U.S. Gov. Space/Air Force Possible Plans For Future

We had a reader send us a link to the United States Air Force Report on plans for possible futures. They've looked at the next 30 years, envisioning different scenarios and created the areas that the USAF needs to work -- the role of space obviously becomes more important, and they've got some interesting conclusions about what to expect. There's /reams/ of data here, and I've only started to read through it, but it's pretty cool stuff.

Comments

Fear and anxiety

[Anonymous Coward]

The fun thing to notice was that in one of the scenarios, "Digital Cacophony", when individuals gain power and authorities have no longer much to say, the world is marked with "fear and anxiety".

I disagree. I'd say it might well be a happier place without the stupid who command and the more stupid who follow.

Some of these acronyms...

[NOC_Monkey]

I'm sitting here laughing myself silly reading about the "Standoff Hypersonic Missle with Attack Capability". This is a weapon that will have a range of >1000 nautical miles and be deliverable by land launch, conventional aircraft launch (B-52, F-15E, etc.), or by launch from the "Supersonic/Hypersonic Attack Aircraft". The official USAF acronym for the aircraft is "SHAAFT" (can ya dig it?). The missle is called "SHMAC". There is a line in the report that has just caused me to go into convulsions:

"In short, there will be no escaping the oncoming SHMAC."

I'm glad to see that the people working on this had some sense of humor. I'd like to see anyone talk about SHAAFT dropping a SHMAC on the enemy and keep a straight face.

Worldwide Information Control System (WICS)

[Money__]

A snippet from the article: Access to space will be available to any country that can pay for it. Most countries will be on the same technological level in the war-fighting arena. With the technological edge diminished, the US must focus on developing ways to best gather and distribute vital information; on a global scale, in near real time.

another blurb: . .. . by providing the "God's eye view" commanders have always longed for, it would bring about a revolution in the manner in which forces are managed.

All they want is god like powers?! Is *that* all?!?!
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Re:last modified...

[Mr Neutron]

From the "Quick Look/Overview":

[...] The resulting study is called Air Force 2025 or 2025 for short. The team's findings were briefed to General Fogleman in June 1996 and to the Secretary of the Air Force, Dr. Sheila Widnall, in July 1996.

So yes, indeed, this report is 4 years old. Gen Fogelman is no longer the Chief of Staff, hasn't been since 1997 or so. Gen Mike Ryan is the current Chief of Staff of the AF. Sheila Widnall left in 1998, F. Whitten "Whit" Peters is the current SECAF.

The Air University is responsible for a) professional military education of the Air Force non-commissioned and commissioned officer corps and b) academic development of aerospace doctrine. They're the "think tank" of the AF.

Neutron