U.S. Air Dominance in a Fiscally Constrained Environment: Defining Paths to the Future

Dominant airpower is essential to virtually every operation the U.S. military conducts. It is an essential component of the U.S. military’s “DNA.” Budget cuts, shrinking force structure, poor investments in modernization, technological innovation and a growing anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) threat are combining to call into question the Department of Defense’s ability to maintain dominant air power in future conflicts. Without it, the U.S. military’s concept of operations will unravel.

The Lexington Institute study U.S. Air Dominance In A Fiscally-Constrained Environment identifies the critical actions and investments that must be taken in order to ensure U.S. dominant air power in the decades to come. Some are currently underway and must be protected, even at the expense of other programs and investments. In other instances, new programs must be initiated and even new technologies developed and deployed.

Click below to download the U.S. Air Dominance reports in PDF form

Summary Report
Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Tactical Aircraft and the Preservation of U.S. Air Dominance
Global Precision Strike