The Long Range Strike program, a Quadrennial Defense Review-mandated new bomber-like capability, will slip per the budget to be released today, but “less than 12 months, more than six,” a senior USAF official told reporters Friday on background. He said the change will give the service a little breathing room to help it complete various trade studies to determine just what kind of system—missiles, a bomber, an orbital strike system, or whatever—is best to meet the aggressive timetable. The QDR set a 2018 deadline.
Air Force depots are not typically meant for quick repair jobs, but during Operation Epic Fury, the service moved some of its stateside heavy maintenance capability forward to fix battle-damaged aircraft closer to the fight.
