Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
1/30/2015
The Congressional Long-Range Strike Caucus gathered on Capitol Hill on Jan. 27 to rally support for modernization of the B-52, B-2, and B-1 bombers, and for manufacturing the Long-Range Strike Bomber as Air Force experts have recently suggested that the Future Years Defense Plan indicates the LRSB is reaching the end of its research and development phase, according to national lawmakers. Speaking at a breakfast hosted at the Rayburn House Office Building by the advocacy group the Bomber Support Community, House Delegate Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam), who co-chairs the Long-Range Strike Caucus alongside Rep. John Fleming (R-La.), said the caucus expects in Fiscal Year 2017 a significant funding increase for the LRSB over the President’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget request slated to be released next week.
She also expressed concern that the most difficult element of funding the long-range strike bomber could be its nuclear capacity. “One of the main challenges that I foresee in the coming year is the discussion about the next-gen bomber’s role in the nuclear triad,” said Bordallo, whose district includes Andersen Air Force Base, which houses a rotation of B-52s and B-2s. “We know that the next-gen bomber will be designed to be nuclear-capable, but certification will take some time.”
Conventional, Radar Capabilities Emphasized
Bordallo said bombers have provided conventional close air support in Afghanistan and Iraq, and underscored the importance of the LRSB’s conventional capabilities in an anti-access area denial environments. “We cannot let the conventional versus strategic capabilities of the aircraft cloud the broader need for this new capability,” she said. Bordallo and Fleming both highlighted the recent CONECT communications system upgrades in the B-52, which bring modern digital data, voice and communications capabilities to the airplane, but both also cited the need to modernize the aircraft’s radar system. “We’ve been focused on the much-needed radar replacement for the B-52,” Fleming said. “The current radar was produced again in the 1960s, and is no longer supportable.”
B-52s Fighting in ‘Unthinkable’ Role
Fleming joined a chorus of Air Force officials in advancing the cause of updating older bombers, claiming that aging bombers, namely the 50-year-old B-52, could potentially disadvantage the U.S. during wars. “Just think if we fought in Vietnam with the weaponry from World War I. That would be unthinkable, but that’s precisely what we’re doing today with B-52s, and yet they’re up to the task,” said Fleming, whose district includes Barksdale AFB, headquarters of Global Strike Command. “I’m sure they have plenty of tubes and things that go back to the old TV sets in the 1950s. So these are things that must be upgraded and we’re in the process of doing that.” Fleming pledged to work to “put money back into sequestration,” and decried that lawmakers put national security on the table in budget negotiations. He added he would support a recommendation of the Schlesinger Commission to build a gravity bomb depot at Barksdale AFB. “It makes no sense to have nuclear-certified B-52s in various locations, but have all the weapons in one location,” he said. “That’s a definite signal to a potential enemy that if we start flying aircraft in and out, that we’re loading up for some action.” B61 warheads are housed at Minot and Whiteman AFBs, but B-52s are co-located with the bombs only at Minot. Whiteman AFB houses B-2s.
Caucus member Rep. Vicki Hartzler (R-Mo.) called the 1980s procurement of 20 B-2s—and not more—a “mistake” and said her meetings with industry and the Air Force have shown that the organizations are on board in moving forward with the planned purchase of 80 to 100 units. LRSBs are estimated to cost $550 million per aircraft. Hartzler also joined Bordallo in underscoring the conventional role of bombers. “As [Bordallo] mentioned earlier, of course we flew [B-2s] over Korea last year, and sent a strong statement that we’re serious here in America about freedom,” she said. “It is truly the symbol of valor for our country. And that has been said by so many, and I think it’s true. When the B-2 shows up, it’s a sign that we are here and we are going to stand by our friends, that we are going to stand strong for freedom.”
