Deteriorating Air Power

Go see this article in The American Interest about the deterioration of U.S. air power. Author Richard B. Andres writes a very thorough and compelling argument for getting serious about fighter, bomber, and tanker aircraft that, for a change, would be younger than the men and women flying them.

I particularly like his rationale for U.S. airpower in a world wherein we are the superpower. Andres says:

Defense means something different for the United States than it does for other nations. While states usually build militaries to defend or, less frequently these days, to enlarge their territory, the principle purpose of the U.S. military is to defend the global commons and the open international economic order by ensuring peace among the major powers.

There is nothing passé about this purpose. When the military might of states like the United States begins to fail, the result is often global instability and conflict.

In other words, he identifies improving U.S. air power with global stability goals that the Obama administration has espoused. I wonder if he will convince anyone there?