Combat Rescue - Pararescue

The Combat Rescue - Pararescue program, specifically the Guardian Angel (GA) Family of Systems (FoS), is a crucial component of the Air Force's Special Warfare Modernization initiative. This program aims to enhance the capabilities of Air Force Personnel Recovery operations across various military scenarios. The GA FoS is employed by Pararescuemen, Combat Rescue Officers, and Survival, Evasion, Resistance, Escape specialists. It covers nine critical mission areas, including Precision Aerial Insertion, Information Management, and Maritime Recovery. The primary objective is to maintain existing capabilities while modernizing subsystems to improve mission effectiveness.

To achieve these goals, the program focuses on significant advancements in operational capabilities through research and development efforts. Improvements are targeted in areas such as Maritime Recovery and Ground Mobility, along with enhancements in Visual Augmentation technologies like night vision and augmented reality. The program also supports innovation through technology demonstrations and prototypes to facilitate technology insertion into the GA system. These efforts align with the Secretary of the Air Force's Operational Imperatives and emphasize logistics mobility both on land and water.

The Guardian Angel program involves comprehensive studies, analysis, requirements development, and developmental testing to support current and future planning. A key objective is to deliver enhanced capabilities for Guardian Angel Operators by reducing equipment weight and increasing mission effectiveness across various conflict scenarios. Additionally, resources support potential solutions for diminishing manufacturing sources and obsolescence issues, ensuring continued operational readiness.

Furthermore, the program includes necessary civilian pay expenses for managing and executing the Guardian Angel weapon system capabilities. This financial support complements other related elements within the Air Force's structure. The acquisition strategy for Guardian Angel involves an incremental evolutionary approach to meet immediate warfighter needs while addressing future requirements through subsystem development and integration.