“Maintaining the Department’s technological advantage will require changes to industry culture, investment sources, and protection across the National Security Innovation Base.” (National Defense Strategy [Unclassified], p. 3) The sense of urgency is driving a new environmental dynamic in industry, but how can we accelerate through the “valley of death”? Industry leaders respond to DoD modernization priorities and address requirements for fielding technologies at the speed of relevance.
Session Category: AIAA DEFENSE Forum 2021
Space Asset Protection
While the Interim National Security Strategic Guidance released in March calls for ensuring the “safety, stability and security of outer space activities” (p. 17), much work remains to be done to protect our space assets. The panel moderator and one of the panelists argue that “It’s time to protect our nation’s space-based systems by designating them as critical infrastructure. Without adequate security, cyberattackers can cause them to malfunction, send false information or collide, potentially creating a debris field that could linger for decades. Worse, cyberattackers could simulate an attack on military systems, sparking an international — possibly nuclear — confrontation” (Edward Swallow and Samuel Visner, “It’s time to declare space systems as critical infrastructure,” POLITICO, April 2, 2021. How do the various commands, agencies, and organizations involved cooperate; how can the defense community support; and what new policies, products, and solutions are needed to secure space assets?
Technological Overmatch: The Critical Role of DoD R&D
“Innovation without execution is hallucination.” DoD Research and Development (R&D) is charged with taking fundamental research and applying it to technologies for the warfighter. Hear about current and future projects, upcoming opportunities, and how these organizations enable the research community to transition ideas to technological advantages.
Operational Needs and Military Requirements
The 2018 National Defense Strategy is clear that a more lethal force and technological innovation are key to generating a decisive and sustained advantage. What do our warfighters need from the aerospace community in order to become a “more lethal, resilient, and rapidly innovating Joint Force” in an era of multi-domain warfare?