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Old 09-24-2019, 09:31 AM
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Arrow We must address the Air Force’s bomber shortage

We must address the Air Force’s bomber shortage
By: Harold Hutchinson - Washington Examiner - 9-24-19
RE: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/o...omber-shortage

At the Air Space Cyber exhibition, Gen. Timothy Ray dropped a bit of a bombshell: He revealed that the Air Force could potentially be facing a bomber shortage.

Ray pegged the state of the Air Force’s fleet of B-1B Lancers as the key issue. These are very capable bombers, which are able to carry as many as 84 500-pound bombs internally. There’s just one big problem: According FlightGlobal.com’s World Air Forces 2019, there are only 59 B-1Bs in service, along with 19 B-2A Spirits and 74 B-52H Stratofortresses.

That’s a total of 152 airframes, but as Ray noted, studies have concluded a force of 225 bombers is needed, indicating that we are currently experiencing a shortage.

Plus, these bombers have a lot on their plate. Not only do they need to handle regular deployments to support our troops in the Middle East, they also have to serve as part of our strategic deterrence. These 152 airframes must also handle training, and some will inevitably be down for maintenance.

The B-1s have been used very hard, and thanks to sequestration and other defense budget cuts, they are pretty worn down. They have been grounded several times for a host of technical problems, and the fleet needs to also pass some major tests to determine how fatigued the airframes are.

According to an Air Force Magazine report, Air Force Chief of Staff David Goldfein put forth cutting the B-1B fleet and accelerating the B-21 program as an option. But all too often, we have seen cuts in the present to fund future systems, only to see the future systems are delayed by the usual problems, or face cuts as well. Even if the Air Force gets the full number of bombers it is seeking, it takes time to work through the problems in any new system.

If the B-1s go, that leaves the Air Force with a grand total of 93 bombers. They will have to do everything from supporting current commitments abroad to continuing the deterrence mission, and will still have to meet training and maintenance requirements. That’s going to be very difficult to do when 40% of the previous force is gone.

So, really, the Air Force would have one of two options.

Either they continue the focus on our missions but cut back maintenance and training, or they can cut back on our commitments. The former would mean we could stand by allies, but it also increases the risks to our troops. Inadequate training and maintenance are a recipe for more accidents that lead to losses of valuable trained personnel and equipment.

The other option, cutting back on commitments, gives the world’s villains like Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khameneni, North Korean Dictator Kim Jong Un, and others more breathing room.

This is not good, because giving the world’s bad guys more breathing room only encourages more aggressive activity, thereby increasing the likelihood of a military conflict — one that would have to be fought with a short-handed Air Force.

How do we avoid that spectacle?

In this case, it is not a question of whether we should upgrade the B-1 force or accelerate the B-21. We should both upgrade and repair the B-1s, and accelerate the B-21.

In addition, restarting the B-1 production line would also help matters. Furthermore, to avoid premature production halts like those of the B-2 and F-22, it would be best to authorize and spend the money for the B-21s and new-build B-1s up front, while keeping the B-52H and B-2 Spirit bombers in service.

Would buying a lot more bombers and training the aircrews needed to operate them be expensive? Yes. But if this larger bomber force can help deter the world’s bad regimes from carrying out all sorts of malign activities and mayhem, and thus avoid a major war, then the blood and treasure saved are well worth spending the cash now.

About this writer: Harold Hutchison is a freelance writer with 15 years of experience covering military issues.
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O Almighty Lord God, who neither slumberest nor sleepest; Protect and assist, we beseech thee, all those who at home or abroad, by land, by sea, or in the air, are serving this country, that they, being armed with thy defence, may be preserved evermore in all perils; and being filled with wisdom and girded with strength, may do their duty to thy honour and glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

"IN GOD WE TRUST"
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