Title: Global mobility
Description: Man-portable air defense systems are threatening places of the world where mobility operations occur daily and the U.S. has spent billions of dollars trying to counter their effects to little avail. The continued ability to project and apply joint U.S. military power is jeopardized without suitable defensive systems for military and civilian mobility aircraft. This paper reviews man-portable air defense system missile and countermeasure capabilities, weapon proliferation trends, and the impact on global mobility operations through 2025. Breakthroughs in laser and microwave weapon technologies are described and represent the best opportunity for transformational progress against these missile threats. Developing these technologies will ensure the U.S. has the capabilities to defeat the projected threats using a mix of ground-based and aircraft-based defensive systems to smartly defend all U.S. and coalition transport and tanker aircraft. This paper recommends changes to strategy, technology development, and doctrine to meet this force protection and projection challenge.
Subjects: Antiaircraft missiles, Air defenses, Military Airlift, Safety measures
Places: United States