Air Force Doctrine 2035 was an 11-month journey where the Intersection of Technology met Doctrine.
Air Force Doctrine 2035 (AFD35), an initiative of the LeMay Center for Doctrine Development and Education, has engaged with Government, industry and academia across the nation to explore disruptive technologies and assess their doctrinal implications for the Air Force. The primary goal of AFD35 is to prevent future doctrinal surprises, avoid doctrinal stagnation, and catalyze doctrinal evolution to match the accelerated pace of technological change.
What we have explored:
Artificial intelligence and automation are not only optimizing mission execution and decision support but are also forcing a reassessment of foundational warfighting constructs, particularly the tempo of operations and the role of human oversight within command-and-control hierarchies. Furthermore, the Air Force stands on the cusp of a new era defined by human-machine teaming. The nascent deployment of AI, autonomy, and uncrewed collaborative aircraft is already reshaping Airmen’s relationships with technology.
Developments in advanced materials and production methods, including additive manufacturing and high-performance composites, are dissolving the traditional constraints of logistics and sustainment, enabling more agile and resilient basing concepts. Meanwhile, biotechnology and neuroscience are redefining the human element of warfare, elevating the importance of Airman performance, neuro-adaptive systems, and biosensing in the context of multi-domain command and control.
Quantum sciences portend a revolution in navigation and computation that will challenge assumptions about security, precision, and resilience, introducing both game-changing potential and significant operational risk. Simultaneously, robotics and miniaturization are reshaping the scale and signature of conflict, altering maneuver, targeting, and deterrence strategies in an increasingly automated battlespace.
On April 21, 2026, our team of experts from Air Force Lessons Learned, Air Force Doctrine Development, and the Air Force Wargaming Institute will convene warfighters, technologists, and strategists to conduct an unclassified wargame that is intended to inform Air Force doctrine of the future.
