Allowing adversaries to operate from operational sanctuaries is a losing proposition. A war-winning strategy for the U.S. military must involve applying long-range penetrating airpower to hold targets at risk – anytime, anywhere. This includes an adversary’s ability to launch air and missile salvos that could cripple U.S. operations.However, decades of force cuts and deferred modernization have reduced the Air Force’s combat capacity to the point where it cannot simultaneously deter nuclear attacks, defend the U.S. homeland, and defeat adversary aggression at acceptable levels of risk.New, long-range stealthy bombers and fighters that can deny sanctuaries to adversary forces wherever they are located are required at scale. A less-capable force cannot achieve peace through strength or win should deterrence fail. This is a strategic choice for the nation, not just the Air Force.The authors examine this topic and solutions with guest, Gen. Tim Ray, USAF (Ret.), former Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command.
Summary
This video from the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies examines the necessity for the U.S. military to maintain airpower capable of denying adversaries operational sanctuaries. The discussion highlights that allowing enemies to operate freely from safe zones is a losing strategy, as it permits them to launch attacks that could cripple American operations. Current force reductions and deferred modernization have reportedly diminished the Air Force's ability to simultaneously deter nuclear threats, defend the homeland, and defeat aggression without unacceptable risk.
The overview argues that new long-range stealth bombers and fighters are required at scale to hold targets at risk anywhere in the world. Without these capabilities, a less capable force cannot achieve peace through strength or win if deterrence fails. The presentation frames this as a critical strategic choice for the nation rather than just an internal Air Force issue. To explore potential solutions, the authors interview retired General Tim Ray, former Commander of Air Force Global Strike Command. The content emphasizes that applying penetrating airpower is essential to prevent adversaries from using sanctuaries to threaten U.S. interests globally.
Watch “Strategic Attack: Maintaining the Air Force’s Capacity to Deny Enemy Sanctuaries” on YouTube
