The U.S. is ruminating about putting nuclear bombers back on a 24-hour alert. Defense One reports the move is being considered by top Pentagon officials over national security concerns.That's interesting. I grew up during the Cold War, and I remember the nuke forces being on 24 hour alert during the '60s and '70s. Somewhere on ever SAC base, there was an alert facility where bomber crews rested, planned, and prepared for the unthinkable. Nobody talked about it, but it was an open secret that they were out there, ready to go on a moment's notice, to defend democracy from the Red Horde.
Now, the top general is talking about it again.
“This is yet one more step in ensuring that we’re prepared,” Gen. David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff, said in an interview during his six-day tour of Barksdale and other U.S. Air Force bases that support the nuclear mission. “I look at it more as not planning for any specific event, but more for the reality of the global situation we find ourselves in and how we ensure we’re prepared going forward.”It's interesting that the Air Force is sending this message. The interested observer might wonder who the message is intended to warn? From what I know about military planning, right now, middle managers all over the Air Force are looking through old filing cabinets, dusting off old plans and seeing how they fit the current reality. There is no sense in re-inventing the wheel.
I wonder if it will be limited to ground alert or if we will see a revival of years-ago-during-my-time airborne alert such as Chrome Dome. That was in response to a nuclear threat, too.
ReplyDeleteIf it goes that far, do we really have what we need in terms of parts and pieces, depot turnaround for component repair, etc., to keep those birds flying? Are we ready to guzzle that much fuel? Lots of things to consider if it ever gets to that point.