Big USAF B-21 fleet essential for great power conflict: think tank
By Greg Waldron22 June 2020
Long-range stealth bombers are the most effective and least costly method for the US Air Force (USAF) to strike targets deep in China and Russia, according to a recent report by the Mitchell Institute.
The report, authored by former USAF bomber pilot Mark Gunzinger, stresses that the large number of target sets and deep interiors of the two potential rivals cannot be effectively addressed with expensive long-range, stand-off weapons such as cruise missiles.
Penetrating vs stand off
The report also stresses that the USAF’s bomber mix is heavily weighted in favour of stand-off strike, given that it is dominated by the Boeing B-52 and B-1. Neither type would be able to penetrate the integrated air defence systems of the two rivals, it says.
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/big-usaf-b-21-fleet-essential-for-great-power-conflict-think-tank/138952.article
