Aggressive pursuit of hypersonics, lasers, networked cruise missiles, artificial intelligence, smart bombs, and cyberwar inform the conceptual and technical basis for the Air Force’s new “vanguard” programs, new Air Force strategic efforts to synthesize science and technology with prototyping and emerging weapons systems.
(Washington, DC) Aggressive pursuit of hypersonics, lasers, networked cruise missiles, artificial intelligence, smart bombs, and cyberwar inform the conceptual and technical basis for the Air Force’s new “vanguard” programs, new Air Force strategic efforts to synthesize science and technology with prototyping and emerging weapons systems.
The call for these new vanguard programs, as articulated in the recently unveiled “Science and Technology Strategy for 2030,” arises from the widely-circulated concern that the U.S. may fall behind major power rivals in crucial areas of warfighting technology. With this in mind, the new effort could be described as somewhat of a hybrid, seeking.to leverage the benefits of fast-evolving new technologies with a near-term emphasis on delivering operational weapons.
“Vanguard programs will be limited in time and scope to achieve focus and urgency. While emphasizing advanced technology, they can synergize applied research, selected basic research, and experimentation and prototyping to drive forward innovative capabilities,” as written in “Science and Technology Strategy: Strengthening USAF Science and Technology for 2030 and Beyond.”