The U.S. Air Force's analysis of alternatives (AOA) for a new long-range strike (LRS) bomber awaits formal approval by the Pentagon's acquisition chief, while the service's prompt global strike (PGS) concept's AOA is about to be published, Air Force Brig. Gen. Andrew Dichter said April 19.

"This thing is hung up largely because of the complexity of the discussions of global strike," Dichter said about the new bomber, slated for 2018. "Do we want to just make this very specific and we need to develop that bomber, or do we want to take it holistically?"

The fiscal 2007 budget request includes almost $2 billion for a "new-start" LRS bomber, which is the second phase of the service's three-phase LRS strategy, Dichter said.

Most observers agree that fleet delivery will require $15 billion - $50 billion, he added, and that the bomber will sport low-observable stealth technology. But debate continues over speed, number of engines, payload capacity, whether it should feature just munitions or the full suite of AESA radar and air-to-air missiles, and range with or without refueling. Regardless, a milestone decision is expected in early 2007, the general said.

Prompt global strike

The PGS AOA - which envisions weapon delivery within 60 minutes - will review conventional versions of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), manned and unmanned bombers and various launch vehicles, all of which will feature a new common aero vehicle (CAV) that will provide more precise strike delivery of conventional warheads than ICBMs, said Dichter, deputy director in the directorate of operational capability requirements.

The "most promising" CAV is the Falcon hypersonic technology vehicle being developed by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Dichter told the Precision Strike Association's (PSA) annual programs review in Arlington, Va. Other launch vehicles under consideration include reusable, expendable and autonomous variants.

Meanwhile, U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) and the U.S. Navy are focusing on modifying Trident nuclear missiles for conventional use as an interim PGS weapon system, according to Dichter and Navy Rear Adm. David "Deke" Philman, STRATCOM deputy commander for joint space and global strike.

The Conventional Trident Modification program remains the leading interim PGS option, despite congressional concerns over other countries' interpretation of modifying sea-launched and other ICBMs, the admiral told the PSA April 18. The general said a concept of operations is being worked out, including notifications through "hot lines," such as the one connecting Washington and Moscow.

Upgrading bombers

At the same time, the Air Force will carry out a roughly $4 billion modernization effort for its B-52, B-1 and B-2 bomber fleet, with about $1.2 billion for each type of platform, Dichter said.

Upgrading the bombers is the first phase of the Air Force's LRS effort. Upgrades, which will keep the whole fleet in service another 30 or 40 years, include Link 16 communications, weapons delivery, electronic attack and defense capabilities, as well as their maintenance, he said.

The Air Force has 94 B-52s, although only 44 are "coded" for combat use right now, Dichter said. The money saved by retiring some B-52s will allow the others to be modernized. Otherwise, there are 67 B-1s, with 36 coded, and 21 B-2s, of which 16 are coded.

A third phase of the LRS strategy envisions a "high-technology" strike capability around 2035, he said.