The Complexity-Adaptability Paradox

<p>The increasing severity of threats leads modern air forces to develop ever more complex and more specialized solutions to better solve specific tactical challenges they expect to face such as improved air defenses. The increased complexity of these weapon systems however increases the time and cost to field them as well as to adapt them for new missions or threats. At the same time rapid technological change makes such adaptability more important to counter the increase in threat variety and capability. Furthermore the increasing rate of technological and geopolitical change undermine the likely accuracy and validity of weapon system requirements written for a notional security environment two decades in the future. This increases the need for more adaptable systems. This relationship between complexity and adaptability can be described as a Complexity-Adaptability Paradox. Current USAF fighter force structure plans could yield a force that by 2035 lacks sufficient adaptability to cope with the variety and severity of national security threats it faces.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>