Warplanes: October 10, 2000

Archives

rest of the building.--Stephen V Cole

Facing the reality of not enough air transports or fast ships to get many ground troops to a future hot spot, the Pentagon has come up with a strategy using what is available. The air force has bombers (B-52s and B-2s) and the navy usually has carriers, and a battalion or two of marines, in the neighborhood. These can be on the scene with bombs within 24 hours (or less.) There are also over a dozen reconnaissance satellites that can be moved to the trouble spot to obtain more information on what the hostiles are up to. The army also has commandoes (Special Forces, Rangers and the like) who can be put on the ground in a day or two. The lightly armed ground troops would serve mainly to spot targets for the bombers. The army has a division of paratroopers who could be on the scene within a week (if the Air Force was able to scrounge up the transports.) The bombers would be using smart bombs, so there would be considerable bang for the buck. The new concept is called "Global Reconnaissance Strike." Not very good for peacekeeping, but if you want to perform the traditional "kill people and break things" mission, it could

 


Article Archive

Warplanes: Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 


X

ad
0
20

Help Keep Us Soaring

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month.

Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage. A contribution is not a donation that you can deduct at tax time, but a form of crowdfunding. We store none of your information when you contribute..
Subscribe   Contribute   Close