Adm. James Winnefeld, US Northern Command and NORAD boss, told reporters Thursday in Washington, D.C., that he is concerned about potential capability gaps in the domestic air defense mission, particularly against low and slow moving threats. “In terms of the high end, we have the F-16, an aircraft which is more than capable for the mission,” he said. Winnefeld cited the F-16’s ability to respond rapidly, cruise at high altitude, and take decisive action against threats, if needed. However, he also noted there are “some missions that are hard for an F-16 to do,” particularly responding to low, slow threats, such as the small aircraft that a pilot purposely flew into an IRS building in February in Austin, Tex. “I’m not ready to express a requirement for this, but I’m interested in a slower, lighter aircraft . . . that could potentially fill in some gaps,” he said.
New Threats Demand Nuclear Modernization
March 2, 2021
Deterrence isn't what it used to be, and the U.S. will be in trouble against an array of new nuclear weapons not covered by treaty if it doesn't move ahead with nuclear weapon modernization, senior U.S. military leaders warned at AFA's virtual Aerospace Warfare Symposium.