Options for Enhancing the Bomber Force
Abstract
The United States is in the process of modernizing its heavy bombers and weapons stocks so that they can be more useful in conventional conflicts. With those improvements, bombers could fly combat missions directly from the United States while other forces rushed to the region. That capability makes them attractive to a U.S. military that is smaller and based mostly at home. Debate rages about whether the planned bomber force has adequate capabilities and what, if anything, should be done to improve it. This Congressional Budget Office (CBO) paper analyzes the costs and capabilities of the Administration's planned bomber force. It also examines four options that would enhance capability in different ways: making the force larger by buying 20 more B-2s or by keeping all 94 B-52Hs, or improving the force by adding weapons and mission-planning systems or by stockpiling spare parts and equipment at bases near the Persian Gulf and Korea. This analysis was requested by the Chairman of the House Budget Committee.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1995
- Accession Number
- ADA474741
Entities
People
- David Mosher
Organizations
- Congressional Budget Office