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Constraining Factors

• The Air Force is spending more to keep fewer aircraft flying.
• New aircraft are getting more expensive and the Air Force is buying fewer of them.
• A budget upturn is unlikely for at least a decade.
• RDT&E spending is at an all-time high, so increasing it to preserve industrial capabilities is not realistic.
• Less of the Air Force's limited procurement funding is going toward new aircraft.
• Total aircraft inventory has declined.
• There is a growing demand for capabilities of remotely piloted systems.
• There are continuing challenges of supporting asymmetric wars.

Options

• Maintain Technical Edge: Keeps technical and design skills employed but may concentrate industry into sole sources due to fewer new programs and diminished production demand. The AIB may consolidate even further.
• Hybrid Strategy: May result in some skills and production capabilities moving offshore. Congress might intervene to make this option unworkable. The AIB may consolidate even further.
• Evolutionary Focus: Moderately uses technical skills, but does not use important skills such as integration and airframe development. Production capabilities are maintained but current suppliers/primes are locked in.
• Hedging Strategy: Moderately uses technical and design skills. Production skills are not maintained at a level similar to other options. May allow smaller firms to enter market, however.
• International Partnering: Risks having some key skills and production capabilities move offshore. Congress might also intervene.
• Maintain Force Levels: With this option, important technical and design skills will atrophy. Again, the IB may consolidate even further due to lack of RDT&E funds.