Vector Check Published April 28, 2025 The name Vector Check draws from a familiar airpower concept—a deliberate assessment of current heading and course correction to ensure the desired destination is reached. In the same way, this publication serves as a critical moment of reflection and recalibration, examining where we are now and where we must go to remain dominant in the skies and across all domains. With a focus on the evolving challenges of modern conflict, Vector Check embodies both situational awareness and forward momentum—ensuring that our trajectory remains aligned with strategic success. Airpower in Competition Airpower in Competition: /ACSC/Vector-Check/#airpower-in-competition Given airpower research’s understandable focus on airpower in warfighting this series sheds increased light on airpower in competition where open conflict is avoided but influence is aggressively contested. Airpower can provide persistent force shaping the outcome long before shots are fired. In the competition phase, where nations posture, deter, and shape narratives, airpower provides unmatched agility, reach, and visibility. From strategic overflights that project presence, to ISR missions that gather intelligence, to rapid mobility that strengthens alliances and deters adversaries, airpower plays a pivotal role in defining the battlespace of tomorrow. Airpower in the News Airpower in the News: /ACSC/Vector-Check/#airpower-in-the-news In a rapidly evolving battlespace shaped by technology, competition, and complexity, a solid grasp of airpower fundamentals is more essential than ever for Air Force professionals. These core principles—flexibility, speed, reach, and strategic effect—remain the bedrock of effective air operations, guiding decision-making from the tactical edge to the strategic level. Whether you're a new officer building your foundation or a seasoned leader refining your perspective, revisiting the fundamentals sharpens your understanding of how and why airpower delivers tactical, operational, and strategic effect. Airpower Fundamentals Airpower Fundamentals: /ACSC/Vector-Check/#airpower-fundamentals In a rapidly evolving battlespace shaped by technology, competition, and complexity, a solid grasp of airpower fundamentals is more essential than ever for Air Force professionals. These core principles—flexibility, speed, reach, and strategic effect—remain the bedrock of effective air operations, guiding decision-making from the tactical edge to the strategic level. Whether you're a new officer building your foundation or a seasoned leader refining your perspective, revisiting the fundamentals sharpens your understanding of how and why airpower delivers tactical, operational, and strategic effect. ACSC Research ACSC Research: /ACSC/Vector-Check/#acsc-research Unlock the cutting edge of airpower thought by diving into the research of Air Command and Staff College students and faculty—where academic rigor meets operational relevance, and where today's challenges are met with the same spirit of innovation that defined the Air Corps Tactical School. Just as ACTS laid the intellectual foundation for strategic airpower in the early 20th century, ACSC continues that proud heritage, cultivating bold ideas and forward-thinking leaders for a new era of competition and conflict. Whether you're exploring multi-domain operations, leadership in contested environments, or the evolution of deterrence, this research bridges our storied past with the demands of tomorrow’s fight. Wright Flyer Series Wright Flyer Series: /ACSC/Vector-Check/#wright-flyer-series For Air Force professionals seeking sharp, relevant, and forward-thinking perspectives, the Wright Flyer series from Air University Press is a must-read. Representing some of the best papers written by Air Command and Staff College students, these studies tackle real-world airpower challenges with fresh insight, operational experience, and academic rigor. From emerging technologies and strategic competition to doctrine development and leadership in contested environments, each monograph offers a focused, accessible deep dive into the issues shaping today’s and tomorrow’s Air Force.