In line with recent changes implemented by the Pentagon regarding its strategy toward China, the new U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, has ordered the Air Force to pause its reorganization plans under the program known as “Reoptimization for Great Power Competition.” Among the most notable aspects of this program—now put on hold—was the work of the newly created Integrated Capabilities Command, an entity responsible for planning and overseeing the development of new platforms to be incorporated into the force.
The news was confirmed to U.S. defense media by a spokesperson for the Department of the Air Force, who stated: “On February 6, the Secretary of Defense directed the Department of the Air Force to pause all planning actions related to its Reoptimization for Great Power Competition efforts. The pause in planning remains in effect until a Senate-confirmed Secretary and Under Secretary of the Air Force are in place and have had the opportunity to review the initiatives.”
It is worth noting that this order to pause the Air Force’s major reorganization plans would put the 24 objectives outlined in the program under strict review. The program was initially announced in 2024 by then-Secretary of the Air Force, Frank Kendall. At the time, Air Force leadership expressed that the Department was not adequately prepared to deter or, if necessary, counter the threat posed by China, necessitating a new plan to adapt to current needs.
Among the key developments of this initiative, the already mentioned Integrated Capabilities Command was established as the Air Force’s primary response. Additionally, the service ordered an increase in the scale and frequency of training exercises in the Pacific. Other measures included improvements in professional training processes for future personnel, already underway with the establishment of the new Noncommissioned Officer Training School, which has already graduated its first class. Furthermore, officer training programs were modified to include courses on cyber, intelligence, and space operations.
Regarding some of these initiatives, the spokesperson stated that the suspension ordered by Secretary Hegseth does not necessarily mean they will be reversed. For instance, the plans to conduct the large-scale exercise Resolute Force Pacific, involving more than 300 aircraft, remain intact. However, other aspects of the reorganization remain uncertain.
Following this, the future of the Integrated Capabilities Command remains unclear, despite its original goal of achieving full operational capability this year. Additionally, the reorganization plans for the Air Force Materiel Command have been halted. These plans included new “systems centers,” such as the proposed Information Domain Systems Center and the Nuclear Systems Center—both still in the planning phase. Another uncertain aspect is the restructuring of the Air Education and Training Command into the new Aviator Development Command, which would entail an overhaul of training methods and resources.
For now, given the logic of suspending these efforts until new Air Force leadership is confirmed, the outlook for a rapid resumption of these processes appears bleak. It is worth mentioning that filling vacancies in the U.S. Department of Defense requires 63 new appointments, yet the new administration has only presented 14 candidates so far. Among them are Troy E. Meink, the potential new Secretary of the Air Force, and his prospective Under Secretary, Matthew Lohmeier. Like the other 12 nominees, they await approval from the Senate Armed Services Committee and subsequent confirmation by the full Senate, though no hearings have been scheduled yet.
Meanwhile, it is notable that China—the key adversary targeted in the U.S. Air Force’s reorganization efforts—continues making steady progress in modernizing its training programs and acquiring new equipment. As reported in November, the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) recently updated its pilot training programs to shorten graduation timelines. It has also advanced the introduction of fourth-generation Hongdu JL-10 trainer aircraft, significantly upgrading capabilities compared to the older Soviet-designed MiG-21 trainers.
In addition to these efforts, the PLAAF is moving at what U.S. officials describe as an “incredibly fast” pace (according to Andrew Hunter, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics) in developing its next-generation fighter jet. Some analysts suggest that China could even surpass the U.S. in the race to field a sixth-generation combat aircraft. Two notable test flights were observed in December 2024, with one suspected to be a stealth strike fighter seen flying over Chengdu Aircraft Corporation facilities and another similar aircraft spotted over Shenyang facilities.
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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