The Air Force’s next-generation bomber must be capable of strategic deterrence as well as precision strike, said retired Gen. John Corley, former Air Combat Command boss. Contrasted with historical stealth, “for this bomber to have value, it’s got to have a visible deterrent demonstration capacity capability to it,” said Corley, speaking on a Washington Security Forum panel discussion on the future bomber on Tuesday in Washington, D.C. “For the US to be able to deter . . . adversaries and also reassure allies around the planet, it’s going to demand . . . operational capability,” he asserted, stressing that design requirements flow from strategic intent. Equally important is the need for conventional “global precision attack” to be able to “strike rapidly and persistently and create decisive effects,” maintaining the advantage that the United States has traditionally enjoyed, added Corley.
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Texas Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Wing crashed during a training mission in Michigan on Sept. 17. The fighter's sole pilot ejected and is in stable condition at a local hospital.
