AFA's Air Warfare Symposium
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April 2015/$10 AFA’s Air Warfare Symposium War and Budgets p . 22 & 28 Bolstering Europe p . 38 Mobility Creativity p . 36 AFSOC Renaissance p . 33 Also Bud Wassom George Kenney SAC’s Bombers April 2015, Vol. 98, No. 4 FEATURES 4 Editorial: Forgotten, But Not Gone By Adam J. Hebert It is time to prioritize the nuclear deter- rent. 22 The Air Force at War By Marc V. Schanz USAF must prepare for high-end con- fl ict while already engaged worldwide. 28 The $10 Billion Gamble By John A. Tirpak USAF can’t execute the national military strategy with sequester-level budgets. 33 AFSOC Renaissance By Aaron M. U. Church The command is working hard to mod- ernize, recapitalize, and stay out front. 36 Mobility Creativity By Michael C. Sirak AMC’s commander stresses innovation in future tankers and the next Air Force One. 22 38 Bolstering Europe By Amy McCullough USAF is moving to counter Russian aggression and uncertainty. 40 Nuclear Force Improvement By Amy McCullough The Force Improvement Program promises grassroots fi xes for USAF’s nuclear forces. 46 An Airman in a Storm By Autumn A. Arnett MSgt. Bud Wassom gave his life protecting his daughter from a deadly tornado. 50 SAC’s Heyday Photos from the collection of Warren Thompson Strategic Air Command’s airborne arsenal is showcased in these rare color photos. About the cover: An E-3 Sentry returns to 58 Watershed Air War Nellis AFB, Nev., after a training mission By Daniel L. Haulman at the Nevada Test and Training Range. Enemy air forces haven’t challenged See “The $10 Billion Gamble,” p. 28. USAF the US since Operation Allied Force in photo by SrA. Brett Clashman. 1999. 33 AIR FORCE Magazine / April 2015 1 64 George Kenney’s Fighting Spirit By John T. Correll Kenney had numerous strengths but the critical one was that he got along with Douglas MacArthur. 70 The Raiders at Eglin By Robert B. Kane In March 1942, the Doolittle Raiders trained in the Florida Panhandle for their historic mission. 70 www.airforcemag.com DEPARTMENTS 6 Letters Publisher: Mark A. Barrett 9 Aperture: CAS confab; PACAF’s Editor in Chief: Adam J. Hebert new boss; The missions are the message .... Managing Editor: Juliette Kelsey Chagnon Special Content Director: Michael C. Sirak 11 Action in Congress Editorial Director: John A. Tirpak 12 Air Force World News Editor: Amy McCullough Senior Editor: Marc V. Schanz 18 Index to Advertisers Senior Designer: Heather Lewis 18 Senior Staff Changes Special Projects Manager: Gideon Grudo 19 Flashback: Close-Up Designer: Kristina Parrill Assistant Managing Editor: Frances McKenney 20 Verbatim Associate Editors: Aaron M. U. Church, June L. Kim 21 Books Special: CSAF Reading List Production Manager: Eric Chang Lee 2015 Photo Editor: Zaur Eylanbekov Media Research Editor: Chequita Wood 75 AFA National Report 78 Reunions Contributors: Walter J. Boyne, John T. Correll, Robert S. Dudney, Daniel L. Haulman, Robert B. Kane, Warren Thompson 80 Airpower Classics: MiG-21 Fishbed Advertising: Scott Hill, James G. Elliott Co., Inc. (312) 348-1206 [email protected] 1501 Lee Highway Arlington, VA 22209-1198 Tel: (703) 247-5800 Telefax: (703) 247-5855 [email protected] AIR FORCE Magazine (ISSN 0730-6784) April 2015 (Vol. 98, No. 4) is published monthly by the Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arling- ton, VA 22209-1198. Phone (703) 247-5800. Perodical postage paid at Arlington, Va., and additional mailing offi ces. Membership Rate: $45 per year; $30 e-Membership; $110 for three-year membership. Life Membership (nonrefundable): $600 single payment, $630 extended payments. Subscription Rate: $45 per year; $29 per year additional for postage to foreign addresses (except Canada and Mexico, which are $10 per year additional). Regular issues $10 each. USAF Almanac issue $20 each. Change of address requires four weeks’ notice. Please include mailing label. POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Air Force Association, 1501 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA 22209-1198. Publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material. Trademark registered by Air Force Association. Copyright 2015 by Air Force Association. 2 AIR FORCE Magazine / April 2015 CORPORATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT The AFA Corporate Membership Program recognizes companies that support the Air Force Association’s mission, people, and events. These businesses play a vital role in making AFA the most powerful advocate for every member of the Air Force family. This month we highlight selected corporate tier members. For more information on the Corporate Membership Program, please visit www.afa.org/CM. Engility FLIR Systems, Inc. Engility is a pure-play government services contractor providing FLIR’s full line of High Definition ISR&T solutions delivers the highly skilled personnel wherever, whenever they are needed in a combat-proven performance needed for the time-sensitive and cost-effective manner. The company provides specialized technical critical missions of today’s Air Force. With cutting-edge, com- consulting, program/business support services, engineering and mercially developed, military qualified solutions like the Star SA- technology lifecycle support, information technology moderniza- FIRE 380-HDc, FLIR provides proven reliability and a 30-year tion and sustainment, supply chain services and logistics manage- tradition of delivering powerful imaging to today’s operators. ment, and training and education for the US Government. www.FLIR.com | Wilsonville, Ore. www.engilitycorp.com | Chantilly, Va. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. General Dynamics Mission Systems General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), is a lead- General Dynamics Mission Systems (GDMS) connects and ing manufacturer of remotely piloted aircraft systems, radars, and protects critical communication networks across land, sea, air, electro-optic and related mission systems, including the Predator/ space, and cyber domains. Grounded in a “with you all the way” Gray Eagle aircraft series, and Lynx Multimode Radar. GA-ASI culture, GDMS delivers the highest level of support, keeping its provides long-endurance, mission-capable aircraft with the inte- customers steps ahead of threats with the intelligence and infor- grated sensor and data link systems required to deliver persistent mation they need for mission success. situational awareness and rapid strike capabilities. www.gdmissionsystems.com | Fairfax, Va. www.ga-asi.com | San Diego L-3 MacAulay-Brown, Inc. Headquartered in New York City, L-3 employs approximately MacAulay-Brown, Inc. (MacB), has been solving some of the na- 48,000 people worldwide and is a prime contractor in aerospace tion’s most complex national security challenges for decades. De- systems and national security solutions. L-3 is also a leading pro- fense, IC, Homeland Security, and other federal agencies rely on vider of a broad range of communication and electronic systems our innovative and proven engineering and technical solutions to and products used on military and commercial platforms. The meet the challenges of an ever-changing world. We are dedicated company reported 2013 sales of $12.6 billion. to developing mission-focused and results-oriented solutions. www.l-3com.com | New York www.macb.com | Dayton, Ohio, and Vienna, Va. Meggitt SES Government Solutions Headquartered in the UK, Meggitt is a global engineering group With a fleet of over 50 satellites offering comprehensive glob- specializing in extreme-environment components and smart al coverage, 99.99-percent availability, and three-four hosted sub-systems.Meggitt designs and manufactures environmental payload opportunities every year, SES Government Solutions control and thermal management systems, ammunition han- is an industry leader in supporting US Government SATCOM dling systems, scoring systems and services, airborne pods and missions. countermeasures, air data systems, flight deck displays, and life www.ses-gs.com | Reston, Va. support systems for aircraft and helicopters. www.meggitt.com | United Kingdom Triumph Group, Inc. Triumph Group, Inc. designs, engineers, tests, manufactures, repairs, and overhauls an extensive portfolio of aerostructures, engine, and aircraft control components, accessories, interior YOUR COMPANY COULD BE FEATURED HERE. components, and subassemblies. Our customers include original equipment manufacturers of commercial, regional, business and Contact Elizabeth Moloney at military aircraft, rotorcraft and aircraft components, as well as [email protected] commercial and regional airlines and air cargo carriers. to join AFA as a Corporate Member. www.triumphgroup.com | Berwyn, Pa. Editorial By Adam J. Hebert, Editor in Chief Forgotten, But Not Gone ix years ago this month, Barack guarantee that defense to our allies … is reminiscent of what Harold Brown, SObama, the then-new US President, but we will begin the work of reducing Defense Secretary under President journeyed to Prague to declare his de- our arsenal.” Carter, once said of the Soviet Union’s sire for a nuclear weapons-free world. In reality, there was very little new arsenal. To paraphrase: When we build, The strategic deterrent had already been there. Eliminating nuclear weapons has they build. When we stop, they build. an afterthought for 20 years, struggling been US policy under every president Many of these nations—such as Iran, to maintain funding or support from any- since Reagan, and inventories have North Korea, and Russia—are belliger- one not directly supporting the mission. been steadily and dramatically declining ent and threatening to their neighbors. The deterrent may as well be invis- since the 1980s. Others (India, Pakistan, Israel) have ible to many in the military, members of Officials in nuclear leadership posi- long-standing border disputes. For- Congress, and the American public. In tions pointed to Obama’s Prague pledge tunately, although other nations want early 2015, the Iranian nuclear program to maintain nuclear safety, security, and these weapons for many of the same has gotten more attention in the US than effectiveness—but this passage was reasons the US does, there is a clear the nation’s own strategic deterrent. clearly a digression from the President’s worldwide taboo against using them.