The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, a defense think tank, held a Capitol Hill seminar on Nov. 10 (DR, 11/11/05). One glow-in-the dark CSBA recommendation was that the Air Force should reduce spending on fighters in favor of other systems, including long-range bombers. CSBA’s Michael Vickes noted that USAF’s fleet comprises mostly nonstealthy B-52 and B-1B aircraft. He produced this graphic (click to enlarge). Note, however, that the chart begins in 1999. That leaves out the heavy investment in the B-2 and B-1B bombers in the 1980s and 1990s. Also, the sand chart includes Navy as well as Air Force fighters. Distorts the case a little bit.
Lt. Gen. Stephen L. Davis, the Department of the Air Force’s top internal watchdog, has been nominated to lead Air Force Global Strike Command, which oversees the service’s bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles.