Gates endorses new U.S. bomber project (B-3 'Bingo' Bomber)
# l$ v2 v7 K! i: cPosted on 2009年9月17日 3:20:49 by NormsRevenge# M, D, V* K2 ?+ U/ }) Z
* C! K4 C' P2 x) k) }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. / a' `0 i" I$ R5 d+ U
"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.
3 b1 O1 W; C5 Y8 A$ |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." ; Z: j. X! z p. `) @
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. ; E: |* `# A; a* U* G3 }
"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. + E( ~5 @( M8 Q) V
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.
4 m# e0 a+ E3 _- C& O9 G7 \3 n"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.
. J* @* k' W, i' u2 ?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. . J: p8 ?5 q( H3 I
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. |