DISCOVERY – Mapping the Frontiers of Disruption
In the discovery phase, AFD35 deploys across labs, commands, war colleges, and industry hubs to uncover, observe, and translate technological disruption into doctrinal insight. These explorations are framed through the lens of doctrine, specifically using the structure of the Air Force Foundational Doctrine Documents (AFDPs) to map implications directly to force functions, command-and-control, and operational design.
The Five Doctrinally Framed Discovery Areas:
1. Artificial Intelligence & Automation
AI is a decision-making force multiplier. Doctrine must explore how automation changes the principles of C2, risk, and tempo. AFDP 3-0 (Operations) and AFDP 1 (The Air Force) frame the human role in this evolution, and AFDP 5-0 (Planning) will be impacted as AI is developed to assist planning and analysis, with likely high impacts on AFDP 2-0 (Intelligence) and and AFDP 3-0.1 (Command and Control).
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2. Advanced Materials & Production
Innovations such as additive manufacturing redefine what’s possible in logistics, basing, and sustainment. These discoveries challenge current assumptions within AFDP 4-0 (Combat Support, soon to be Sustainment) and AFDP 3-0.1 (Command and Control).
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3. Biotechnology & Neuroscience
Doctrine must now grapple with performance enhancement, cognitive domain warfare, and human-machine integration. These concepts call for new doctrine aligned with AFDP 3-0 (Operations) and AFDP 1-1 (Mission Command), and will likely impact AFDP 3-0.1 (Command and Control) and AFDP 4.02 (Health Services) as we refine human machine teaming (HMT) practices.
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4. Robotics & Miniaturization
Autonomous platforms reshape scale, saturation, and survivability. Swarms and micro-ISR alter the calculus of deterrence and maneuver, reframing ideas and concepts within AFDP 2-0 (Intelligence), AFDP 3-0.1 (Command and Control) and all of our warfighting documents such as AFDP 3-1 (Counterair), AFDP 3-03 (Counterland), AFDP 3-04 Countersea, AFDP 3-05 Special Operations, AFDP 3-70 (Strategic Attack), AFDP 3-52 (Airspace Control), and also AFDP 4-0 (Combat Support/Sustainment), AFDP 3-50 (Personnel Recovery), and AFDP 1-1 (Mission Command).
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5. Quantum Sciences
The developments of quantum computation, encryption, sensing, and communication will likely have significant impacts on AFDP 2-0 (Intelligence), AFDP 3-0.1 (Command and Control), AFDP 3-12 (Cyberspace Operations), AFDP 3-60 Targeting, AFDP 3-85 (EMS Operations), and AFDP 3-13 (Information Operations).