The B-21 program will not undertake traditional “block upgrades” to beef up future performance, says Air Force Global Strike Command head Gen. Timothy Ray. Instead, it will incrementally add new capabilities as they become available.
By Theresa Hitchens“It’s ultimately a political decision, and … this demands a strong and fully staffed OSD,” said Mackenzie Eaglen, of the American Enterprise Institute. “That doesn’t seem likely until much later this year.”
By Theresa Hitchens“Certainly, we’re in the in the conversation for the HACM as that gets developed,” Global Strike Command head Gen. Timothy Ray said.
By Theresa Hitchens“It’s really important that we don’t let these issues get swept up in … political transitions between administrations,” warned the head of Air Force Global Strike Command.
By Sydney J. Freedberg Jr.Combatant Commanders for European Command and Indo-Pacific Command see bombers with hypersonic capabilities as “incredibly, incredibly valuable,” says Gen. Timothy Ray.
By Theresa Hitchens“I know we’re not going to be immune from design flaws,” Air Force RCO head Randy Walden said of the B-21 program. “We’re going to have to work through those, and we’re doing some of that today.”
By Theresa HitchensJADC2 is foundational to future hypersonic weapons, says Gen. Ray: “If you don’t have that, you just miss fast.”
By Theresa Hitchens“There is no significant game plan here,” Ray said about the idea of a ‘bomb truck.’ “I just think, why not? You can’t win if you don’t play.”
By Theresa HitchensThe U.S. has 156 bombers today. But the Air Force is committed to boasting 386 squadrons, up 75 from its total today. “Certainly,” Gen. Timothy Ray said, “that means good growth for the bombers.”
By Colin ClarkThe Navy has eight four-stars in its ranks — a number that will stay steady when presumptive CNO Gilday is confirmed and gets his fourth star, and current CNO John Richardson steps down. The Air Force, by contrast has 13 four-star generals.
By Theresa HitchensFinding capable technologists is the key requirement as DoD upgrades NC3, says Gen. Timothy Ray
By Theresa HitchensSo reporters kept pressing Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Chief of Staff David Goldfein for answers to the reasonable question: How will the Air Force afford 74 more squadrons with all the people, planes, satellites, and infrastructure needed to make them useful?
By Colin Clark