$3.7 billion. That's how much the US Air Force proposes to spend over the next five years developing a new, stealthy, long-range, manned bomber likely specifically intended to penetrate Chinese air defences. The plan, included in the Obama administration's 2012 budget, could lead to the production of around 100 new bombers by the mid-2020s—and could significantly tip the Pacific balance of power.
Last week's bomber announcement marked the continued escalation of the arms race between the United States and China. Since early 2010, China has debuted a new stealth fighter prototype (the Chengdu J-20), brought ballistic anti-ship missiles into service and at least temporarily matched the US in sheer number of satellite launches (15). Meanwhile, the United States has deployed long-range spy drones to Guam, test-flown a new carrier-launched drone fighter and begun development of new supersonic anti-ship missiles—all in addition to the new bomber programme.
According to Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Phillip Breedlove, the bomber will comprise the biggest part of a ‘family of systems’ that will also include a non-nuclear ballistic missile plus new munitions for the bomber and two types of stealthy drones that might be controlled from the bomber. The new missiles and planes will be ‘decades ahead’ of what other countries might possess, Breedlove claimed.
The Air Force might also add lethal lasers to the bomber at some point in the future, said Gen. William Fraser, head of Air Combat Command.
The Pentagon's bomber development coincides with the scripting of a new battle plan aimed at preserving US military capabilities in the Pacific. This so-called AirSea Battle plan is meant to help coordinate US Navy and Air Force ships and planes to better defend Taiwan from possible Chinese attack, while also countering Beijing's efforts to expand its influence beyond its territorial waters.
The United States’ current force of some 160 B-1, B-2 and B-52 bombers, armed with guided bombs and missiles, already factors heavily into US Pacific war plans. But of these bombers, only the 20 B-2s have any ability to evade Chinese radars; the B-1s and B-52s could be vulnerable to Chinese fighters and surface-to-air missiles. The new bomber would likely displace some of the B-1s and B-52s and result in a more survivable long-range force.
The US Air Force base on Guam already hosts a rotating detachment of B-52s and B-2s. As the new bomber nears service, the Air Force might install new ‘hardened’ hangars—either buried or armoured—to protect the valuable planes from Chinese ballistic missiles, according to Gen. Gary North, commander of the US Pacific Air Force.
North has hinted at one of the roles the new bombers might play in any future war with China. He said the key to defeating the new J-20 fighter would be to prevent it ever taking off from its mainland bases. Bombers might be used to attack Chinese airfields in the early hours of a conflict.
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meanjoegreen
one more thing if china went to war with the us well there go's there money then they couldent aford any thing yea i know every thing is made in china but it wouldnt hurt if we started to make our own thing like toy's,cloths, even cups an those typs of thing would it really hurt the usa if we did those thing. well tell you all that china does not make good stuff!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I dont think the u.s will ever go to war with china. Now lets just say we went to war with china yea it would be a long………. war and a really hard one but we just have smarter bombs and jets there j20 is a pretty good jet for war. The usa's f22 could beat it in a dog fight in no time an any ways the usa has a hell of a lager navy then china! now the f22 is smaller and smart and i know the saying it all matters who is using the bigger let's just say gun lol yea it really does but the us tranes every day for a war like this typ of one we are or i am talking about. now we have bases all around china yea thats not good one bad thing like a solider get shot and it was one of chinas well that would be a really bad thing lets hope that would never happen cause it would not be good!!! ALL so dont for get that the u.s go's to space alot so there could be all sort of thing going on up there could kill all of china or who ever comes a theart of the u.s yea that is a verey scarry thaoght lol! o yea GO USA GO USA GO USA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tren B
I’d just like to suggest you use proper grammar when being an example of America. Otherwise I’d have to say, love your enthusiasm dude!
RAVINDRA SINGH RAJPUROHIT
TO COUNTER CHINA
ALL COUNTRIES OF SOUTH EAST ASIA SHOULD MAIK A JOINT MILLITARY LIKE NATO. I HAVE MADE A PLANE THUS
SEANTO (SOUTH EAST ASIAN NATION TREATY ORGANIZATION) THIS WILL BE PURE ANTI CHINESE LEAGE, AND MEMBERSHOULD BE ALL ENEMY OF CHINA , ..MOST OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRY OF CHINA , LIKE TAIWAN, SOUTH KOREA, JAPAN, PHILIPINS, VIETNA, SINGARPORE , THAILASND. INDONESHIYA, COMBODIYA,.MANGOLIYA, INDIA, BHUTAN, BURMA, NEPAL. AFGANSTAN, SHRILANKA, MALDIVES, MEDAGASKAR, AUSTRELIA, AND 1st MILITARY GROUP OF FRIENDLY COUNTRY ALL OF NATO. ALL NATO COUNTRY SHOULD SUPPORT TO STOP CHINES IMPERILISION IN FUTURE OTHER WISE LIKE NAZI DURING 2ND WORLD WAR , CHINESE WILL COME ON SAME ROUTE N START OCCUPY ALL NEIGHBOUR COUNTRIES ONE BY ONE N AFTER ALL , CHINESE WILL TURN IN ARABIAN COUNTRIES FOR THEIR THRUST OF FUEL CHINES WILL ATTACK ON IRAN, PAKISTAN, SAUDI ARABIA, IRAQ, KUMAIT, UAE AND ALL OIL PRODUCING COUNTRIES TO BECOMING INDIGINOIS AND SUPER POWERFUL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
RAVINDRA SINGH RAJPUROHIT
CHINESE HAVE MAID ANTI STEALTH RADAR IT MEAN NOW OUR AMCA, PAK FA , F 35., F 22 , J20 ALL R NOW NOT STEALTH BECAUSE CHINESE HAVE SUCCESSSFULLY MADE MORE POWERFUL RADAR WHICH WILL GIVE BIGGER IMAGE ON SCREEN N THUS ALL AIRCRAFT WILL BE IDENTIFIED EASILY NOT ONLY AIRCRAFT BUT ALSO SHIP AND MISSILE CAN BE IDENTIFIED EASILY
Reality
I don’t think China is planning on a full scale war with the U.S, China’s war planning is mostly focused on regional conflicts. As for if the U.S gets involved or not (Taiwan…), it will be pointless to fight the U.S head on, China knows this, so it’s not wasting it’s resources on conventional fighting with the U.S. If the U.S really gets into war with China, the U.S will launch a vast conventional attack on China (U.S is not stupid enough to really use nukes pre-emptively…) and China will use all its resources to fight and protect itself as much as possible, which means China will take some pretty big hits in this scenario. On the other hand, the Chinese will most likely respond by destroying all U.S satellites (military and civilian), agents China planted in the U.S will start a massive cyber-sabotage operation which will likely cripple U.S infrastructure, erased all it’s financial data, Wall Street gets shut down, people’s bank savings are gone (since it’s all computer record nowadays), economies of Europe, Japan, and Asia will all be in severe depression, there will be massive looting and chaos all over the world. So in the end, both China, the U.S, and the rest of the world suffers tremedous losses. And the reason for it all? Because the U.S don’t want Taiwan, or Spartly Islands, or any other small islands to go back to Chinese hands… If most Americans think it’s worth the cause, then there’s nothing else to be said.
ari
I am surprised it took Beijing so long to realise that Washington is no friend. Mr Hu Jintao is a good peace-time President but he is hopeless in a war-time situation like Britain’s Mr Atlee. He keeps appeasing to Washington, to Mr Obama and Mr Bush. And America has declared war on China. her missiles and bombs are all aimed at Chinese people. Thank goodness, Mr Hu’s term is ending. he is unsuitable for Washington’s escalating war with China. Imagine, continuing to lend money to prop up U.S.’s military and economy. Honestly speaking, just how stupid can you get? He just doesn’t seem to know his priority and the big picture. Forget about the economy and opportunity for making money when you are being punched left and rigt and abused verbally and continuosly slandered by U.S. trolls and sockpuppets and its President. I look forward to a more assertive and stronger Chinese leader after Mr Hu, who can lead in a war-time environment.
And just for the stupid Beijing’s leaders’ benefit, collective responsibility does not work in a war-time environment. “Collective leadership” is just an excuse for “collective irresponsibility”. You need real leadership. And only an individual with leadership attributes can do that; like Chairman Mao and his loyal stalwarts. But I expect to be disappointed with Beijing’s “collective leadership” which will continue making stupid mistakes and failing to capitalize on opportunities, and learning through a trial and error basis which is extremely costly for the Chinese people.
As I’ve said, where challenges from the outside world is concerned, Beijing current crop of “leaders” fails very miserably. Chinese people should not have to tolerate their incompetence. The job responsibilty and goals are too important to be afforded such luxury. I hope the leadership in China continues to improve and mr Hu and his team continue to face up to reality and demonstrate courage and defend the dignity of China and the Chinese people militarily when needed and not be brainwashed by the propaganda bullsh*t spouted by everyone with American’s interest at heart. No need to be so apologetic or deferring to those who are not friendly.