Gates endorses new U.S. bomber project (B-3 'Bingo' Bomber)
6 w) |6 G7 {; IPosted on 2009年9月17日 3:20:49 by NormsRevenge- d4 P5 ^: S/ } f
: {% x/ ?4 `6 \" wNATIONAL 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. + C; M9 V1 h0 U, L) A
"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. / v9 e/ q6 \" p' J! Q2 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." - M2 ~$ p! { g, b1 C- ]
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.
4 ]- Q) _2 o8 N, 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. + w3 W. S b) f% U
As recently as April, Gates pulled the plug on a potential $15 billion effort to build a new bomber to follow the radar-evading B-2, designed by Northrop Grumman Corp in the 1980s.
0 K3 H3 x& Y4 K; K8 B; k. E$ [3 l- J1 P"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.
8 P/ D U [0 t: T, i% H# C* QHe 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.
& ~( V h9 P/ WIn endorsing a follow-on bomber on Wednesday, "a prospective B-3, if you will," Gates noted the congressionally mandated review was still under way. |