DISCOVERY – in 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:
Artificial Intelligence & Automation
AI is a decision-making force multiplier. Doctrine must explore how automation changes the principles of C2, risk, and tempo.
Advanced Materials & Production
Innovations such as additive manufacturing redefine what’s possible in logistics, basing, and sustainment. These discoveries challenge current assumptions within Command and Control.
Biotechnology & Neuroscience
Doctrine must now grapple with performance enhancement, cognitive domain warfare, and human-machine integration.
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 intelligence, command and control and all of our warfighting documents such as our Counterair, counterland and countersea doctrine, also these platforms will impact special operations, strategic attack, airspace control.
Quantum Sciences
The developments of quantum computation, encryption, sensing, and communication will likely have significant impacts on our intelligence, especially in collection and assessment, and offering modern dilemmas with our command and control, cyberspace operations, targeting, stressing our Electromagnetic Spectrum and Information operations.
Check out our AFD35 Discovery Guide.
Visit the complete library of Air Force Doctrine Publications on our website at: https://www.doctrine.af.mil/