Uncrewed AEW and procurement between peace and war

Future carrier AEW is expected to use uncrewed aircraft, although whether those aircraft will be rotary-wing or fixed-wing remains open. Their form will determine how carriers must adapt to operate them. Existing helicopter AEW remains worth having despite the advantages of fixed-wing warning and control aircraft. A scene in The West Wing supplies a fictional comparison for the wider planning problem: Admiral Fitzwallace can no longer tell when it is peace or war. The historical argument is that persistent conflict and uncertain boundaries between peace and war were normal for much of human history. The apparent neatness of the Cold War and its aftermath encouraged expectations of clearly separated conditions. Peacetime procurement habits now conflict with continuing demands to respond to crises, deter fighting, and manage or end conflicts.