AFRL crafting mobility research vision to inform, build support for S&T priorities

The Air Force Research Laboratory is working with Air Mobility Command to craft a mobility research vision that outlines research needs and priorities to prepare for a 2030 operating environment.

Speaking this week at the virtual Airlift/Tanker Association conference, Deputy Director of AFRL's Aerospace Systems Directorate Col. Tim West and Rapid Global Mobility Deputy Capability Lead John Frazey said the vision will explore research needs within AMC's four main mission areas: airlift, aerial refueling, aeromedical evacuation and the global air mobility support system.

West said the team hopes to have a draft completed in the next month and is looking to solicit input from the field and from industry to help refine the capability gaps and needs in each mission area. He noted that the completed report, which will evolve as threats change, will help AFRL shape its research priorities and advocate for mobility science and technology funding.

"Once we get a document that AMC, [the Air Force Warfighting Integration Capability], the lab and others are in general agreement that it makes sense, we will use that as our way of prioritizing and advocating for S&T funding based on that refined vision," West said.

Frazey said he thinks it is important that the vision look out into the 2030, 2035 timeframe in order to give a better understanding of what investments the service should make in order to be prepared for that future fight.

"Our adversaries are not staying put," he said. "They're advancing their technology. We need to make sure that we as global mobility personnel really look at what we need and use this vision to help influence the senior leader decisions."