Open Source: A History of US Air Transportation Problems
AEROPLANE & DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY is based on the merging of two great popular publications into one comprehensive study. Both are rooted in the same roots, Air Force Research Experiment (AFRES). It brings together the most recent advances in the U.S. Department of Defense’s fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites, and aircraft. In both books, readers will be introduced to the important operational concepts that underlie the technologies, systems, and programs developed.
As a professional who has been involved in numerous technological studies, I was thrilled to read Aerospace & Defense. After reading the book, I realized the vast potential for military aviation, both in terms of being a deterrence force and supporting tactical operations from a tactical standpoint. The ability to conduct future warfare using aircraft was fascinating. This study discusses numerous programs, concepts, and capabilities for the future of airpower, combat vehicles, and aerospace systems. The authors present and discuss current and future threats and potential solutions.
While dealing with both the operational and future needs of the U.S. military, the authors make important points about the current state of the U.S. aerospace & defense industry. Funding is a key issue for any military service or agency. A clear need for long-term funding is shown through the large amount of money being poured into the U.S. military. The authors argue for a “buy down” strategy to reduce the burden on U.S. defense budgets. They offer solutions to the problems with procurement and sustainment, estimating that future procurements will have an increasingly larger burden.
AEROPLANE & DEFENSIVE TECHNOLOGIES The authors critically examine the current state of U.S. Air Force operations, particularly in terms of its support for overseas contingency operations and the ongoing conflict in Iraq. They describe how U.S. forces are operating in a de-facto state, conducting strikes from aircraft carriers and ships yet operating largely within the confines of the country’s boundaries. The authors describe how this is both contradictory and problematic. They conclude that the U.S. must develop new doctrines and capabilities in order to better support future operations.
SPACE USED AND DEPLOYED INFRASTRUCTURE The authors examine how U.S. forces are using space technology to counter Russian and Chinese weapons in outer space, as well as to protect satellites and space-based assets from attack or destruction. The authors present findings from several space programs, MRO, and AVOAK and evaluate how these programs contribute to U.S. military technologies and operations. They detail how the U.S. Air Force and Navy are employing various space systems in support of joint operations and provide recommendations for improving future space warfare capabilities. The authors conclude by assessing how the U.S. military should improve its use of space for both offensive and defensive purposes in the next decade and beyond.
ANALYSTIC & EPOS science fiction thriller “Decision Days” chronicles the development of a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) through the use of a software program developed by a team of Carnegie Mellon scientists. The software, code-named Artemis, is based on ideas from military application modeling and previously developed science fiction tools. Although the novel is fiction, the authors maintain that the UAVs they developed can be useful for both military and civilian applications. They provide a review of their system and the potential uses for commercial and civil markets.
ANALYSTIC & EPOS science fiction thriller “Decision Days” chronicles the development of a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) through the use of a software program developed by a team of Carnegie Mellon scientists. The software, code named Artemis, is based on ideas from military application modeling and previously developed science fiction tools. The book covers a number of challenges associated with unmanned aerial vehicle operations. The authors examine both the potential strategic and tactical roles of such vehicles in a 21st century strategic environment.
ANALYSTIC & EPOS science fiction thriller “Decision Days” is part one of “Open Source: A History of US Air Transportation Problems” co-authored by Thomas Partridge and Elizabeth Shalit. In this book the authors cover the history of UAVs, both civilian and military, from both the cold war and the Gulf War. It describes the development of software for UAVs, the U.S. Air Force’s reliance on military aircraft and the potential future of unmanned aerial vehicles. It examines UAV manufacturing technologies, their potential military applications and the impact on U.S. commercial aviation safety. The authors conclude their investigation by comparing the potential cost savings and risk to U.S. aerospace manufacturing, if any, if UAVs are ever made a primary national security concern.