According to Politico, the U.S. Air Force is preparing to overhaul the rising China threat structure and aircraft priority in response to China’s Taiwan unification push.
Kendall Reveals Rising China Threat (Photo: Google)
Confronting the Rising China Threat
This substantial makeover follows a Department of Defense assessment calling China “the only competitor with the intent, will, and capability to reshape the international order.”
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall is leading “Reoptimizing for Great Power Competition.” This strategy seeks to simplify the Air Force’s bureaucracy and meet China’s changing threats. An anonymous Space Force officer, three congressional staffers, and two Air Force advisors told Politico that the plan involves revamping Air Force planning, budgeting, and aircraft design. New unmanned aircraft and combat jets will be prioritized.
The planned redesign acknowledges the growing importance of autonomous aircraft, or drones, in modern combat. The agility, speed, and cost-effectiveness of drones have forced the U.S. military to rethink command structures and hardware finance. The Air Force’s need for uncrewed aircraft is recognized in the strategy.
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A Showcase of Technological Dominance and the Imperative for U.S. Strategic Pivot
China’s launch of the KVD002, an enhanced CH-4 precision strike drone, emphasizes the need for this strategic pivot. China’s 30-hour flying duration and ability to carry roughly 750 pounds of missiles, bombs, radars, cameras, and civilian payloads demonstrate its technological advances. China has over 370 ships and submarines, exceeding the U.S., according to the Department of Defense.
Recent FBI Director Christopher Wray’s warnings to legislators about China’s aim to “wreak havoc” on U.S. infrastructure add to concerns. Following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s forthright statement to President Biden that Beijing aims to reunite Taiwan with mainland China at an indefinite time, this cyber threat emerged.
The Air Force will present its strategic goals at the Air & Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Colorado on February 12. As geopolitical tensions rise, the story emphasizes the dynamic nature of contemporary combat and the need for the U.S. Air Force to respond quickly to global challenges, notably China.
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