The U.S. Air Force is conducting a critical tabletop exercise to address modern nuclear threats and shift from an antiquated Cold War mentality.
At a Glance
- The Department of the Air Force announced extensive changes to maintain superiority amid Great Power Competition.
- 24 key decisions were announced to address current force competitiveness.
- The changes focus on four main areas: Develop People, Generate Readiness, Project Power, and Develop Capabilities.
- The Air Force and Space Force are balancing readiness and preparation through large-scale exercises.
- Russia and China have developed capabilities to target U.S. critical infrastructure.
Strategic Shift in Military Exercises
In a significant move to address modern nuclear threats, the U.S. Air Force is conducting a critical tabletop exercise. This exercise aims to shift from a Cold War mentality to a modern approach to nuclear challenges. Lt. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara emphasized the importance of integrating extensive training at tactical, operational, and strategic levels. The findings from this exercise will be shared at the upcoming CORONA commanders conference.
The Department of the Air Force has announced extensive changes to maintain its superiority in the era of Great Power Competition. These changes include 24 key decisions focused on developing people, generating readiness, projecting power, and enhancing capabilities. The consolidation of force development under an expanded Airman Development Command and the reintroduction of warrant officers in IT and Cyber fields are among these changes. Air Combat Command is also being reoriented to generate ready forces.
Modernizing to Address Evolving Threats
The Air Force is implementing large-scale exercises and mission-focused training. This approach includes structuring Air Force Operational Wings as mission-ready “Units of Action.” Additionally, a Department of the Air Force Integrated Capabilities Office has been created, and the Nuclear Weapons Center is expanding to become the Air Force Nuclear Systems Center.
“Today, we are announcing 24 key decisions that are going to address the current force and our ability to stay competitive,” Kendall said in announcing the changes and the rationale behind them. “We need these changes now; we are out of time to reoptimize our forces to meet the strategic challenges in a time of Great Power Competition.”
The Air Force is also balancing readiness and preparation through limited-notice, large-scale exercises like REFORPAC, which is modeled on the Cold War-era REFORGER exercise. These exercises are critical for building alliances and diplomatic relations. In 2023, the Air Force conducted an exercise in South America to counter Chinese influence.
Evolving Military Strategy
The security environment has evolved, challenging legacy systems and necessitating a shift from tactical to strategic thinking. Russia and China’s development of capabilities to target U.S. critical infrastructure underscores the need for the U.S. to evolve its capabilities, force structures, and policies to address constant global competition.
“The influence the [People’s Republic of China] has there is immense,” the head of Air Force Reserve Command Lt. Gen. John P. Healy said. “So it was an absolute show of force. And what we tried to do is we tried to put a mini Air Force there, everything from C-17, A-10, C-130s, tankers to show that we have the capability, with many eyes watching, of doing things like this.”
A cultural shift is needed for the U.S. to adopt a global perspective in strategy, planning, budgeting, and acquisitions. Homeland defense policy must clearly define what needs to be defended, and acquisition processes must be streamlined to spur innovation. A layered-defense approach emphasizing all-domain awareness, information dominance, and decision superiority is essential.
