The Need for Speed

Transformation to the next level of technology is a pressing issue for the Air Force's strategic planers. Just how much of a leap in technology do engineers try to take when designing a new system? The answer depends if new discoveries have increased the technology available when they design a new system. However, it makes little sense to build new equipment that does not provide an improved capability or a more reliable system. That being said, the next long-range strike platform could take that technological leap and be a very fast near-space vehicle. Past events, such as the 2004 X-43 launch, show that technological progress is occurring on critical hypersonic components. While this is not a paper on the technology per se, it covers the implications of building and operating a "hypersonic" bomber force. This paper addresses the question of whether or not the hypersonic bomber is worth the required investment and covers several aspects involved with hypersonic bomber operations.