Gates endorses new U.S. bomber project (B-3 'Bingo' Bomber)3 J( I- Z P6 H
Posted on 2009年9月17日 3:20:49 by NormsRevenge) l5 y1 S4 {7 j% d: |0 B1 v1 U
4 q; O/ B& }6 `NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland (Reuters) – Defense Secretary Robert Gates threw his support on Wednesday behind an on-again, off-again plan to develop a new long-range U.S. bomber, citing the military modernization of China. / x$ k# t& |2 G
"I am committed to seeing the United States has an airborne long-range strike capability," Gates said at an annual conference of the U.S. Air Force Association, an advocacy group. * Q" P1 ^2 p, i& ]7 f6 H0 F
He said the United States should be less concerned with a toe-to-toe challenge from "countries like China" and "more concerned with their ability to disrupt our freedom of movement and narrow our strategic options."
& Q0 k! |" l% I6 z3 @0 N% O5 tGates referred to investments that "could threaten America's primary way to project power and help allies in the Pacific - in particular our forward air bases and carrier strike groups." He cited the threat from cyber- and anti-satellite warfare, anti-air and anti-ship weaponry as well as ballistic missiles.
' Q. Z4 X; K: G6 L. W8 x5 ~' ^7 {9 g"This would degrade the effectiveness of short-range fighters and put more of a premium on being able to strike from over the horizon - whatever form that capability might take," Gates said. + T1 @2 V4 Q p
As recently as April, Gates pulled the plug on a potential $15 billion effort to build a new bomber to follow the radar-evading B-2, designed by Northrop Grumman Corp in the 1980s. 6 |% O; d7 L* I5 w$ o0 U K
"We will not pursue a development program for a follow-on Air Force bomber until we have a better understanding of the need, the requirement, and the technology," Gates said on April 6 while outlining his priorities for the fiscal 2010 defense budget.
5 s+ h' t2 y( s6 `He said at the time the issue would be examined as part of the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Pentagon's blueprint for the next four years. 4 K- C7 N8 L/ d& p
In endorsing a follow-on bomber on Wednesday, "a prospective B-3, if you will," Gates noted the congressionally mandated review was still under way. |