“DoD [Department of Defense] should no longer assume that its strike aircraft will always be able to use short-range, direct attack ‘gravity’ weapons against targets that are covered by advanced point defense systems,” Mark Gunzinger, a former B-52 pilot and current analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, said. “This applies across the spectrum of conflict, not just conventional warfare.” Gunzinger notes that even for a stealth bomber, a standoff weapon will likely be a necessity. “Attacking these defended targets will require medium-range standoff attack weapons,” Gunzinger said.
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