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Emerging Threats
The Pentagon’s research and engineering enterprise—the overall effort overseen by the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering—has just published its new strategic guidance. The 11-page document, dated May 1, lays out the enterprise’s approach to new technology and notes the top threats to US forces in the near future. These threats are in electronic warfare, assured access to space, and the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles. Digital electronics have made possible a “whole new class of jammers, radars operating in different frequencies, and new communication links,” eroding the US military’s ability to “operate freely in the electromagnetic spectrum,” states the report. While the United States is increasingly reliant on space systems, a growing number of state and non-state actors have the ability to interfere with satellites, using “both kinetic and non-kinetic” means. The United States will push to make its space systems more resilient and develop ways to “deliver these capabilities without a space layer,” states the report. Adversary missiles are proliferating so fast and getting so good that US missile defenses are “no longer practical or cost-effective,” states the document. The solution needed comprises both kinetic and non-kinetic means to reduce “advanced theater and cruise missile effectiveness,” and explore greater use of jamming and decoys.
—John A. Tirpak
It May Not Be a Platform
New platforms may not always be the answer to rising military technology needs, according to strategic guidance just issued by the Pentagon’s research and engineering office. “In the near past, technology surprise” came from systems like revolutionary airplanes or ships, states the document. In the near future, “operational advantage may well come from new technologies and capabilities, or from new ways to use existing technologies that enhance and enable” existing platforms. The research and engineering enterprise will be putting its limited funds to work on many enablers, such as ways to lower lifecycle costs, smart design, prototyping, and risk reduction. The next generation of technology surprises the United States may spring on its adversaries will also likely flow from quantum technologies, nano-engineered materials and devices, new sensors, autonomous systems like unmanned vehicles, and timekeeping/navigation devices that will far outstrip the abilities of GPS, states the document, dated May 1. The latter will likely be attacked and possibly “denied” by adept enemies.
—John A. Tirpak
5/13/2014
http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Documents/2014/May%202014/050114_ASDRE_Strat_Guidance.pdf
The Pentagon’s research and engineering enterprise—the overall effort overseen by the assistant secretary of defense for research and engineering—has just published its new strategic guidance. The 11-page document, dated May 1, lays out the enterprise’s approach to new technology and notes the top threats to US forces in the near future. These threats are in electronic warfare, assured access to space, and the proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles. Digital electronics have made possible a “whole new class of jammers, radars operating in different frequencies, and new communication links,” eroding the US military’s ability to “operate freely in the electromagnetic spectrum,” states the report. While the United States is increasingly reliant on space systems, a growing number of state and non-state actors have the ability to interfere with satellites, using “both kinetic and non-kinetic” means. The United States will push to make its space systems more resilient and develop ways to “deliver these capabilities without a space layer,” states the report. Adversary missiles are proliferating so fast and getting so good that US missile defenses are “no longer practical or cost-effective,” states the document. The solution needed comprises both kinetic and non-kinetic means to reduce “advanced theater and cruise missile effectiveness,” and explore greater use of jamming and decoys.
—John A. Tirpak
It May Not Be a Platform
New platforms may not always be the answer to rising military technology needs, according to strategic guidance just issued by the Pentagon’s research and engineering office. “In the near past, technology surprise” came from systems like revolutionary airplanes or ships, states the document. In the near future, “operational advantage may well come from new technologies and capabilities, or from new ways to use existing technologies that enhance and enable” existing platforms. The research and engineering enterprise will be putting its limited funds to work on many enablers, such as ways to lower lifecycle costs, smart design, prototyping, and risk reduction. The next generation of technology surprises the United States may spring on its adversaries will also likely flow from quantum technologies, nano-engineered materials and devices, new sensors, autonomous systems like unmanned vehicles, and timekeeping/navigation devices that will far outstrip the abilities of GPS, states the document, dated May 1. The latter will likely be attacked and possibly “denied” by adept enemies.
—John A. Tirpak
5/13/2014
http://www.airforcemag.com/DRArchive/Documents/2014/May%202014/050114_ASDRE_Strat_Guidance.pdf
