Long-Range Strike: Concepts and Doctrinal Implications of Future Airpower Capabilities

ISBN: 1288292937

Author: Scheel, Lynn I

Condition: New

This study analyzes long-range strike, current conceptual ideas for platforms, and how it should relate to future doctrine. Although speculative by nature, the conclusions are there is a valid need for long-range strike to defeat anti-access threats in the future against medium to high threat adversaries. Aggressive pursuit in research and development to develop the technologies required for long-range strike should be undertaken. Also, the Global Strike Task Force (GSTF) concept should eventually be incorporated into doctrine when the F/A-22 becomes operational. Since long-range strike will be incorporated in GSTF years later, the GSTF concept turned doctrine should have an influence on long-range strike development and procurement. The final conclusion is there needs to be a very slight shift in how the Air Force views the airpower tenet of centralized control and decentralized execution. Although decentralized execution is the goal, airmen must also be aware there will times when centralized execution is a necessity and it is not automatically bad.