Long-range bombers and the role of airpower in the new century

Perhaps the most important set of choices confronted by American defense planners in the post-Cold War era centers on striking a balance in the allocation of scarce defense resources among three overarching objectives: sustaining readiness; bringing on line the next generation of weaponssystems; and maintaining a force structure adequate to meet a range of military contingencies. Each is critically important, as are the relationships linking each to the others. It would be unwise, for example to pay for current operations by foregoing long-term modernisation of weapons needed to counter future threats. At the same time, investing too heavily in increasingly obsolescent 'sunset' technologies at the expense of emerging 'sunrise' technologies-especially those that form the core of what is commonly referred to as the 'revolution in military affairs' could result in a force structure ill-prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Finally, there is no question that poor choices either in maintaining readiness or investing in new systems could render a force capable in some but poorly equipped in others. This study is prompted by all these considerations. that the bombers are reaching the end of their operational lives; the bombers are not adequately looked at;the need to consider more recent breakthroughs to give full operational impact and the need to make a decision promptly to take effective advantage.