The Pentagon’s QDR report (here), released Feb. 3, dramatically elevates long-range strike aircraft over fighters. The section “Joint Air Capabilities” says US airpower “must be reoriented” to emphasize “systems that have far greater range and persistence; larger and more flexible payloads … and the ability to penetrate and sustain operations in denied areas.” These systems should be able to swiftly attack “thousands of fixed and mobile targets at global ranges,” says the report.” The QDR says nothing comparable—in fact, almost nothing at all—about fighters such as the F-22 and F-35.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall doesn’t see great value in trying to break the Sentinel ICBM program off as a separate budget item the way the Navy has with its ballistic-missile submarine program, saying such a move wouldn’t create any new money for the Air Force to spend on other…