Bomber Requirements

This research effort defines bomber force requirements with one eye on national security and military strategy and the other on the future. It attempts to bridge our leadership's void in defining future roles and requirements for the nation's bomber force. Targeted for developers of requirements at Headquarters Air Force and Air Combat Command, this paper distills the lessons of historical bomber operations as well as guidance contained in documents ranging from the National Security Strategy through Air Force Basic Doctrine to define the current roles and capabilities demanded of bombers. The paper then tackles the nature of future conflict and the unique missions and capabilities required by that operating environment. As a capstone, the paper then delineates specific requirements in terms of avionics, weaponry, logistics, and training. This synthesis of requirements forms a modernization roadmap ensuring the responsiveness and viability of the US bomber force in supporting military strategy across the spectrum of future conflict.