Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, Air Force Global Strike Command boss, doesn’t think the new Air Force-Navy Air-Sea Battle concept will have a big impact on how the Air Force employs its B-2 stealth bombers. “Our focus on B-2, obviously, is on its ability to penetrate heavily defended areas. And so I think we would want to use a B-2 where its particular skill set, its particular capabilities, provided you the most leverage,” stated Klotz during a meeting with reporters in Washington, D.C., Tuesday. He was responding to the question whether Air-Sea Battle would mean that the B-2s take on a maritime role. B-52 bombers have long been capable of anti-ship and mine-laying operations and B-2s do deploy to Guam from time to time as part of their non-nuclear duties to support US forces in the water-rich Pacific area of responsibility.
The Pentagon’s fiscal 2026 defense budget, submitted to Congress last week, accelerates the downsizing of the U.S. Air Force. It proposes divesting 340 aircraft, while only acquiring 76. These cuts risk the Air Force’s ability prevail. “Peace through strength” has...
