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The Small (UAS) Problem
Question for the group, do you feel that SUAS belongs in the Air Force and should be it be flown by USAF pilots?
SUAS are coming to the DoD in a big way, but currently there are no plans for a specific MDS or AFSC to fly them. The below article did an excellent job of highlighting dangers that come from SUAS, with the main point being that the USAF can no longer ensure air superiority. While this article mostly discusses counter-UAS, having an organic offensive SUAS capability could greatly aid in tactical and strategic objectives in both large and small scale conflict.
Curious what you all think! Anybody envision putting SUAS on their dream sheet for drop night?!
warontherocks.com
Drones, the Air Littoral, and the Looming Irrelevance of the U.S. Air Force - War on the Rocks
Today, the U.S. Air Force faces an almost-existential crisis. During the past several years, the service has been battered by the loss of its prestigious
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2 Replies
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This is a very interesting topic. Sounds like something you could discuss in an Air War College Paper!
D.J.
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Biggs, great question about sUAS and the challenge/opportunity that they present. As for the USAF utilizing a new sUAS pipeline? Wild idea! But maybe more opportunities to fly. The WoR article does a great job of laying out how small, inexpensive, and ubiquitous drones change the game. I have been looking at this problem form many angles. Academically as a student, and tactically as a homeland defense pilot here is my opinion:
1.) The drone defense problem is just the next iteration of the force protection problem. Since warfare was invented, the protection of fielded forces has always been a paramount issue. This is the next step. Instead of looking at the “air littoral” as an air domain, I see it as an extension of the ground domain. One that the JFLCC is far more concerned with than the JFACC. Localized force protection measures (likely in the EM spectrum) seem like the logical counter.
2.) The USAF’s hold on air superiority became tenuous long before the advent of Ukraine-style drone tactics. There is not a singe USAF pilot that expects US air superiority in a contested AOR ever again. But localized air superiority, or even air parity, is where we make our money now. Deep interdiction and precision strike will still require full-scale assets. We can see that peer adversaries are thinking along the same lines as evidenced by the appearance of manned “6th gen” prototypes in China.Great discussion!
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