Gates endorses new U.S. bomber project (B-3 'Bingo' Bomber)
7 U# u- F8 [' N" x1 s/ J/ `Posted on 2009年9月17日 3:20:49 by NormsRevenge/ `, }* U a: j, @3 z, u" _
5 x2 ~# [2 y: L3 ?6 x2 jNATIONAL 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. / L0 [4 B- z z! }; S/ C
"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. " I4 _. q6 B/ v, r2 k
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."
5 n! U. G; a. {) RGates 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.
5 D2 x1 v0 D; G! ], R3 r"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.
- H" n4 O) B% R% r: l. X. O" cAs recently as April, Gates pulled the plug on a potential $15 billion effort to build a new bomber to follow the radar-evading B-2, designed by Northrop Grumman Corp in the 1980s. ; n x' ~1 z" f6 `# F# K
"We will not pursue a development program for a follow-on Air Force bomber until we have a better understanding of the need, the requirement, and the technology," Gates said on April 6 while outlining his priorities for the fiscal 2010 defense budget. }4 K8 u. p5 |' A, C0 T" W; i
He said at the time the issue would be examined as part of the Quadrennial Defense Review, the Pentagon's blueprint for the next four years. 4 P2 Y: ?. [# K. M6 i$ 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. |