheNorthernAlliance.TheirexperiencemorphedintotheRoverRevoluOon.4 5. WeshouldhoverovertheconceptdevelopedbyEdTimperlakeandpresentedattheannualconferenceoftheAirForceAssocia9onofAegisasmywingman.Thisisaconceptwhichchallengedtradi2onalthinkingbutpointedtothecentralrealityoftheoffboardingconceptassociatedwiththeF-35withregardtoweaponsuse.WiththecombinaOonofAegiswithF-35,thesensorsarecombinedintowideareacoverage.WithanewgeneraOonofweaponsontheF-35,andtheabilitytooperateabroadwolfpackofairandseacapabiliOes,theF-35canperformasthedirecOngpointforcombatacOon.WiththeAegisanditsnewSM-3missiles,theF-35scanleverageasea-basedmissiletoexpanditsareaofstrike.WithacombinaOonoftheF-35andtheAegis,thedefenseofland-basesandsea-basesisexpandedsignificantly.h"p://www.sldinfo.com/pacific-strategy-vii-aegis-is-my-wingman/(ManyofthesethemesweredevelopedinourJointForcesQuarterlyar9cleontheF-35andthefutureofpowerprojec9onh"p://www.ndu.edu/press/the-f-35.html).5 6. Lt.GeneralJouas,7thUSAFCommander:WehaveatoughproblemwithNorthKorea,obviously.YouhavetounderstandthatthisisadifferenttypeofadversarywithcapabiliOesthatconcernus,andweneedthebesttoolspossibleinordertocontendwithit.WeshouldnotmirrorimagewhenweconsidertheNorthKoreannuclearstrategy.NorthKoreahasseenwhathappenedinLibya,andwithKaddafi,andthatsreinforcedtheirstrategy.AndwhilethismaybeaNorthKoreanproblemrightnow,theresastrongpossibilityitwontremainso.Andthatcreatesrealdangertoouralliesandourhomeland.WehavetothinkaboutaworldinwhichwehavemorethanoneNorthKorea,inwhichthosecapabiliOesareheldbyothernaOonswhoseinterestsandstrategyareverydifferentfromours.6 7. ReducingtheF-35toalinearx-yaxisimprovementortostealthsimplymissesthepoint.TheF-35isnowgoingtotaketechnologyintoarevolu>onarythree-dimensionalsitua>onalawarenesscapability.ThiscapabilityestablishesanewvectorforTacAiraircraBdesign.ThiscanbemeasuredonaZaxis.Historically,C3Iwasexternalto1,2,3,and4thGeneraOonsTacAir.C3IsgoalwasenhancingfleetwidecombatperformanceforallType/Model/Series(T/M/S)ofTacAir.ThisisthemodernAWACSbaNleconcept.Nowusingathree-dimensionalgraphtheZ-axistakesairpowerintoatotallydifferentdomain.TheshiiisfromexternallyprovidedC3ItoC4ISR-Dinthecockpitcarriedbytheindividualairplajorm.ThisistherevoluOonarystepfuncOonthatbreaksthelinearprogressionofpreviousGeneraOons.TheZaxisinwhichtheF-35istheprototypeforthefirstC4ISRD(fordecision)cockpith"p://www.sldinfo.com/21st-century-agility-leveraging-the-f-35b-as-a-strategic-asset/Thefocusisuponthecockpitandtheintegratedsystems,whichthepilotcanuseinthecockpittobecomeadistributeddecision-maker.WehavereferredtotheF-35cockpitasenabledbyanintegratedcombatsystemsenterprise,whichallowsthepilottosee360degreesaroundtheaircraKandmanagethatspacetomorethan800miles.ThisistheZaxisinac9on.7 8. Advancedsensorfusionin5thgenera9onfightersperformsthreedis9nctfunc9ons:buildthepicture,taskthesensors,thencommunicatetheresult.No9cethereisanextremely9ghtcontrolandperformancefeedbackloopbeingexecutedbytheadvancedsensorfusionengine.Thisloopessen9allyisolatesthepilotfromthedrudgeryofcontrollingandmonitoringtheindividualsensors.TheoutputfromtheadvancedfusionengineisapictureofbaBlespace.Itisdesignedtobeeasilyinterpretedbythepilotsothathecanactquicklyanddecisively.Remember,thedominantwillexercisehisOODAloopmorequicklythanhisopponent.Thepictureisthemostvisiblepart,butthereismuchgoingonbehindthescene.Automa9csensorcontrolisgiving9mebacktothepilotandthesystemisautoma9callycommunica9ngresultswiththeotheraircraKonthelink.Thisis2meneededtomakedecisionsandactuponthesitua2on.8 9. WhatisthecurrentstateofplaywithregardtotheWedgetail?AccordingtotheSquadronCommander,thesystemisonthebooksandreadytogotoserveAustralianneedsandtocontributetocoali9ondefense.TheSquadronCommanderhighlightedthatthemessagegoingforwardwiththesquadronwasthreefold:grow,integrateandprepare.Growthmeantsimplytofilloutthesquadronandenhanceitsopera9onalcapabili9es.Integratemeanttobuildthesquadronsabilitytoworkwithintheba"lespace,toworkeffec9velywiththeotherAussieforcesandwithcoali9onpartners.Prepareforthesystemwillalwaysbeevolving.Thealwaysevolvingpartofitisnotwidelyappreciated.ThisisasoCwareupgradeableaircraCwithadefinedlaunchpoint(IOC)butnofixedendpoint(FOC).ThesystemwillalwaysbeevolvingandgrowingasthesoCwarecodegetsrewriBentoreflecteventsanddemandsfromthesquadron.Thesquadronworksthroughitsexperienceandshapeschangeorderswhichgetsenttotheprocurementauthori9estosortoutpriori9esforthenextroundofupgradingtheaircraK.Thedifferencebetweenolderandsuchanewsystemwasoutlinedbyonepar9cipantintheroundtableasfollows:Wehaveinthesame9meframeboughtaCRCsystemfullupwhichwilllookpre"ymuchlikeitisin20years;withWedgetailitwilllooknothinglikeitdoesnowin20years.9 10. TheF-35isbuiltonafounda9onof21stcenturytechnology.TheF-35sonboardcomputer,microchipsandsoKwareareamongitsmostcri9calcomponents.TheIntegratedCoreComputer(ICP)wasdesignedfromthestarttoundergocapabilityupgradeseveryfewyears,astechnologyprogresses.SystemsoKwarewillbeupgradedover9methroughablockprocess.EachblockrepresentsthemostmaturecapabilityfortheaircraCatthe2meofrelease.TheaircraCiscombatreadybeginningwithBlock2.Inarealsense,thesoCwarewillneverbefinishedontheF-35.AsnewcodeiswriBenandcapabilityrefreshesarecompleted,theF-35soCwarewillevolveover2metofurtherenhancetheaircraCsperformance.Theairplanewasdesignedwithtechnicalrefreshesinmind,theprogramknewtheywouldwanttoupgradethehardwareandsoKwarealongtheway,evenintheSystemDevelopmentandDemonstra9on(SDD)phaseoftheprogram.ThetechnicalrefreshesareprimarilyhardwareanddonotnecessarilyaffectthesoKware.ByrefreshingthehardwarewegainprocessingreserveinadvanceoffuturesoKware.Witheachblock,newcapabilityisaddedtothefounda9onalsoKwarefromthepreviousblock.10 11. Inotherwords,theprevioussoKwareisntthrownawaybutmerelybuiltupon.Block2introducesthevariousdatalinks.Block2alsointroducesmanyadvancedairandsurfaceweaponscapabilitymakingtheF-35readytogotowarforthefirst9me.ThesensorsareintegratedandfusionisworkingatBlock2.Itisworthno9ngthatthecapabili9esinBlock2aresufficientfortheMarinestodeclareIni9alOpera9onalCapable(IOC).Block3soCwarebuildsontopofBlock2byincludingthefullweaponsetandsomeaddi2onalsensormodes.WithBlock3,bytheendofSDD,theplaneisfullycapable.TheaircraKitselfisntreallychanging.Whenwesayhardwareupgrademanythinkwearetalkingaboutanewsensor.Thisisnotthecase.AllofthesensorsareresidentintheBlock1airplane.WearesimplyupgradingthecomputersinordertorunthenextblockofsoCware.Heresanexamplewecanallrelateto:youbuyanewlaptopandyouknowthemomentyoubuyitllbeobsoleteinsixmonths.Therellbesomethingbe"erbythen.Sowhatifthesellersaid,Inordertopreserveyouredgeletsplanoninstallingabe"erprocessorsixmonthsfromnow.Wellmakeitasgoodastheoneweregoingtosellinsixmonths.Youwouldsay,Yea,thatmakessensebecauseotherwise,asaconsumer,youdkeepwai9nginan9cipa9onofabe"erlaptopinsixmonths.ThatisexactlywhattheF-35programdid.11 12. Ques9on:Thelast9mewemet,welearnedthatyouhadbecomethefirstACCCommandertoactuallyflytheF-22.Wewereimpressed.Fromyourperspec9ve,howwillthechallengeofworkingtheF-22sandtheF-35sbeworkedwiththelegacyfleet?GeneralHostage:YoumeantheRe-normingairopera9onsifIweretostealaterm?Well,Iwasfortunatetoflytheairplane,IlearnedwhatIdidntknow.Iwaswri9ngwarplansinmypreviousjobasathreestarusingtheF-22sinamannerthatwasnotgoingtogetthemostoutofthemthatIcouldvebecauseIdidnttrulyunderstandtheradicaldifferencethatthefiKhgencouldbring.PeoplefocusonstealthasthedeterminingfactorordelineatorofthefiKhgenera9on,itisnt,itsfusion.Fusioniswhatmakesthatplanormsofundamentallydifferentthananythingelse.Andthatswhyifanybodytriestotellyouhey,Igota4.5airplane,a4.8airplane,dontbelievethem.AllthattheyretalkingaboutisRCS(RadarCrossSec9on).Fusionisthefundamentaldelineator.Andyourenotgoingtoputfusionintoafourthgenairplanebecausetheiravionicsuitesarenotsetuptobeafusedplanorm.Andfusionchangeshowyouusetheplanorm.WhatIfiguredoutisIwouldtellmyRaptors,Idontwantasingleairplanefiringasinglepieceofordinanceun9leveryotherfourthgenairplaneisWinchester.BecausetheSArightnowthatthefiKhgenhasissuchaleveragingcapabilitythatIwantmytac9cssetuptowheremyfourthgenexpendtheirordinanceusingtheSAthatthefiKhgenprovides,thefiKhgencouldthenmopup,andthenprotecteverybodycominginthenextwave.ItsradicallychanginghowwefightonthebaBlefield.Wearefundamentallychangingthetac9calba"lefield.Howatac9calplanormoperateswiththefusionoffiKhgen.WhattheaviatorsdoisfundamentallydifferentinafiKhgenplanormversusfourthgeninthetac9calfight.12 13. SLD:Inotherwords,youarehighligh9ngamini-fleetinopera9on?Lt.GeneralSchmidle:Thatisright.WeneedtogetpeopleawayfromtalkingaboutthisasareplacementforanF/A-18,foranAV-8;togetabe"erunderstandingattheseniorofficerlevelaboutexactlywhattheairplanecando.Wearegoingtoputtogetherageneralofficer/flagofficerfamiliariza9oneventatFortWorth,oftwodaydura9on.Theroleofthesimulatorintrainingofpilotsprovidesaveryrealis9csenseofwhattheplanecandeliverwiththesoKwarewewillhaveinourini9aldeployedairplanes.IhaveaskedtheF-35teamtolinkseveralsimulatorstogethertobegintounderstandwhatanintegratedfleetcanbringtothecombatteam.13 14. SLD:HowimportantarethefiKhgenera9onaircraKtoshapingthecombatcloudwhichyouseeasessen9altothenextphaseofaircombatcapabili9es?Hostage:Theyarecentraltothetransi9on.Weareopera9ngincontestedairspace,andneedtoshapeadistributedairopera9onscapability.TheF-22saggregatedinappropriatenumberscandosomeamazingandessen2altasks,andwithasignificantnumberofF-35s,wecanreshapetheopera2onalspace.Theabilityoftheplanestoworkwitheachotheroverasecuredistributedba"lespaceistheessen9alfounda9onfromwhichtheaircombatcloudcanbebuilt.AndtheadvantageoftheF-35isthenatureoftheglobalfleet.AlliedF-35sandAmericanF-35s,whetherUSAF,USN,orUSMC,cantalkwithoneanotherandsetupthedistributedopera9onalsystem.Suchadevelopmentcanallowforsignificantinnova9oninshapingtheaircombatcloudfordistributedopera9onsinsupportoftheJointForceCommander.SLD:Historically,theevolu9onofaircraKhasbeendescribedintermsofchangeintheformfactor.ThisisreallychangingwiththeF-35.Whatisyourthinkingontheimpactofthischangeandtheintroduc9onofsoKwareupgradeableaircraK?Hostage:ThefiChgenera2onaircraCwillenabletheaircombatcloudandallowmetousemylegacyassetsdifferently.Manyofmy4thGenera9onfighterscanbeusedtoextendthenetworkoflinkedsystemsprovidingreinforcingfires,andIcanfocusonthefiKhgenera9onassetsasthecorenodesshapingdistributedjointcapabili9es.Andwhenwecometotheevolu9onofnextgenera9onsystems,theformfactorcouldstayquitesimilarasweevolvethecapabili9eswithintheplanesorintermsofhowtheflyingsystemscaninteractandoperatetogether.Ratherthanthinkingof6thgenera9onaircraKinformfactorterms,wecanoperatethenewaircombatcloudandleveragethatmovingforward.14 15. Commandandcontrolaretwowords.ThewayaheadisclearlyadistributedforceintegratedthroughcommandandcontrolwherebyonedevelopsdistributedmissiontacOcalorders(withwellunderstoodplaybooks)reflecOngthecommandersdirecOonsandthentohavetheabilitytocontroltheassetstoensurethatthesensorsandshootersaccomplishtheirmission.Shapinganintegratedenterpriseisnotafuturis9cmissionfortheintegra9onofPatriots,AegisandTHAADisalreadyaworkinprogress,butGeneralCarlisleseestheapproachgeqngbe"erover9measnewsystemscometothePacific,includingafleetofalliedandUSF-35s.WeneedtogetbeNerataNackoperaOonstotakeouttheshooter.HowdowedothatbeNer?ItisclearthatanF-35fleetcoupledwiththenewlongrangestrikesystemswillplayakeyroleinthatfuncOon.Wealsoneedtoshapegamechangersintermsofthemissilesusedtointerceptmissiles.ThecurrentgeneraOonisexpensiveandweneedtodrivedownthecostpointforinterceptors.SM-6iscomingwhichisanimportantassetbutDODisworkinghardonwaystodrivedownthecostoffutureinterceptors.Andweareworkingthepassivedefensepieceofthepuzzleaswellincludinghardening,concealment,dispersalofassets,rapidrunwayrepairandsupportforafluidforceoperaOnginadistributedmanner.15 16. GiventheevolvingthreatsfromNorthKoreatoSouthKoreaandthePRCthroughoutthePacificaswellascon2nuingRussianpressureaswell,itishardlysurprisingthattheUSanditsalliesarenotstandingidlybyandle]ngtheiradversariesconductedaone-sidedRMA.InfactinaninterviewearlierthisyearwithGeneralHawkCarlisle,PACAFandabouttobecometheAirCombatCommander,theGeneralunderscoredthewayahead:ThePACCOMCommanderhasputmeinchargeofhowwearegoingtodointegratedairandmissiledefenseforthePacifictheater,whichrepresents52%oftheworldssurface.Thisisclearlyamajorchallengeandisclearlybothajointandcoali9onopera9on.16 17. Toreallyconsiderthis;weneedtobreakapartopera9onsintotheOffensiveEnterprise;andtheDefensiveEnterprise.Thesetwoaredifferent,andassetscanbedeployedindifferentways.Forexample,theUnitedStatesreliesongeographicdistanceforitsmajorcoastaldefense;butemployingRemotelyPilotedVehiclescoulddrama9callyenhancetheintegra9onofavailabledefenses;evenprovidingearlywarningrela9velyinexpensively,AirtoAirMissiles;andsomeAirtosurfacemissilesareanaddi9onalenhancementtoevenlowspeedplanorms.ThesearebeingflowncurrentlybyNa9onalGuardandReserveSquadrons;andallowingtheirintegra9onintotheoffshoreairspaceaddsenormouslytodetec9nganddeterringthreats.Inaverysimilarway;aroundsomeofthedistantstatesandpossessionsoftheUnitedStatesthatserveasstagingareasorforwardopera9ngbases,asquadronofRemotelyPilotedVehiclesequippedwithSONARandRADARtogetherwithlimitedmeansofresponsetothreatwouldprovidegreattrainingandbeapartofalayereddefensivesystem.17 18. ExaminingtheOffensiveEnterpriserequiresasimilarexploita9onconstructasanyMilitaryForce,butaddsthethirddimensiontothemix.ThiswouldhavethefiKhgenera9onplanormsasthescoutsandobservers;andthefourthgenera9onplanormsasshooterstobethrowntowardsenemydefensestoforcetheirresponseandiden9fica9onaswellasbetheswarmtodeteranyfurtherpenetra9on.Thisaspectrequiresrethinkingtheuseoffourthgenera2onpla_ormsandintroducestheconceptofusingfourthgenera2onassetsasRemotelyPilotedVehicles.Theywould,astheycannow,receivetargetsfromthefiKhgenera9onplanorms;beabletoverifyandvalidatethereceivedtarget;andengageeitherenemyairorenemyintegratedairdefensestosmooththewayforfurtheropera9ons.ThisconceptisTheWolfpack;employingtwofiChgenera2onpla_ormswithfourfourthgenera2onremotelypilotedvehicles.18 19. SLD:Youaredescribingacarrierwhichcanoperatemuchmoreflexiblythanatradi9onalcarrier,andonewhichcanbecomeacentralpieceinacombatspiderweb,ratherthanopera9ngatthecenterofaconcentratedforce.Couldyoutalktothecon-opspieceofthis?RearAdmiralMoran:TheFordwillbeveryflexibleandcansupportforceconcentra9onordistribu9on.Anditcanoperateasaflagshipforadistributedforceaswellandtailoredtothemissionset.Whencombinedwiththepoten2aloftheF35,FORDwillbeabletohandleinforma2onandcommunica2onsatalevelmuchgreaterthantheNimitzclasscarriers.Peoplewillbeabletoshareinforma9onacrossna9ons,andthisiscrucial.Wecallitmari9medomainawareness,butnowyouveincludedtheairspacethatspartofthatmari9medomain.ThereisanotheraspectoftheFORD,whichisimportanttohandlingtheinforma9onsystemsaspartoftheevolu9onofthefleet.Weveneverreallytalkedaboutthecoolingaspects.ButifyougodowntoNewportNewsandtakeatouroftheFORDrightnow,oneofthethingstheyreallyliketobragaboutisinnova9onsinthecoolingsystem.Allofusknowtheprocessingpowertakesitsheat.Andso,youvegottobeabletocoolit.FORDmorethandoublesthecoolingsystemcapacityofaNIMTZclasscarrier.Butletmeclosebycirclingbacktothefutureoftheairwingforthenext20yearsandthevalueweseeintheF-35C.Wearebuyingallproduc9onaircraKcurrently.WeseethecomingoftheFORDandthecomingoftheF-35ashighlysynergis9cforthefleetanditsopera9onasaseabase.AndwiththeF-35CmustcomeBlock3Fcapability,whichhasafullyenabledsettooperatetheweaponsweuseatsea,mul9-shipintegra9onandahostofotherveryimportantcapabili9esimportanttohowweexpecttooperateinthefuture.Wearenotgoingtoacceleratethenumberofproduc9onairplanesun9lwegettoBlock3Fwhichwillgiveusthecapabilitythatweneedtooperateoffthecarrier.OncewemarryupF35CwithkeycapabilityinvestmentsintheSuperHornet,E2D,Growlersandamixofunmannedcapabili9es,wewillcon9nuetohaveanairwingthatcandominateinanyenvironment.19 20. ButtheF-35BwasgoingtoprovidetheUSMCaviatorculturesinourHarriers,HornetsandProwlerstocoalesceandIthinktoshapeaninnovaOvenewlaunchpointfortheUSMCaviaOoncommunity.WearegoingtoblendthreeoutstandingcommuniOes.Eachcommunityhasaslightlydifferentapproachtoproblemsolving.YouvegottheexpediOonarybasingthattheHarrierguysarebringingtoyou.YouhavetheelectronicwarfaresideoftheequaOonandthehigh-endfightthattheProwlerguysthingaboutandthecomsandjammingsideoftheequaOon,whichtheProwlerguysthinkabout.AndyouhavethemulO-roleapproachoftheF-18guys.IthinkitisgoingtobeafantasOcblendingofnotonlyperspecOvesbutalsoaPtudes.AndwhatIreallylookforwardtoisnottheoldguyslikeme,buttheveryyoungguyswhowillflythisfantasOcnewcapability.TheoldergeneraOonmayhaveaharderOmeunleashingthepowerandpotenOalofthenewgearthenewcapabiliOes.WemightsaywhydontyoudoitthiswaywhenthatapproachmightbeexactlythewrongthingtodofromacapabiliOesstandpoint.Mysenseistheyoungguyswillblend.WevealreadypickedthefirstProwlerpilottogobeanF35guy.HesgoingtodogreatandhesgoingtoaddperspecOveandaPtudetothetribedownatEglingePngreadytoflythejetthatsgoingtomakeabigimpactontheF35community.IthinkitsgoingtobethenewgeneraOon,thenewbiesthatareinthetrainingcommandrightnowthataregePngreadytogoflytheF35,whoaregoingtounleashthecapabiliOesofthisjet.Theywillsay,Hey,thisiswhatthesystemwillgiveme.Dontcapme;dontboxme.Thisiswhatthisthingcando,thisishowwecanbestemploythemachine,itsagilityitssensorstosupporttheguyontheground,ourMEUCommandersandourCombatantCommandersandthisiswhatweshoulddowithittomakeiteffecOve.20 21. Thisairplanesdifferentbecausewiththedatabeingfused,ImnotusingmulOpledifferentdisplaystoperformmyairtoairandCASmissions. ThemaindifferencethatIseebetweenfederatedandfusedsystemsisintheF-18,notonlywasitallindifferentdisplays,buteachsensorhaditsownuncertaintyvolumesandalgorithmsassociatedwithit. ItwasuptomeasanaviatorknowingthecapabiliOesandlimitaOonsinmysystemtodecipheranddrawthelinebetweenthemissionsets. IntheF-35,thefusionenginedoesalotofthatinthebackground,whilesimultaneously,IcanbeexecuOnganair-to-airmissionoranair-to-groundmission,andhaveanair-to-airtrackfileup,ormulOpleair-to-airtrackfiles,anddeterminehowtoflipmissions. Becausethefidelityofthedataisthererightnow,whichallowsmetodetermineifIneedtogobackintoanair-to-airmindsetbecauseIhavetodealwiththisrightnowasopposedtoconOnuingtheCASmission. AndIhaveamuchbroadersetofintegratedtoolsetstodrawupon. Forexample,ifIneedanelectronicwarfaretoolset,withtheF-18Ihavetocallinaseparateaircraitoprovideforthatcapability. WiththeF-35IhaveorganicEWcapability.TheEWcapabilityworkswellintheaircrai.FromtheOmeitisrecognizedthatsuchacapabilityisneedtotheOmethatitisusedrequiresapushofabuNon. ItdoesnotrequirethatasupporOngassetbedeployed.21 22. TheUSSAmericaistheseabasefromwhich2ltrotarinnova2onreceivesasignificantboostandthenewlyenabledGCEwilloperate,withanabilitytosustainandsupporttheforceatmuchgreaterdistancefromtheobjec2vearea,ifneeded.WiththecomingoftheF-35BtotheUSSAmerica,the9ltrotar-enabledforceaddssignificantcapability.Thiscanworkacoupleofdifferentways.Theshipcanholdmorethan20F-35Bs,butmorelikelywhenF-35Bsarebeingfeaturedwouldhavea16F-35Bflyingwith4Ospreycombina9ons.TheOspreyswouldbeusedtocarryfuelandorweapons,sothattheF-35Bcanmovetothemissionandoperateinadistributedbase.ThisiswhattheMarinesrefertoasshapingdistributedSTOVLopsfortheF-35Bwithinwhichaseabaseisakeylilypadfromwhichtheplanecouldoperateorcouldmovefrom.Alterna9vely,theF-35BcouldoperateastheISR,C2andstrikeassettoworkwiththerestoftheassaultforce.ThebeautyoftheF-35BfortheMarinesisthatitallowsthemtooperateoffofanamphibiousshipwithaplanewhichcandoC2orprovideforwardleaningISR.AndinarecentexperimentwheretheMarinesassaultedSanClementeIslandinanexercise,theMarinesbegantosketchoutanewwaytothinkaboutCloseAirSupport.22 23. h"p://www.sldinfo.com/special-report-on-italy-and-the-f-35/Itisalsodifficulttoarguewiththeproposi9onthattheMediterraneanandtheMiddleEastwillnotbeabusyopera9onalareaforNATOandalliedforces.TheF-35fleetthatrollsoutfromadiversityofuserswillneedthekindofopera9onalandmaintenancesupportwhichcanbeprovidedatCameri.TheItalianshavebuiltmajorwarehousefacili9estoholdpartsfortheF-35aswellasmaintenancebayaccommoda9onssecuredtocollateralSECRET,and,withtheITsystemwhichcanmanagethepartswhicharestampedwithcommonpartsiden9fiers,itwillbestraighnorwardtomanagetheinventorycominginandoutofthesewarehousestosupportanalliedfleet.AwaytolookatthiswouldbetheshapeagraphicasfollowswithCameriasthehubtosupporttheWesternandEasternMediterraneanandtheen9resweepofalliedF-35fleetopera9ons.ThiscouldincludetheUSAF,theUSN,theUSMC,theItalianforces,theBri9shforces,theNorwegianforces,etc.TheItalianshaveunderstoodtheF-35fleetconceptandhavelaiddownaninfrastructuretosupportitATTHESAMETIMEastheybuilttheirFACOandwingproduc2onfacility.h"p://www.sldinfo.com/lessons-learned-at-cameri-their-implica9ons-for-asia/23 24. AlthoughtheF-35providesforanewapproach,clearlytheItalianAirForceandeveryotherF-35partnerwilllooktousetheirlegacyaircraKforaconsiderableperiodahead,andseektousethemmoreeffec9velyastheF-35fleetbecomesareality.Thisisanimportantissue.Onewaytothinkaboutthewayaheadistocon9nuetouse4thgenera9onaircraKinsurgingmasstomoreclassicairpowersitua9ons.OnewouldusetheF-35asthekeyassetupagainstthedistributedopera9onalseqngsorforopera9onsindeniedairspace.AnotherwaytolookatitwillbetofindwaystogainmoresynergybetweentheF-35andthelegacyfleet.Howcanwebe"eru9lizeourolderassetsduringtheprocesswheretheF-35fleetbecomesareality?Shapingcombina9onsof4thgenera9onwiththeF-35swillbeamixandmatchopportunityintailoringairpowertothemissionsahead.Thisisachallenge;butitisakeytaskwithinwhichtheF-35swillmakethelegacyaircraKmoreeffec9ve;andthe4thgenera9onaircraKwilladdsupportandstrikecapabili9estoanF-35enabledairpowerforce.24 25. JERICHOisnotjustaboutmodernisa9onitisaboutmodernisa9onandtransforma9oninformedbytheenvisagedfuturestateoftheAirForce CAFisfocusedonthethemesofbreakingdownthebarrierswithinAirForceandacrosstheServiceheisfocusingonJointForceIntegra9on25 26. TheideaistotakefourRaptorsanddeploythemwithaC-17andtorotateacrossthePacifictogotothepointofneedforimplemenOngmissions.Thisprovidedbothatoolforenhancedsurvivalandanenhancedcapabilitytoapplytheforceassociatedwithafiih-generaOonaircraiaswell.HisfocuswasuponleveragingAirForceandjointassetsinwaysthatwouldmakethatforcemoreexpediOonaryandmoreeffecOveinprovidingforcross-domainsynergy.HenotedthatthecombinaOonofalargedeckcarrierwiththeAirForcewiththeAmphibiousReadyGroupandMarineExpediOonaryUnit(ARG-MEU)airassetswhenconjoinedwithinadistributedstrikepackageprovidessignificantlygreatercapabilitythanwheneachisconsideredonitsown.26 27. Col.Orrdiscussedhowthevariouselementsintheexerciseworkedtogether.heF-35surrogateopenedthedoortoprovidetheiniOalcoverfortheforceinserOon.WedatalinkedtheinformaOonfromtheF-35throughsecureWi-Fitechnologytothegroundandairassets.TheraidforcehadaccesstotabletswheretheinformaOonwaspresentedinauserfriendlygraphicalformat.TheycouldseewhatwashappeninginrealOmeandreacttointhechangingtacOcalsituaOontoenabledecision-makingandchangesinthescenario.WithstreamingvideoandrealOmeinteracOvechat,wearechangingsignificantlythethreatinformaOonuponwhichtheinserOonforceisoperated.WehaveanOsprey-enabledforceofasmallcompanyempoweredbyinformaOondirectlyfromtheF-35orotherairbornesensors,andcanmakedecisionsdirectlyfromthatinformaOon.Ineffect,oneistryingtomaximizedecision-makingsuperiorityfortheini9alinser9onofforceintoafluidba"lespace.27 28. Ques9on:Howareopera9onsdifferentfrominsidetheaircraKtooperatetheHarvestHawkmission?CaptainJordan:Itisquitedifferent.InHarvestHawkthepilotbecomesmoreofabaNlemanager,whiletheco-pilotfliestheplane.Inthebackoftheaircraiwehaveadifferentcrewaswell.Wegenerallyhavetwoofficersintheback;aFireControlsOfficersitsintherightseatandoperatesthesensortoprovidefortargetacquisiOon.Typically,wehaveanassistantintheleiseattoaidwiththecommunicaOonstrafficandtoassisttheFCO.Ques9on:WheredoesHarvestHawkgonext?CaptainJordan:TheenOreHarvestHawkexperiencehighlightstheuOlityofamothershipinanairdominanceenvironment.ThereisnoreasonthatwecannottakedatafromUAVsortheF-35sortheHarrierliteningpodsandbeabletocontributetocombatmanagementorsupporttothegroundcommanders.28 29. Themul9-missioncapabili9esoftheaircraKmeansthatasmallfootprintcanbringdiversifiedlethalitytothefight.AnF-35squadroncancarryinherentwithinitanelectronica"ackforce,amissiledefensetrackingcapability,amappingcapabilityforthegroundforces,ISRandC2capabili9esforthedeployedforceanddosoinacompactdeploymentpackage.Inaddi9on,anF-35fleetcanempowerAirDefenseAr9llery(ADA),whetherAegisafloatorPatriotsandTHAADBa"eries,theconceptofestablishingairdominanceismovinginasynergis9cdirec9on.AnF-35EWcapabilityalongwithitsAAandAGcapabilitywillintroduceinnovatetac9csintheSEADmission.Concurrently,theF-35willempowerU.S.andAlliedADAsitua9onalawareness.ThecurrentengagementoftheIDFemploymentoftheirIrionDomeinconjunc9onwithavia9ona"acksisademonstra9onofthistypeofemergingpartnershipbeingforgedinba"le.TogetasimilarcapabilitytodayintotheAreaofInterestwouldrequireadiversifiedandcomplexaerialfleet,whoseverysizewouldcreateapoli9calstatement,whichonemightreallynotwanttomake.WithanF-35enabledgroundinser9onforce,asmallerforcewithsignificantlethalityandflexibilitycouldbedeployedun9litisnolongerneededforitisaboutair-enabledgroundforces.A9ltrotarenabledassaultforcewithtopcoverfroma360degreeopera9onalF-35fleet,whetherUSMC,USN,USAForalliedcanallowforthekindofflexibilitynecessaryfor21stcenturywarfareandopera9onalreali9es.29 30. Thisisthethirdworkinggroup:thefirstistheCombatCloud,thesecondC2anditsevolu9onandtheworkinggroupsaredesignedtoengagepar9cipantsintheprocessofchangeaswellastoproduceoutreachtootherstoshapeunderstandingofthechallengesandwaysaheadfor21stcenturyairpower.30 31. 31 32. Re-shapingconceptsofopera9onsundertheimpactofstrategicevents,theshapingofconflicttermina9onstrategiesandtechnologywillbeongoing.Sortoflikea21stcenturyMaoistrevolu9on.Whatcanweiden9fyasthedriversofcon-opschanges,flashpointsanddriversofdemandforchange?Hereisatenta9velistbeyondtheques9onoftheimpactofstrategicfailuresandsuccessesindealingwith21stcenturythreatsandchallenges.32 33. 33 34. 34 35. 35 36. 36 37. 37