Especially in light of the New START arms reduction treaty, the Air Force—with stewardship of both ICBMs and nuclear bombers—must continually underscore the need to sustain the nuclear Triad. “As we implement New START and reduce the number of deployed warheads the importance of the triad increases,” said Lt. Gen. James Kowalski, Air Force Global Strike command boss. “Technical problems or operational vulnerabilities may place an unsustainable burden on the remaining force … when that element makes up half or more of our deterrent,” highlighted Kowalski, emphasizing the importance of nuclear diversification. “Our Triad is not redundant, it is complementary and provides options and flexibility against an uncertain future,” he said addressing AFA’s Air & Space Conference, Tuesday afternoon. While ICBMs are responsive and “vulnerable only to direct nuclear attack,” bombers are flexible, providing an escalating range of “options to demonstrate resolve and reassure allies,” he added.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. still “believes” in his mantra of “Accelerate Change or Lose”—and indicated the doctrinal changes it produced when he was Air Force Chief of Staff played a role in the service’s recent response to Iran’s aerial assault on Israel, he…