Research on the Large-Scale Development of Non-Kinetic Capability Integration in the Information Age

Key Chapter Title List

1. Introduction
2. Operation Fortitude: A Case Study in the Scaled Integration of Non-Kinetic Capabilities
3. Modern Doctrine and Non-Kinetic Capability Integration
4. Conceptualizing Operations in the Information Environment
5. Other Influencing Factors for Non-Kinetic Capability Integration and Scaling
6. Non-Kinetic Capability Integration at the Scale of Pacing Threats
7. The Role of Emerging Technologies in the Scaled Integration of Non-Kinetic Capabilities
8. Conclusions and Recommendations

Document Introduction

In the highly interconnected information age, adversaries' capabilities to acquire data, conduct analysis, and make decisions continue to improve, significantly amplifying the speed, reach, and lethality of military operations. For the U.S. Department of the Air Force (DAF), effectively employing non-kinetic capabilities has become a core requirement for shaping advantages and achieving operational objectives in great power competition and potential future conflicts. How to achieve the scaled integration of such capabilities is a key challenge currently faced.

This report uses the "Doctrine, Organization, Training, Materiel, Leadership and education, Personnel, and Facilities" (DOTMLPF) framework for analysis, focusing on the challenges of scaling non-kinetic capabilities in competitive and conflict scenarios. The research covers core non-kinetic domains such as cyberspace, the electromagnetic spectrum, and information operations. It systematically analyzes key bottlenecks in the integration process through a multi-dimensional approach, including core issues such as a lack of doctrinal guidance, insufficient personnel allocation, lagging training systems, and inadequate technology application.

To ensure the depth and empirical nature of the research, the report employs a variety of analytical methods: reviewing joint and Air Force doctrine and policy, conducting semi-structured interviews with operational experts in fields such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), electromagnetic spectrum operations, and cyberspace operations, performing a historical case study of the World War II "Operation Fortitude," analyzing Air Force personnel data, and organizing tabletop exercises with RAND experts and active-duty military research fellows. Furthermore, ongoing dialogues from 2022 to 2024 with the non-kinetic community, particularly the electromagnetic spectrum operations community, have further validated the effectiveness of the research findings.

Key findings of the report include: historical successful cases like Operation Fortitude demonstrate that a small number of non-kinetic forces can produce significant strategic effects through precise planning; currently, personnel related to information warfare in the Air Force account for less than 1% of the total force, making it difficult to support scaled operations in the global information environment; the lack of standardized risk assessment methods, doctrinal guidance, and terminology systems hinders the deep integration of non-kinetic and kinetic capabilities; technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning provide important pathways to address personnel shortfalls and optimize command and control processes.

Based on the research findings, the report proposes targeted recommendations across the seven dimensions of the DOTMLPF framework. These include developing standard tactics, techniques, and procedures for non-kinetic integration; expanding the scale and training coverage of relevant personnel; investing in technologies and facilities required for operations in the information environment; and establishing non-kinetic integration leads at various levels. These provide a systematic solution for the U.S. Air Force to enhance the scaled application of non-kinetic capabilities and address the challenges of great power competition.