U.S. Air Force unveils 2026 plan to sustain combat operations when key systems are disrupted

The US Air Force published Force Design 2026, a planning document describing how aircraft, weapons, sensors and command systems should operate together when parts of the force are disrupted. Building on One Force Design 2024, the document emphasizes connected operations, distributed combat power, human-directed autonomy and information systems able to function in contested communications environments. The service identifies long-range weapons, electronic warfare and new sensing and networking technologies as factors shaping its future aircraft and support requirements. The release establishes modernization priorities and force-design concepts, not a new equipment contract, fixed procurement quantity or immediate activation of a particular combat unit.