May 5, 2026 Cyber Force Structure How can the United States Air Force optimize its current cyber force structure to more effectively meet the challenges of the modern security environment?
May 5, 2026 Future of Air Mobility How is the "critical path" for Air Mobility evolving, and what are the implications of bypass theory for its future operational concepts?
May 5, 2026 Weapon System Vulnerabilities Introduced by Cloud Environment What unique cybersecurity risks does the military's increasing dependence on distributed cloud environments for complex weapon systems and logistics introduce, and how do these risks differ from traditional, centralized network architectures?
May 5, 2026 Conventional Conflict's Impact on The Air Leg of The Triad What would be the cumulative effect of a prolonged conventional conflict on the readiness, credibility, and overall capability of the U.S. nuclear bomber force, considering factors like aircraft and tanker attrition, maintenance backlogs, and ongoing recapitalization programs?
May 5, 2026 Disruptive Technology's Effect On Deterrence How will disruptive technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computing fundamentally alter the dynamics of deterrence, and could their integration into planning and secure communications enhance the effectiveness of the U.S. deterrent against a nuclear first strike?
May 5, 2026 NATO's Nuclear Posture in the Age of Hybrid Warfare How adequate and credible is NATO's current nuclear deterrence posture in effectively countering the challenges posed by Russia's multifaceted hybrid warfare strategies?
May 5, 2026 Benchmarking Fuel Usage How can more accurate and sophisticated fuel usage simulations be developed to better inform mission planning tools and provide reliable benchmarks for real-time and post-mission anomaly detection?
May 5, 2026 Impact on Deterrence by Emerging Technology How will the emergence and global diffusion of dual-use technologies capable of strategic effects, such as biotechnology, impact the U.S. deterrence posture, and can international agreements effectively mitigate these new risks?
May 5, 2026 Develop Improved Assessments of Landing Weights What is the full fiscal and maintenance readiness impact of mobility aircraft frequently landing with excessive weight due to carrying more fuel than required, and how does this practice affect both short and long-term aircraft sustainment?
May 5, 2026 Chinese Propaganda What is the Communist Party / Peoples' Liberation Army (CCP/PLA's) propaganda apparatus structure, strategy, and capabilities? (US Cyber Command)