Senior Air Force leaders gathered for the semiannual CORONA conference to make decisions aimed at strengthening readiness, modernizing the force and preparing Airmen to prevail in future conflict, Sept. 29 through Oct. 3.
CORONA originated in February 1944 at Maxwell Field, during a meeting hosted by Gen. Henry H. "Hap" Arnold that was later recognized as the first CORONA gathering. Formalized by Gen. Curtis LeMay in 1961, CORONA remains an established recurring forum for Air Force senior leaders to assess readiness, align priorities, and make decisions shaping the service's future. This marked the third CORONA of Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ken Wilsbach's tenure.
"CORONA provides a unique opportunity to bring our senior leaders together to make difficult decisions for the Air Force," said Wilsbach. "We are focused on moving with purpose to ensure our Air Force remains ready today and modernized for the future."
Growing the force for readiness
Leaders approved a "wartime sufficiency first" approach for force-management processes and systems. The approach prioritizes the personnel and capability required to generate, sustain and employ forces during high-end conflict.
The decision establishes a regular review of wartime sufficiency across the enterprise and directs the establishment and enforcement of manpower floors across the service.
The Chief of Staff of the Air Force will direct those floors to reduce risk at the enterprise level. The floors provide a service-level baseline for ensuring units have the manpower required to meet wartime demands.
The objective is to ensure the Air Force has the right mix of trained and ready Airmen to win in potential future conflict.
Designing the force for the future
To align modernization efforts with future operational requirements, Gen Wilsbach approved the USAF Force Design 2026, a force design intended to create unity of purpose and effort across the service. The design will support the National Defense Strategy, preserving the Air Force's ability to deliver its core functions.
To strengthen accountability for modernization, Portfolio Acquisition Executives will serve as single points of responsibility for the acquisition of new platforms. This structure will help connect operational requirements, force design and acquisition execution while the Air Force works with Congress and industry partners to deliver future capabilities.
Fighter roadmap and Collaborative Combat Aircraft
As the Air Force integrates Collaborative Combat Aircraft into its future fighter force, the service will assess how crewed and uncrewed platforms should be accounted for in force-structure planning. CCAs will provide additional options for sensing, survivability and combat employment alongside crewed aircraft.
To ensure future force measures accurately reflect combat capability, the Air Force will continue working with Congress on the statutory framework governing tactical fighter aircraft. The discussion will consider how uncrewed systems factor into future force capacity as the service modernizes its fighter inventory.
The decisions and discussions at CORONA reflect the Air Force's continued focus on building a force that is ready now, resilient in conflict and capable of delivering decisive combat power in the future.
"Readiness is built through the choices we make now-how we organize, train, equip and care for our Airmen," Wilsbach said. "CORONA gives us the opportunity to make decisions together and ensure the force we build is prepared for what comes next."
