An artist rendering shows the first image of a new Northrop Grumman Corp long-range bomber B21 in this image released on February 26, 2016. REUTERS/U.S. AIR FORCE/HANDOUT VIA REUTERS
National Defense: Tough Choices Ahead for B-21 Program
The Air Force wants to beef up its bomber fleet over the next decade. That could be a boon to B-21 Raider manufacturer Northrop Grumman and its industry partners, but it’s unclear whether the initiative will receive sufficient funding.
Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson recently said the service needs 74 more squadrons — including five additional bomber squadrons — by 2030 to carry out the national defense strategy. The proposal was based on the preliminary results of a study that the service is conducting. The final report will be delivered to Congress in March.
“Right now we have not got the exact mix of [aircraft] tails,” Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein told reporters during a roundtable. “Part of that dialogue will be the costing out the number of tails, the number of pilots, the number of maintainers. And so that’s work that is still to be done.”
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WNU Editor: It all comes down to money. And if the Democrats control Congress, I doubt that the Air Force is going to get what they want.
6 comments:
The US should make up their mind. War with China or not? If war is likely, or you believe war can be avoided through superiority, then go for the spending hike. If you don't believe war is a possibility, then don't.
My take: war with China is absolutely possible and there's many signs supporting this claim.
- China is a known human rights violator running multiple torture camps and concentration camps. The latest 1 million strong concentration camp doesn't surprise anyone nor cause major outrage. Why? Chinese just do that stuff and we get along with it
- China has shown extreme militarisation over last 20 years. The militarisation of the South China Sea, incl building of artificial island military bases is just part of it. Beating up fishermen in contested waters just the normal Chinese day. Almost ramming a US warship on purpose in those waters just Chinese doing Chinese stuff
- threatening several neighbours including Vietnam and India with war
- swearing in of Chinese army directly to Xi last year who became emperor for life at same time and told his troops "to prepare for war and not to fear death"
- reeducation of not just dissidents but of entire population while blocking information coming in that disputes party narrative - great firewall of China now using AI to filter.
...so yeah. I'd prepare for a major war and quickly
If we have a war with China, there will never be any liberals left.
Tempted.
74 more squadrons!? Ok maybe we need more but we'll never get this many pilots. What I see are planes that have squadrons of UAVs under control of a single pilot either near or remote.
As far as going my to war with China; we should strategically put them in a position to strike allowing us reason to strike back hard and get it over with sooner. Waiting will only make it worse.
If you remotely pilot, you have a link that can be hacked.
If you make the drones autonomous, sooner or later you will have to give them citizenship rights.
Liberals will not be amused.
Citizen drones.
Good one!
Roger,
I was being serious.
When you have something has human intelligence or better, you had better give it citizenship.
Now suppose it had better than human intelligence. Do you think it will go for poor governance?
If give an AI serious responsibility. I seriously doubt that it would be wise to piss it off.
Psychology is about to hot up.
If you make a smarter missile or torpedo, you had better make sure it stays lobotomized.
Citizen drones was a good one and you came up with it. It think they are already here. They get bussed to polling stations.
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