In the ever-evolving theater of modern warfare, the United States Air Force Special Operations Forces Command (AFSOC) is on the cusp of a significant tactical shift.

AFSOC will build upon innovative experiments during the upcoming summer.

Building on a groundbreaking experiment conducted in December, AFSOC will further develop its Adaptive Airborne Enterprise initiative by expanding the scope of operations.

In the previous experiment, a single drone crew successfully guided three MQ-9 Reapers and even air-launched a smaller Group 2 drone.

The command now plans to replicate the experiment with a larger number of drones and introduce the capability to transfer control to troops on the ground.

This approach is not only changing the landscape of aerial warfare but is redefining the role and preparation of the modern airman.

Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind revealed insights into the evolving tactics at the SOF Week conference.

He stressed the impending necessity of these tactics by stating, “We’re gonna have to break some old paradigms,” acknowledging that automation will play a critical role, with the operator being “a human on the loop, not in the loop.”

The implications of this shift are profound, requiring a cognitive leap from air crews to manage an “epic level of multitasking” while also pondering the ethical and strategic ramifications of increased automation in the battlefield.

AFSOC’s keen interest in Ukrainian forces’ innovative use of 3-D printers to produce drones near frontlines is indicative of the forward-thinking strategy the U.S. military aims to adopt.

However, concerns loom over the ethical use of autonomy to find and hit targets, as seen in Ukraine, with the Pentagon maintaining ethical principles for AI in conflict.

Parallel to these advancements in aerial drone warfare, the Air Force is also revolutionizing its Special Tactics capabilities.

Special reconnaissance (SR) Airmen, born from the evolution of special operations weather teams, are now equipped with a wider set of skills, including cyber and electronic warfare, to address the complexities of modern battlefields against adversaries.

The Air Force’s most recent addition to the special tactics career field, special reconnaissance (SR), undergo training to penetrate enemy territory and collect intelligence on hostile air defenses.

Established special tactics career fields are also experiencing changes as they emphasize skills that have not been frequently utilized during the Global War on Terror (GWOT) over the past two decades.

Relevant articles:
– ‘Swarm pilots’ will need new tactics—and entirely new training methods: Air Force special-ops chief, Defense One
– What’s Next For Air Force Special Tactics?, Air & Space Forces Magazine
– Meet the Air Force’s Newest Commandos: Special Reconnaissance, Air & Space Forces Magazine