AVIATION FORCES

Aviation forces are composed of fighter, bomber, and attack aircraft as well as specialized aircraft. The specialized systems perform a broad range of functions, such as aerial refueling, airborne warning and control, electronic combat and air defense suppression, and reconnaissance and surveillance for targeting. Helicopters and airlift aircraft also are part of the aviation force structure; these systems are addressed in the sections on land, maritime, and mobility forces.

Aviation forces can respond rapidly to threats from the air, land, or sea. Their diversity and flexibility reflect, in part, the differing roles and missions of the Services that provide them -- land-based forces from the Air Force, carrier-based forces from the Navy, and expeditionary land-and sea-based forces from the Marine Corps. The global reach and quick deployability of these forces make them particularly important in the post-Cold War era, as was demonstrated again last fall in the response to the Iraqi force buildup near Kuwait. Aviation forces also continue to play a key role in peacetime presence missions.

Reflecting these complementary capabilities, the following broad goals have been established to guide aviation force planning:

• Aviation forces will continue to be sized to meet the requirements of two nearly simultaneous major regional conflicts (MRCs) as well as to carry out overseas presence missions.

• High readiness is key to keeping forces prepared for prompt employment. Aviation forces will be based overseas where appropriate to provide an immediate combat capability.

Based on these priorities, plus threat and affordability considerations, the Department will continue to maintain:

• Twenty Air Force general purpose fighter wing equivalents (13 active, seven reserve component).

• Up to 182 long-range Air Force bombers.

• Eleven naval carrier air wings (10 active and one reserve).

• Four Marine air wings (three active and one reserve).

Acquisition programs supporting these objectives include fielding, by FY 2000, 20 B-2 bombers with improved conventional attack capabilities and development of the Air Force F-22 fighter and Navy/Marine Corps F/A-18 E/F fighter/attack aircraft. For the longer term, efforts will focus on defining the family of aircraft that will evolve from the Joint Advanced Strike Technology (JAST) program.

MISSIONS

Aviation forces perform the following missions:

• Air Superiority -- protect the United States, its forces, and its allies from air attack; attack and suppress enemy air forces and air defenses; gain and maintain control of the skies, allowing friendly ground, naval, and air operations to proceed; contribute to theater air defenses.

• Strike Warfare -- conduct air attacks against critical enemy ground targets, including command and control elements, resupply facilities, and transportation infrastructure; interdict or destroy enemy surface forces and their vital functions; provide close air support for land forces and maritime operations.

• Surveillance and Reconnaissance -- use a wide variety of sensors to monitor air and surface areas of interest to the United States; acquire, process, and disseminate targeting information for delivery of weapons by airborne, land, and maritime forces.

• Deterrence -- prevent aggression against the United States and its allies by providing a ready and flexible means of responding to threats against vital interests.

• Operations Other than War -- support counterdrug, insurgence and counterinsurgency, counterterrorism, peacekeeping and peace enforcement, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations.

To carry out these tasks, aviation forces conduct counter-air, close air support, interdiction, strategic attack, and associated specialized operations, working in close coordination with ground and naval forces. The Joint Force Commander (JFC) will normally designate a Joint Force Air Component Commander (JFACC) to provide centralized direction and control of the various aircraft employed in an air operation. The JFACC is the critical link between the air assets available in a theater and their integration into a joint force capable of accomplishing the missions the JFC requires.

Aviation forces carried out a variety of combat and noncombat operations during 1994. These included enforcement of the no-fly zones in Iraq and Bosnia; surveillance and logistics support for operations in Somalia, Haiti, and Rwanda; strikes on Serb forces violating the U.N. accords in Bosnia; and intercepts of aircraft suspected to be making illegal drug deliveries to the United States.

THREAT

Aviation forces must be capable of countering a broad range of threats. Intelligence estimates project future potential regional aggressors as having the capability to field some 500 to 1,000 combat aircraft as well as ground and naval forces with significant surface-to-air weapons capability. In addition to threats of this magnitude, aviation forces must be able to contend with weaponry of increasing sophistication. Examples include:

• Advanced airborne electronic equipment and weapons that currently are being marketed widely. New radar, electronic countermeasures, weapons, and other equipment can be fitted to existing aircraft at much lower cost than buying new aircraft. Provision of highly capable weapons, such as the Russian-made AA-11 short-range missile and the French-made Mica medium-range missile, could increase comparatively easily the capability of air forces that otherwise lack effectiveness against existing U.S. aircraft.

• Fighter aircraft, under development by several nations, that could challenge the capabilities of current U.S. weapon systems. One example is the French Rafale, a single-seat fighter that combines good maneuverability with a reduced radar cross section and infrared signature. This aircraft is planned to achieve initial operational capability in 1999 in the French navy; a land-based variant, expected to be an export candidate early in the next century, could be available to potential adversaries.

• Dense and highly capable integrated air defenses, resulting from the export of modern surface-to-air missile systems. These systems have advanced electronic features that are difficult to counter and could pose a serious challenge to quick and successful prosecution of an air campaign.

FORCE STRUCTURE AND CAPABILITIES

Force Structure

The end of the Cold War has permitted a major restructuring of U.S. aviation forces. The goal is to build leaner, more flexible forces capable of countering emerging threats and sustaining a credible forward presence.

The Air Force will have a total of 21.3 fighter wing equivalents (FWEs) at the end of FY 1995. The term fighter wing denotes an organizational unit that may be made up of varying numbers of fighter aircraft, depending on the unit's mission. A fighter wing equivalent, on the other hand, is a metric denoting 72 combat-coded fighter aircraft. During FY 1996, the Air Force will make an additional net reduction of 1.3 wings to reach the goal of 20 FWEs by the end of 1996. The resulting force will include the mix of aircraft shown in Table VI-7.

This structure emphasizes air-to-ground missions because regional contingencies are expected to present a much reduced air-superiority threat in the near- to mid-term than existed during the Cold War. The bulk of the Air Force's fighter aircraft (F-15Es and F-16s) will maintain a good air-to-air capability, however, permitting forces to be allocated as needed.

The Air Force will retire both the F-4G Wild Weasel and F-111 in 1996. With the F-111's retirement, F-15Es will take over all long-range fighter/attack missions. B-1B, B-2, and B-52 bombers will supplement the F-15E in this role once they receive precision munition upgrades. Some F-16s are being modified to assume the F-4G's role of locating and destroying enemy air defense missile sites. Most F-16A/B models will be retired, including specially-modified versions operated by air defense squadrons in the continental United States. A total of six squadrons, flying either F-16C/D or F-15A/B aircraft, will support the air defense mission.

Naval aviation also is being restructured. Consistent with the force goals established during the Bottom-Up Review, the Navy will retire two active and one reserve carrier air wing (CVW), leaving 10 active wings and one reserve wing. A-6 attack aircraft are being retired, with the last of these planes scheduled to leave the force in FY 1997. With the A-6's retirement, the Navy will deploy two types of fighter/attack aircraft aboard its carriers: F/A-18s and F-14s. A modest air-to-ground upgrade is being provided for some F-14s to give them the capability to employ the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) from medium to high altitudes; aircraft with this feature will be available beginning in 1998. With this upgrade, both the F-14 and the F/A-18 will be multimission systems, increasing force flexibility.

The structure of the basic carrier air wing will evolve throughout the 1990s as A-6s are phased out of the force in favor of a mix of F/A-18s and modified older F-14 fighters (see Table VI-8). The number of fighter/attack aircraft in each wing will decline to 50 from the current level of about 60. The smaller wings will be more flexible, however, because they will operate a greater percentage of multirole aircraft. To provide additional combat power for major deployments, the Navy is exploring the possibility of augmenting carriers having fewer than 60 planes with aircraft deploying from the United States. Over the longer term, an entirely new naval multirole aircraft could be developed using the technology base that results from the JAST program.

The Marine Corps will maintain four air wings -- three active and one reserve -- throughout the program period. Marine wings will be equipped as shown in Table VI-9. In addition to the single-seat F/A-18 (which is identical to Navy models), the Marine Corps employs the two-seat F/A-18D as a multirole fighter, and also as a reconnaissance and tactical air control system for operations at night and in adverse weather. The AV-8B, while capable of multiple missions, is used primarily in the close air support role.

Emerging needs and efficiency considerations have led to a new approach to managing Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18 and EA-6B deployments. In effect, these aircraft will form a common pool for satisfying requirements of specific deployments. This approach increases flexibility for assigning either Navy or Marine squadrons to any naval mission and ensures that neither Service will experience excessive personnel deployments. Four Marine F/A-18 squadrons and one EA-6B squadron will deploy aboard aircraft carriers over the next three years to support Navy operations; Navy F/A-18 squadrons will also deploy as necessary to support Marine operations.

Capabilities

The ease and speed with which aviation forces can be deployed worldwide underscore their importance in the post-Cold War era. These forces would likely provide the United States' initial response in an MRC, and they would contribute to each successive phase of combat operations. Emphasis initially would go to stopping or slowing the advance of enemy ground forces toward friendly territory. Air superiority would be established to enable priority air-to-ground operations to proceed effectively and to protect U.S. and allied forces.

The subsequent buildup of air forces in the theater could be directed to a variety of purposes, one of the most important being prosecution of an air campaign to destroy enemy logistics and command structures and military potential. Once sufficient forces were available to mount a counterattack, air operations would support the advance of friendly ground forces. After victory was achieved on the ground, air operations would focus on sustaining air superiority, providing surveillance of enemy operations, and if required, supporting additional ground attacks.

Overall aviation force structure goals, derived in the Bottom-Up Review a year ago, are as follows:

• About 10 Air Force FWEs, augmented by long-range bomber aircraft, would be needed to prosecute a single MRC. This force building block leads to a total objective of 20 FWEs, plus bomber aircraft, for two nearly simultaneous MRCs.

• Four to five carrier air wings plus the aviation elements of one to two Marine expeditionary forces, or MEFs (four to five brigade-equivalents) would be needed for a single MRC. Because of peacetime presence requirements and the geographical mobility of amphibious forces, however, 11 carrier air wings and three MEFs (seven brigade-equivalents) have been judged sufficient for two nearly simultaneous conflicts.

• Forces for lesser contingencies would be drawn from this basic structure. In these smaller operations, service aviation elements could be employed jointly or alone.

A principal concern in conducting ground attack operations in the initial phases of an MRC is maximizing the limited effectiveness of some existing munitions at night and in adverse weather, while minimizing aircraft attrition. One solution is to suppress medium-altitude surface-to-air missiles and hostile fighters, thus allowing friendly aircraft to operate above the more numerous and difficult to detect lower-altitude antiaircraft threats. This concept is radically different from the tactics that were planned for the early phases of a NATO/Warsaw Pact war, where most NATO attack aircraft entering enemy airspace would have traveled virtually at tree-top level to avoid Warsaw Pact fighters and the extensive network of radar-guided surface-to-air missile systems. One complication of medium-altitude operations, however, is the capability of aircraft to locate targets accurately. Free-falling weapons released from medium altitude tend to have limited effectiveness. Moreover, neither free-fall nor current precision weapons can be guided to their targets in adverse weather. To close this gap, a variety of more effective weapons -- such as the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW), Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), and Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD) -- are being developed. The guidance systems used in these munitions will provide accuracies not heretofore possible in operations around the clock and from standoff ranges.

In order to provide an accelerated capability with these weapons, the Department made a number of decisions that are reflected in this year's budget. These include procuring an additional 150 JDAM weapons in the engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) configuration, which will provide added capability for the B-2 and an early capability for the F/A-18; procuring 200 WCMD EMD kits for the B-52 and/or F-16; and beginning EMD for the JSOW unitary variant in FY 1995, which will make that weapon operational in FY 2001, three years earlier than previously planned.

The advent of low-observable, or stealth, aircraft has had a significant influence on the nature of air combat. Inherent in stealth technology is a degree of offensive air superiority that is important in enhancing the effectiveness of numerically limited aviation forces. Selective employment of low-observable Air Force F-117 attack aircraft during the Gulf War achieved notable success given the relatively small number of such aircraft deployed. In the near term, low-observable aircraft will constitute a small portion of the force, numbering nine B-2As and 36 F-117As at the end of FY 1996.

The demise of the Soviet Union has made it possible to slow the pace (and total cost) of the technological evolution of aviation forces, procuring fewer types and quantities of low-observable aircraft than was planned a decade ago. For the foreseeable future, therefore, air operations will be conducted by a mix of forces, some stealthy and some much less so, each being applied to it best advantage.

The proportion of aircraft incorporating significant signature reduction is expected to grow during the next decade as the Air Force F-22 fighter and the family of aircraft emerging from the JAST program reach the field. Their reduced signatures will give these aircraft increased capability against advanced surface-to-air missile systems and future fighter aircraft.

AIR FORCE FIGHTER/BOMBER FORCES

The Air Force provides versatile and responsive striking power for employment worldwide on short notice. For example, the Air Force can move seven to eight FWEs into a theater as an initial response to an MRC, with additional FWEs following within the first month. Long-range bombers also can contribute to an initial response to an MRC, flying directly from the continental United States if need be. The Air Force's ability to provide heavy firepower early in a distant MRC will improve during the late 1990s through selective enhancements to the bomber force, described below.

Air Force fighter and bomber forces are structured to conduct sustained combat operations from land bases at home and abroad. A major strength of these forces is their ability to sustain a high tempo of operations. Where the local infrastructure permits, these forces can operate directly from airfields in a conflict region. If local facilities are limited but include at least a runway and water supplies, expeditionary operations can be supported with bare base kits, such as those used by Air Force combat and support aircraft in the Gulf War.

The effectiveness of early-arriving fighter, bomber, and support forces has improved through the establishment in recent years of three composite wings, each containing a mix of aircraft types. Two air/land composite wings emphasize integrated operations with early-deploying Army forces. An interdiction wing emphasizes more independent power projection. There also is a composite special operations wing capable of rapid response. Additionally, a mix of fighter and support aircraft is maintained in Alaska and at some overseas bases, such as Spangdahlem in Germany. Composite wings enhance the immediate combat capability of air units. Forces train as they would fight, with different types of combat and support aircraft operating in close coordination, as they would in wartime.

The Air Force maintains a significant overseas presence in peacetime, contributing both to deterrence and to crisis-response capability. These permanently stationed overseas forces demonstrate the United States' commitment to friends and allies and help promote regional stability. The Air Force plans to maintain about two FWEs at bases in the western Pacific and two FWEs at bases in western Europe for the foreseeable future. In practice, average deployment levels during FY 1995 exceeded this plan by approximately two FWEs, representing deployments in Southwest Asia and the Adriatic region that are not part of the permanent overseas basing plan.

BOMBER MODERNIZATION

The bomber force is composed of B-2, B-1B, and B-52H aircraft. Current and projected inventories of these aircraft are shown in Table VI-11. The force counts reflect the primary aircraft inventory (PAI) and therefore include training aircraft (12 B-1Bs and 12 B-52Hs). These aircraft do not have the weapons loading crews and readiness spares kits that generally are required for forward deployments. At present, the total inventory of 94 B-52Hs and 95 B-1Bs considerably exceeds the number of PAI aircraft that are fully funded in terms of operations and maintenance, load crews, and spare parts in FY 1996-1999. The aircraft that are not PAI are in reconstitution reserve status. All of the B-52Hs and B-1Bs in the inventory, including those in reconstitution reserve, will be kept in flyable condition and will receive planned modifications in a timely manner. The Department plans to increase the B-1B PAI to 82 by 2001, when modern weapons are available to enhance the bombers' effectiveness in conventional operations.

Congress mandated that no heavy bombers be retired in FY 1995, pending the results of a comprehensive analysis of bomber force requirements. In response to this mandate, the Institute for Defense Analyses (IDA) is performing a bomber force cost-effectiveness study, which is scheduled for completion in April 1995. The IDA study is examining alternative bomber force structures for two nearly simultaneous MRCs in the years 1998, 2006, and 2014. IDA is also assessing the benefits to be gained from various upgrades to bomber aircraft and their weapons. Should additional funds be required for the bomber force, DoD will identify and analyze the consequences of potential offsets. The force structures for the latter years shown in Table VI-11 could change as a result of the findings of the IDA study.

Because of its stealth characteristics, the newest U.S. bomber -- the B-2 -- is extremely difficult to detect, especially at night and in adverse weather. However, the ability of stealth aircraft to penetrate heavy defenses is increased significantly by force enhancement operations such as the use of air-superiority assets and standoff jamming by electronic warfare aircraft. B-2 bombers will be able to carry a full complement of general purpose weapons and cluster munitions as well as the new family of all-weather near-precision (that is, Global Positioning System (GPS) accuracies) and precision munitions, making them extremely capable and versatile power projection platforms. Current plans call for the procurement of 20 operational B-2s (16 PAI). The first squadron of eight aircraft is expected to become operational in FY 1997.

B-2 capability will increase throughout the decade as new aircraft are delivered and existing systems are progressively upgraded from the test configuration and Block 10 design to the more capable Block 20 and even more effective Block 30 versions. In 1996, Block 20 aircraft will have the Navstar GPS, improved communications and offensive avionics, and a limited ability to deliver GPS-aided munitions. By 2000, the entire B-2 force will achieve the Block 30 configuration, featuring better stealth characteristics, improved offensive and defensive avionics, and the ability to employ a wider range of improved weapons, such as the JDAM. During the transition to the Block 30 standard, some aircraft will be undergoing conversion and will not be immediately available for deployment.

The B-1B, which is programmed for use solely in conventional missions by the end of 1997, will be the backbone of the future bomber force. By the end of the decade, programmed upgrades will give the B-1B the capability to carry newer precision and near-precision weapons. B-1B aircraft also will be equipped with an advanced navigation system integrated with the Navstar GPS, and an improved communications system. Enhancements to the aircraft's onboard computers and electronic countermeasures system are slated to follow around FY 2005. In the near term, certification of the B-1B to deliver the entire family of advanced cluster munitions (CBU-87, CBU-89, CBU-97) will increase the aircraft's effectiveness against large area targets and armored vehicles in low-to-medium threat environments. The JDAM will be integrated on the aircraft in the late 1990s, while the Joint Standoff Weapon and Wind-Corrected Munition Dispenser kit-modified CBUs will be integrated between FY 2002 and FY 2006. This new capability will, in turn, expand the B-1B's delivery options, while increasing the aircraft's survivability and its ability to cover a wide range of targets.

The B-52H is the only launch platform for conventional air-launched cruise missiles (CALCMs). Some B-52s are being equipped to carry Have Nap standoff precision weapons. Planned modifications will enable the B-52H force to carry WCMD and JDAM as well as Harpoon antiship missiles.

In a major regional conflict, heavy bombers would be used to deliver large quantities of unguided general-purpose bombs and cluster munitions against area targets, such as ground force units, airfields, and rail yards. The more advanced munitions now coming on line or in development will enable bombers to bring a wider range of targets under attack, while taking better advantage of their large payload capacity. The long-range capability provided by bombers could make them the first major U.S. weapon system on the scene in a rapidly developing crisis, particularly in regions where the United States does not routinely maintain forces. Here, too, their ability to have an immediate impact on a conflict by slowing the advance of enemy forces, suppressing enemy air defenses, and inflicting massive damage on an enemy's strategic infrastructure will increase dramatically over the next 10 years.

NAVAL AVIATION FIGHTER/ATTACK FORCES

Naval and Marine air wings are self-sustaining forces, capable of conducting prolonged operations independent of overseas basing rights. Rotationally forward-deployed, carrier battle groups and amphibious ready groups provide a prompt means of responding to crises. As discussed in the Maritime Forces chapter, the planned Navy/Marine Corps force structure will sustain about three carrier air wings afloat and five Marine fighter/attack squadrons ashore on a continuous basis. Employed in conjunction with ground and Air Force units, these forces enable the United States both to respond initially to crises and to contribute to sustained combat operations.

Power projection in support of littoral warfare remains a top priority for the Navy. Carrier-based aircraft are capable of a wide range of other functions, however, from overseas presence and humanitarian assistance to peacekeeping and peace enforcement. Because of their inherent flexibility, carrier forces can be tailored to the initial needs of a deployment and then be reconfigured as the operation unfolds, to meet emerging demands.

Marine air elements are employed as part of Marine Air-Ground Task Forces (MAGTFs). Operating from ships or land bases, Marine aircraft provide offensive and defensive support as well as close air support for Marine ground units. In an amphibious operation, carrier-based aircraft would provide the air support initially required by a MAGTF. Once a foothold had been established in a region, these aircraft and those embarked on amphibious assault ships would move quickly ashore, where they would operate from expeditionary fields, created if necessary by the landing force using temporary matting carried aboard maritime prepositioning ships. Expeditionary airfields include all of the command, control, and logistics elements necessary for combat operations, and they can easily be redeployed to other locations if circumstances warrant.

SPECIALIZED FORCES

Specialized forces have taken on added importance in the post-Cold War era. These forces contribute to all phases of military operations. Three of their most important missions are aerial refueling, electronic combat and suppression of enemy air defenses, and aerial reconnaissance and surveillance.

Aerial refueling is critical to the effective employment of aviation forces. Not only do tanker aircraft facilitate the rapid deployment of combat forces; they have a tremendous force-multiplying effect in the conduct of air operations. Airborne refueling significantly extends the range and endurance of combat aircraft; it increases effective operating tempos; and it enhances flexibility in the employment of both land- and sea-based aviation forces. Aerial-refueling aircraft for in-theater employment include Air Force long-range tankers discussed in the mobility section, as well as Navy and Marine Corps tactical aircraft. With the impending retirement of the A-6 force, the Navy will rely primarily on multimission S-3s and F/A-18 E/Fs for tactical airborne refueling support, while the Marine Corps will use KC-130s. In addition, a portion of the Air Force KC-10 and KC-135 fleet is being modified with multipoint refueling capability to increase the Air Force's ability to refuel Navy and Marine Corps aircraft in flight.

Electronic combat and air defense suppression forces locate, avoid, and neutralize enemy air defenses. The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps all operate aircraft for these purposes, as shown in Table VI-12.

The EF-111 force will retire during FY 1996. The mission of tactical support jamming for the Air Force will be assumed by Navy EA-6Bs. The Navy will upgrade 20 EA-6Bs (16 PAI) already in the inventory but not previously planned to be part of the combat force structure. The allocation of these aircraft to the combat force, beginning in FY 1997, will reduce the inventory available to offset peacetime attrition. As a result, the overall EA-6B combat force structure will begin declining around the year 2015, a few years earlier than expected previously.

A comprehensive study is being conducted to determine the future adequacy of U.S. electronic warfare capabilities. The study is evaluating requirements for electronic warfare aircraft, aircraft self-protection and expendable countermeasures, and lethal and nonlethal suppression of enemy air defenses. The compatibility of projected electronic warfare capabilities with low-observable technologies also is being investigated. Results from the study will be used to identify capabilities that these forces may require in the long term.

Airborne reconnaissance and surveillance systems are a primary source of information on enemy air and surface forces and installations. As such, they bridge the gap in coverage between ground- and satellite-based surveillance systems and the targeting systems on combat aircraft. Airborne reconnaissance systems fall into two categories: standoff systems, which operate outside the range of enemy air defenses; and penetrating systems, which are employed within enemy air defense range (see Table VI-13).

Penetrating systems carry imaging sensors for close-up applications, which make them especially useful for small areas and point targets. At present, most such systems are film cameras carried on reconnaissance-capable fighters. These comparatively unwieldy systems are being phased out; in 1994 the Department decided to retire the last Air Force RF-4C squadron. By the turn of the century, the penetrator force will consist mostly of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The current force of F-14 Tactical Aerial Reconnaissance Pod System (TARPS) aircraft and a small force of Marine F/A-18Ds carrying electro-optical, infrared, and synthetic aperture radar sensors developed under the Advanced Tactical Air Reconnaissance System (ATARS) program will be maintained as a hedge against uncertainties in UAV acquisition. The sensors in the F/A-18D also may be used in the F/A-18 E/F to replace the F-14 TARPS.

Standoff systems carry long-range sensors, such as radars and signals intelligence (SIGINT) collectors. These systems provide most of the broad-area information used to assess the progress of a combat operation; they also provide targeting data for ground and naval forces and combat aircraft. The most modern and capable standoff systems will be maintained throughout the program period. These include Navy E-2Cs and Air Force E-3s for airspace surveillance, early warning, and fighter control; U-2s for ground reconnaissance; and RC-135s, EP-3s, ES-3s, and RC-12s for SIGINT. The E-8C, the airborne element of the Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar System (JSTARS), will enter service in 1997. Several older systems -- RU-21s, RV-1Ds, and OV-1Ds -- will be phased out entirely in the mid-1990s.

AVIATION RESERVE COMPONENTS

The missions, and therefore the structure, of aviation reserve forces differ across the Services. Air Force reserve component units are fully integrated into war plans, and could be among the first to respond in a crisis. The Navy and Marine Corps operate reserve air wings primarily as round-out units for active component wings.

Reserve component missions are changing, however. The Air Force is transferring some B-52 and B-1 bombers from the active force to the reserves, expanding the strategic lift and tanker capability of the reserve components, and giving reserve forces added responsibility for command and control of air defense operations in the continental United States. Two years ago the Navy announced plans to maintain an operational reserve carrier as part of its fleet. This ship will be manned in part by reserve personnel and will be capable of operating with a combined Navy/Marine reserve air wing aboard. Although used primarily for training, the carrier could deploy forward for limited periods to relieve demands on the active force. The Marine Corps has modernized its reserve forces, replacing aging A-4 and F-4 aircraft with F/A-18s. The Marines also are updating carrier qualifications for their aircrews, to facilitate their participation in deployments of the Navy's reserve/training carrier.

READINESS AND SUSTAINABILITY

Training and exercise programs are key to the readiness and combat effectiveness of aviation forces. Each of the Services maintains excellent training facilities where joint large-scale, live-fire exercises can be held. Major aviation training exercises include Red Flag/Green Flag at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada; carrier air wing exercises at Fallon, Nevada; and combined-arms exercises at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. For FY 1996, more than 200 joint exercises are planned. These include Cope North in the western Pacific, Bright Star in the Middle East, Global Archer and Roving Sands in the United States, and Fuertes Defensas in Latin America.

Most aviation units have adequate supplies of war reserve spares and munitions. Some shortfalls remain, however, in war reserve spares for F-15E fighters, B-1B bombers, and KC-135 tankers. Those shortfalls will be eliminated in FY 1996 for the F-15E, in FY 1997 for the KC-135, and by the end of the decade for the B-1B.

Peacetime training requirements are now adequately supported by stocks of replenishment spares and other consumable material. Constraints on funding for spare parts procurement could lead to shortfalls in the future, however. In particular, the statutory provision permitting service supply systems to replace only 65 percent of the items that they sell to operational units could result in spare part shortages, even though sufficient funds exist to meet procurement needs. If shortfalls occur, mission-capable rates would drop and spare parts would have to be taken either from operational aircraft or war reserve stocks in order to meet training needs. Waivers provided in the statutes have prevented serious problems thus far, but they also impose a complex accounting process. The Department continues to seek legislative relief from these statutory controls on supply replacement policy.

Unplanned deployments during 1994 led to reductions in the flying hours of some aircraft, with adverse consequences for force readiness. Surge operations undertaken on short notice, as was the case in the Adriatic and Caribbean, inevitably forced compensating drawdowns elsewhere. Contingency operations also displaced some regular training by the forces committed. These problems need to be managed better, and the Department again seeks the assistance of Congress in preserving management and funding flexibility for contingency operations. (These issues are discussed in greater detail in the Readiness chapter of this report.)

MODERNIZATION

The roles and missions performed by aviation forces determine their modernization requirements as well as their overall structure. Meeting future goals will require highly capable aircraft and support systems that are easy to operate and maintain, and that can be procured in sufficient numbers at an affordable cost. Reflecting these considerations, acquisition programs for aviation forces are designed to:

• Sustain aircraft modernization. New aircraft procurement must support long-term force structure goals and protect the U.S. lead in stealth technologies.

• Improve aircraft survivability. Acquisition of advanced standoff weapons will reduce aircraft exposure to enemy air defenses and enhance single-pass target destruction capability, thus increasing aircraft survivability. Improvements in electronic combat forces will keep those forces capable of countering the most advanced threats.

• Dominate the collection and exchange of intelligence data. Programs in this area will ensure that critical targeting and intelligence information is available immediately to friendly forces, and denied to potential adversaries.

Sustaining Aircraft Modernization

Two major fighter/attack aircraft acquisition programs -- the F-22 and F/A-18 E/F -- are being pursued. The F-22, being developed by the Air Force as a replacement for the F-15, will ensure the continued superiority of U.S. forces against long-term advances in the air-to-air capability of potential adversaries. The F-22's low-observable characteristics, supersonic cruise speed, high maneuverability, and advanced avionics will enhance its effectiveness in the air-superiority role. The F-22 also will be capable of conducting limited air-to-ground operations, carrying two JDAMs internally or -- with a greater chance of detection -- a larger external load.

The F/A-18 E/F, being developed for the Navy and Marine Corps, builds on the proven combat capability of the current C and D models of this aircraft. The new versions will incorporate improvements in range, payload, and survivability, offsetting some of the capabilities lost with the retirement of the A-6. The first EMD model of the F/A-18 E/F is scheduled to make its initial flight near the end of 1995. The Marine Corps is upgrading and extending the service life of its AV-8B fleet by remanufacturing older, day-attack-only aircraft to the latest night-attack/radar configuration. The remainder of the fighter/attack force -- F-14s, F-15s, F-16s, A-10s, and F/A-18 C/Ds -- also will receive capability upgrades.

The JAST program, begun in 1993, is advancing toward the definition of a new family of combat aircraft. Studies of the service life of existing aircraft, emerging threats with which they must deal, available technologies, and alternative aircraft concepts are being brought together in setting priorities for aircraft design. The results of this process will be available in time to inform decisions on demonstrator needs, which in turn will support commitments to EMD programs toward the end of the decade. Aircraft emerging from this process early in the next century will fulfill the roles performed by many existing aircraft types, such as the A-6, F-14, F-16, F-111, F-117, and AV-8B. The Department is fully integrating the JAST program with the Advanced Short-Takeoff and Vertical Landing (ASTOVL) technology demonstrator begun by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) as the centerpiece of its tri-Service common affordable lightweight fighter program, also a common goal of the JAST program. By combining these programs, the Department will achieve greater economies, while maintaining focus on tri-Service solutions to advanced aircraft design.

Modernization programs for aviation forces will preserve needed design and production capability in the aerospace industrial sector as overall aircraft procurement rates decline. The FY 1996-2001 program protects core industrial base capabilities. Procurement of both the F/A-18 E/F and the F-22 at modest annual rates will preserve aircraft production capabilities for the future, while demonstration aircraft developed under the JAST program will provide continued support for critical aircraft design teams. Highlights of aircraft modernization programs are provided in Table VI-14.

Improving Aviation Force Weapons

Improvements are being made in the air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons carried by combat aircraft. Future air-to-air weapons for fighter aircraft will include enhanced versions of both the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and the Sidewinder short-range missile. The greater lethality and range of these upgraded systems will offer a distinct advantage to U.S. forces in combat.

New air-to-ground weapons with increased standoff range and improved accuracy will provide added benefits in combat operations. These include:

• The ability to attack highly defended targets from the outset of hostilities, without first having to destroy a series of peripheral defenses sequentially.

• Neutralization or reduction of the effectiveness of enemy antiaircraft systems. This will reduce aircraft losses and speed the follow-on use of direct attack weapons, which usually are less expensive than standoff munitions.

• Extending the effective reach of precision weapons far beyond the combat radius of the delivery platform, and with less exposure.

The FY 1996-2001 program reflects one principal change from the munitions modernization plan described last year -- the decision to forgo acquisition of the Tri-Service Standoff Attack Missile (TSSAM). This system experienced significant development difficulties, and the growth in its expected unit cost made it too expensive to justify procurement. As a result of TSSAM's cancellation, the Navy will continue with development of the Standoff Land Attack Missile-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER) variant. The Air Force will begin to investigate means of acquiring a TSSAM-like capability, but at lower unit costs than achieved by TSSAM.

Highlights of munitions programs for FY 1996-2001 are presented below:

• AGM-130. A powered version of the 2,000-pound GBU-15 glide bomb, designed to strike high-value, heavily defended targets. The 298 missiles purchased prior to FY 1994 will be retrofitted to the current, improved configuration with FY 1996 funding. The retrofit includes provision of inertial navigation and global positioning system (INS/GPS) mid-course guidance, which improves the operator's ability to acquire and lock onto targets in the terminal attack phase.

• Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW). A tactical munitions dispenser containing 10 BLU-108 submunitions, each with four Skeet warheads. SFW is designed to achieve multiple kills against armored vehicles in day or night and in adverse weather.

• Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM). Under the first phase of this program, bombs will be provided with an improved guidance capability based on an inertial navigation system coupled with satellite-borne GPS data. INS/GPS guidance will permit the delivery of free-fall munitions in adverse weather and improve bombing accuracy from medium and high altitudes. A subsequent product improvement program will provide accuracy equivalent to that of today's laser-guided bombs using a sensor or other improvements.

• Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW). A longer-range, aerodynamically efficient glide weapon with excellent autonomous navigation capability. The initial variant, which will carry combined effects bomblets, will provide an accurate, low-cost standoff method of delivering tactical munitions in all types of weather. A follow-on version will carry an SFW-derived BLU-108 payload for standoff antiarmor capability. Further planned improvements will provide a unitary warhead and a man-in-the-loop seeker for increased accuracy and target discrimination. EMD for both the BLU-108 and unitary variants begins in FY 1995.

• Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM). A modified Harpoon antiship missile that incorporates an AGM-65 Maverick imaging infrared seeker and Walleye datalink for man-in-the-loop control. An additional 45 baseline SLAM missiles will be procured during FY 1996 and FY 1997 as development of the SLAM-ER variant continues. SLAM-ER is an upgraded version of the baseline SLAM weapon. It incorporates enhancements in aerodynamic performance, survivability, anti-jam guidance, and hard-target capability, while providing for more rapid mission planning. About 400 SLAM missiles will be converted to the SLAM-ER configuration between FY 1998 and FY 2001.

• Wind-Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD). A modification kit that inertially measures wind and provides corrections to advanced cluster bomb dispensers, thereby improving delivery accuracy from higher altitudes. This modification will be made to the CBU-87 (combined effects munition), CBU-89 (Gator), and CBU-97 (SFW). Two hundred additional EMD units will be procured in FY 1997 to provide an accelerated capability.

Highlights of weapons modernization programs are provided in Table VI-15.

Dominate the Collection and Exchange of Intelligence Data

The Services are beginning to field a new generation of airborne reconnaissance and surveillance systems that provide real-time information to a variety of users. The fast pace and increased lethality of battlefield operations dictate that intelligence, warning, and targeting data be collected and passed to combat forces in a timely manner. Navy E-2 and Air Force E-3 aircraft that provide airspace surveillance, warning, and fighter control will have their primary sensors upgraded via the APS-145 program and Radar Sensitivity Improvement Program (RSIP), respectively. In addition, E-3s are being equipped with a passive electronic detection system. Production of E-8C (JSTARS) radar surveillance aircraft and ground station modules will continue throughout the 1990s, greatly improving capabilities for detecting and tracking enemy ground vehicles. The Joint Tactical Information Distribution System (JTIDS), already deployed or being installed on many of these command and control aircraft, has been designated one of the Department's primary C³I data links.

The U-2R force is being equipped with new engines to improve operational performance and extend the system's usable life. Two deployable ground stations also are being fielded. Several sensor improvement programs are underway. The RC-135V/W Rivet Joint and EP-3E forces will continue to operate with preplanned product improvements, pending development of the Joint Airborne SIGINT architecture, intended for use on all airborne reconnaissance systems.

The Department will make significant investments in UAVs during the 1990s. Low-rate production of the Joint Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (JTUAV) continues. The Hunter short-range UAV, an improved follow-on to the Pioneer system acquired in the mid-1980s, will provide users with continuous streams of real-time imagery. Systems will be procured by the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. Acquisition of downsized mission control equipment and a smaller air vehicle is programmed, as well as improvements to heavy-fuel engines. The Medium-Altitude Endurance (MAE) UAV system was funded as an advanced concept technology demonstration (ACTD) in FY 1994. High-Altitude Endurance (HAE) UAV ACTDs also were initiated in FY 1994, leading toward demonstration systems that could be deployed during contingencies.

Key elements of airborne surveillance and reconnaissance modernization programs are shown in Table VI-16.

CONCLUSION

Aviation forces are well suited to meet the challenges of the new security environment. The flexibility and worldwide deployability of these forces make them an early and critical element of military operations. The force structure and acquisition initiatives planned for coming years will preserve the high effectiveness that these forces now possess, while making the selective enhancements needed to meet future demands.