Joseph K. Michalek
Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2011–2012
Experience
Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2011–2012
June 2012
"The Need for the Next Special Operations Forces' Mobility Aircraft"
Paper
By Joseph K. Michalek, Former Research Fellow, International Security Program, 2011–2012
The proliferation of threat systems and Anti-Access, Area Denial (A2/AD) strategies make performing special operations forces' (SOF) air mobility missions increasingly complicated and limit the capability to defeat air defenses and penetrate into denied airspace. Combined with an aging inventory, ill suited to evading these threats, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) and the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) must look to technology to defeat the more modern threat systems and anti-access strategies. The best answer to penetrate future, denied regions is in stealth or low observable (LO) technology.
