Future Capabilities and Technologies for the Air Force in 2030. Executive Summary

摘要

This second iteration of the Blue Horizons study, commissioned by the USAF chief of staff, provides 'a new look at the future.' Its original purpose was to develop a prioritized list of concepts and their key enabling technologies the USAF would need to maintain dominance in air, space, and cyberspace to the year 2030. In addition, the study examined whether the USAF could leverage a targeted investment today to position itself to address a broad set of possible challenges over the next 20-30 years. The study has some built-in assumptions. It assumes exponential science and technology growth will continue. The research team determined that a series of disparate alternate futures provides the best tool to evaluate future challenges. Four alternate futures were built based on extensive academic and field research. While the scenarios are not intended to be read as predictions, each is plausible, and the future may see one or more of these scenarios unfold. Their purpose, however, is to act as a tool to assess how best to accomplish the core USAF missions, which are assumed to remain in the domains of air, space, and cyberspace for the foreseeable future.