Air Force Materiel Command is standing up a team to define and develop future capabilities at the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio. The group will focus on multi-domain capabilities—rather than specific platforms—that have been at the center of the Air Force’s Air Superiority 2030 study and the Pentagon’s “Third Offset” strategy, according to a release. A mix of about 10 airmen and civilians will make up the core group of planners, but experts from across the service, including operational warfighters and doctrine experts, will augment the team. AFMC Commander Gen. Ellen Pawlikowski said experimentation, wargaming, and investment in emerging technologies will be used to regain the technical edge, according to the release. The use of directed energy and hypersonic systems will likely be explored. The effort “is all about providing agile war-winning Air Force capabilities,” Pawlikowski said, according to the release. (See also: Building a Family of Systems)
Navy Adm. Samuel J. Paparo Jr. assumed leadership of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, succeeding Navy Adm. John Aquilino at a change of command ceremony, urging action amid China's “increasing intrusive and expansionist claims,” on May 3