Gates endorses new U.S. bomber project (B-3 'Bingo' Bomber); X E5 R# v; |4 D8 L, B: b* c
Posted on 2009年9月17日 3:20:49 by NormsRevenge
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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.
8 K. T- G$ j. k5 S! J5 l; ^7 f"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. % S- B* P Q# A4 V" t$ W7 t0 r
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." : E+ j8 ^9 W1 w5 n0 z4 b1 B/ x
Gates 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.
' h# c$ }1 _" t" t! b( t; {5 V4 s/ c"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. + `: J& d& Z/ |& R* C
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.
T8 x" B6 K2 l: E& v1 g"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.
: E! @: A6 V" k% g, ?2 O; R4 lHe 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. 8 M7 S: r7 A7 y3 c( X/ G K1 n
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. |