RAND Project AIR FORCE Annual Report 2007 - RAND Corporation

RUSSIAMisawa Air BaseMONGOLIAOsan Air BaseNavalAirFacilityAtsugiKunsanAir BaseYokota Air BaseFleet Activities YokosukaMarine Corps Air Station IwakuniFleet Activities SaseboCHINAKadena Air BasePACIFIC OCEANMYANMARTHAILANDVIETNAMPHILIPPINESAndersen Air Force BaseNaval Base Guamas an actual nuclear attack and would consider retaliation in kind to be ajustifiable act of self-defense. In case deterrence fails, however, the UnitedStates should ensure that all its military systems are hardened againstelectromagnetic pulse.Bolster the Capabilities of Allies to Defend Themselves AgainstAttacks by Missiles, Aircraft, or Special OperativesThe United States should help the military and security forces of regionalfriends and allies ensure that they are prepared to defend their airspaceagainst Chinese missiles and aircraft, to counter covert attacks originatingfrom their own territories, and to clear their ports or harbors of mines.U.S. policymakers should openly publicize these steps to reduce thelikelihood that China might undertake actions that would result in aconfrontation with the United States.Map of the “Dragon’s Lair” showingsome portions of the western Pacificthat are most vulnerable to Chineseantiaccess measures. Antiaccessmeasures could severely degrade theability of U.S. forces to operate fromairfields in Okinawa, South Korea,and the main islands of Japan; impedethe deployment of forces to forwardoperating locations; degrade commandand control, early warning, or supplycapabilities; and prevent naval surfaceassets from operating in watersnear China.New or Improved Capabilities Would SignificantlyReduce the Antiaccess ThreatIn addition to mitigating the potential effects of a Chinese antiaccessstrategy using existing means, the United States can further protect itselfby acquiring or improving several important capabilities: Advanced ballistic missile defenses would reduce the ballistic missilethreat to air bases; to C4ISR and logistics facilities; and, if Chinaacquires the capability, to ships at sea. An advanced capability to detect, identify, and attack mobile timesensitivetargets would reduce the ballistic missile threat to air bases;to C4ISR and logistics facilities; and, eventually, to ships at sea. Advanced land-based and advanced shipborne cruise-missile defenseswould reduce the cruise-missile threat to air bases, to C4ISR andlogistics facilities, and to ships at sea.Annual Report 2007 27