Ryan Henry, the principle deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, says that the more fluid and unpredictable threat array of the 21st century has led to a concept called “tailored deterrence.” Speaking at the Fletcher conference, Henry said the QDR should better orient forces by “shifting our balance” to handle the Pentagon’s new security challenge quad— irregular, catastrophic, traditional, and disruptive. (Some question how effective the QDR will be considering how it was conducted. Read our story on the terms of reference.) Henry said that one new focus would be dissuasion as a sort of “pre-deterrence.” Dissuasion, he explained, could involve anything from inducing restraint in an adversary to channeling an opponent’s resources and strategies in other directions. Henry asserted, “We still think deterrence is viable.”
As Air Force leaders consider concepts of operations for Collaborative Combat Aircraft, sustainment in the field—and easing that support by using standard parts and limiting variants—should be a key consideration, according to a new study from AFA's Mitchell Institute of Aerospace Studies.