Improving Standoff Bombing Capacity in the Face of Anti-Access Area Denial Threats
Journal: RAND Corporation eBooks
Year: 2015

The current United States Air Force (USAF) bomber force is comprised of aging, nonstealthy B-1 and B-52 aircraft along with a small fleet of stealthy B-2s. In an advanced antiaccess/area denial (A2/AD) environment, these aircraft may be forced to operate at a standoff range with long-range cruise missiles due to enemy air defenses. In some cases the demand for cruise missiles may exceed the rate at which the bomber fleet can supply them. It may be necessary to procure new aircraft and develop an