Orlando, February 19, 2010—Air Force Global Strike Command, which assumed responsibility for the nation’s nuclear-capable bomber force a scant 18 days ago, will be a forceful advocate for long range strike capabilities. So said Lt. Gen. Frank Klotz, AFGSC commander, at AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium. USAF’s newest major command will ensure the small inventory of 76 B-52s and 20 B-2s receives necessary upgrades to remain effective until development of a next-generation LRS aircraft, Klotz said. The general, from an ICBM background himself, offered four predictions that should prove encouraging to bomber advocates. First, there will continue to be a need for LRS capabilities. Second, future systems that can go deep into enemy territory can also perform other missions—and probably will. Third, B-52s and B-2s will remain on active duty until a next-generation system is ready. And finally, as long as nuclear weapons are needed for US security, bombers will represent part of that force.
The Pentagon’s cost estimate for the Iran War has risen to $37.5 billion, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told a congressional committee July 21—and without emergency supplemental funding, the military will have to “curtail” training to cover those costs, he added.