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.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…