Cooperative Engagement

Air superiority has been a near given for the US in every conflict since the Korean War. We are, however, at the cusp of time in history where this could be challenged. An explosion in unmanned aerial vehicle technology and proliferation combine with an unpredictable asymmetric threat at the same time that the USAF inventory of air superiority fighter aircraft is decreasing rapidly. It is very plausible that we could enter a period where the air superiority requirements outstrip our capabilities. In this paper, the author presents a possible solution for this dilemma by combining manned fighter aircraft with unmanned launch platforms in a concept called cooperative engagement. The paper examines the argument for development of an unmanned airborne air-to-air capability in the USAF by exploring the mission of air superiority, followed by a presentation of potential threats to US air superiority. A gap analysis of USAF capability in this arena is examined, and arguments are made for making any added air-to-air capability unmanned through exploration of the concept of "cooperative engagement" between manned fighter aircraft and unmanned launch platforms.