It is the term the Air Force has given its pursuit of a next-generation bomber. The idea is to be able to hit targets anywhere in the world within one hour of the go order and to obtain this capability by 2020. USAF has requested concepts from industry, saying it wants to “strike globally, precisely and rapidly with kinetic effects against high payoff, time-sensitive targets … regardless of forward presence and anti-access threats with no warning or unambiguous warning.” And, the request for information goes on to say the Air Force is looking for a “first generation” system—meaning, it’s not going for the whole enchilada at once. The service also wants to keep the program in the “white”—unclassified—world. It also does not want to have the new PGS use directed energy to achieve kinetic effects.
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.