Shaping the Future of Airpower: Air Force Requirements Transformation Industry Day

Why It Matters

Accelerating the requirements process shortens the gap between emerging threats and fielded capabilities, strengthening the Air Force’s warfighting edge and driving industry innovation.

Key Takeaways

• Air Force overhauls requirements process per Secretary of War memo
• 350 industry leaders participated in virtual transformation day
• Early industry engagement aims to accelerate capability delivery
• Data‑centric tools highlighted in Collaborative Combat Aircraft program
• Reforms target faster, collaborative warfighter solutions

Pulse Analysis

The Air Force’s push to revamp its requirements framework reflects a broader defense shift toward rapid, data‑centric acquisition. By mandating faster validation of needs, the service hopes to cut years off traditional development cycles, allowing emerging technologies—such as autonomous platforms and AI‑enabled sensors—to reach pilots sooner. This transformation aligns with the Department of Defense’s emphasis on agility, where iterative feedback loops replace static, hierarchical reviews, fostering a culture of continuous improvement across the acquisition enterprise.

Industry participation is central to the new model. The virtual industry day gathered a cross‑section of suppliers, giving them a direct voice in shaping requirement definitions and evaluation criteria. Early collaboration reduces the risk of costly redesigns, as contractors can align their research and development roadmaps with real‑time warfighter input. Programs like the Collaborative Combat Aircraft illustrate how joint workshops and shared data repositories can streamline design trade‑offs, delivering affordable, mission‑ready aircraft faster than legacy processes allowed.

Looking ahead, the Air Force’s reforms promise a more responsive supply chain capable of adapting to volatile geopolitical landscapes. By embedding continuous operator feedback and leveraging advanced analytics, the service can prioritize capabilities that address immediate threats while maintaining a pipeline for future innovations. This agile approach not only enhances combat readiness but also creates a competitive environment for defense firms, encouraging investment in cutting‑edge solutions that meet the evolving demands of tomorrow’s airpower.

Shaping the future of airpower: Air Force requirements transformation industry day

Published January 29, 2026

The United States Air Force hosted industry partners on Jan. 29, 2026, as part of its effort to transform the Requirements Process under the Secretary of War’s mandates that each service overhaul the requirements and acquisition systems.

The event, held virtually by Lt. Gen. Dave Harris, deputy chief of staff for Strategy, Integration and Requirements (A5/7), brought together approximately 350 defense‑industry leaders—from globally recognized corporations to smaller specialized firms—all united in a common mission: to shape the future of airpower.

The session provided a forum for collective review of the Air Force’s Requirements Reform initiative, aimed at streamlining and accelerating the delivery of critical capabilities to the warfighter.

“We have been given the opportunity to build something better: a faster, more collaborative, and more effective path from concept to capability,” Harris said. “Partnering with industry early and often is essential to accelerating the development and delivery of mission‑critical capabilities.”

The Secretary of War’s memo “Reforming the Joint Requirements Process to Accelerate Fielding of Warfighting Capability” directs services to validate requirements faster by responding more nimbly to evolving operational needs.

The event afforded industry a voice, ensuring open communication intended to drive future efficiencies as the Air Force unpacks a hierarchical and limited requirements process.

Following the initial reform overview, industry representatives engaged in panel discussions with A5/7 leadership, acquisition officers, and decision‑makers. Conversations were designed to gather ideas and solutions from industry to make the requirements process faster.

“We need a narrative underpinned by contextualized data and common lexicons that brings continuous operator feedback into requirements and capability development,” said Retired Lt. Gen. Lance Landrum, strategic advisor for RCG, Inc.

Ongoing Air Force efforts—including the Collaborative Combat Aircraft and the Family of Affordable Mass Munitions—were used in panels as examples of where the Air Force has tried a more streamlined and responsive requirements process and succeeded.

Event participants discussed challenges and opportunities faced by both the Air Force and industry partners in these efforts. The event encouraged process‑improvement recommendations to ensure reforms are both effective and mutually beneficial.

With the Air Force’s shift toward data‑centric tools and a more agile requirements process, the event underscored the need for a holistic approach that incorporates input from across the defense ecosystem.

Industry partners and allies can expect more opportunities for engagement as the Air Force continues refining its requirements process—ensuring solutions are innovative, interoperable, and ready for the demands of tomorrow’s combat environments.