Air Force cyberwarriors, in an effort to defend the service against computer threats from without, have forged a large number of alliances with like-minded American organizations (see above). Lt. Gen. Robert Elder told AFA’s Eaker Institute that there is “a critical need for partnerships.” One major link connects USAF with the National Security Agency, the ultra-secretive cryptologic and signals intelligence organization at Fort Meade, Md. Elder said USAF had established an air component coordination cell in Washington to work with NSA. The regular Air Force “can’t do it alone,” said Elder. He added, “This is the ultimate team sport.”
The Air Force wants to pump more than $12 billion over the next five years into its new affordable long-range missiles program and recently asked industry to push the flights of some of those munitions beyond 1,200 miles.