APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE: SAF/PA 2016-0462

USAF Scientific Advisory Board

FY 2017 Study

Technology Viability to Support Penetrating Counterair Capability

Terms of Reference
Background
The recent Air Force Air Superiority 2030 (AS 2030) Enterprise Capability Collaboration Team
(ECCT) initiative identified a penetrating counterair (PCA) capability as a key need in a hybrid
approach to enable air superiority and other missions for anti-access/area-denial environments in
the 2030 time frame. Such operating environments will be characterized by increasingly
sophisticated integrated air defense systems and substantial adversary counterair capabilities. The
AS 2030 ECCT envisions PCA in this systems-of-systems approach to include targeting and
engaging via stand-in application of kinetic and non-kinetic effects, and serving as a network node
providing data from its penetrating sensors to enable employment of stand-off or stand-in
weapons. PCA development must address tradeoffs in range, payload, survivability, lethality,
affordability and supportability. The Air Force has therefore initiated a formal analysis of
alternatives (AoA) to refine attributes of such a PCA capability. Ongoing developmental planning
activity for PCA, including the AoA, will benefit from an assessment of the viability of technology
options for achieving the desired survivability, lethality, affordability and mission effectiveness,
and an assessment of the technical maturity, manufacturing readiness, and integration readiness of
existing and emergent technologies to support the PCA mission.
Charter
The study will:

Review unclassified and classified documents from the AS 2030 ECCT and other sources to
understand the PCA role; identify and prioritize the key operational characteristics that
enhance the mission effectiveness of a PCA capability in 2030 A2/AD environments.
Examine attributes of likely adversary A2/AD environments in the 2030 time frame that
would challenge the effectiveness of a PCA capability for supporting air superiority.
Identify technologies that can enhance attributes of PCA effectiveness, such as speed, range,
maneuverability, signature, sensors, countermeasures, weapons type and number; determine
current technology readiness and the timelines and investments needed to reach maturity.
Review and assess the key technologies that can support manufacturability, affordability,
and supportability of a 2030 PCA capability; assess manufacturing readiness and integration
readiness of systems and components needed to enable and sustain such a PCA capability.
Provide a technology roadmap outlining essential technologies and maturation timelines to
support development and fielding of an initial 2030 PCA capability, taking into account
corresponding technology freeze dates.
Recommend key areas for science and technology investments to advance technology,
manufacturing, and integration readiness that can support future block upgrades.

Study Products
Briefing to SAF/OS and AF/CC in July 2017. Publish report in December 2017.

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE: SAF/PA 2016-0462