Long-range global strike is exactly what it sounds like: a military capability to deliver weapons with high precision from great distances. For the United States, which possesses a more robust long-range global strike capability than nearly any other nation, the task falls to both long-range bombers and intercontinental ballistic missiles. Both delivery systems fall under the purview of the Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC).
Let’s consider the options available to AFGSC.
The Air Force is fortunate to have multiple long-range capable bomber options available—the B-1, the B-2, and the B-52. The B-1 will soon be phased out but is distinct for being the United States’ only supersonic bomber option. With sweep wings and an elongated fuselage, the B-1 was first brought into service during the Reagan administration after years of production halts.
The B-2 is also being phased out soon. The B-2 is especially distinct; with a flying wing design, the B-2 is the first (and still the only) stealth bomber ever produced. While the B-2’s stealth capabilities have become outdated, the bomber was a technological marvel when she first flew in 1989, a product of Area 51 and one of the United States’ most secret weapons development programs.
Both the B-1 and the B-2 are being phased out to make way for the upcoming B-21 Raider—which bears a striking resemblance to the B-2 and is expected to be the world’s preeminent stealth bomber.
And of course, the Air Force has the B-52 available. Remarkably, the B-52 has been flying active duty since the 1950s—and is slated to continue serving until the 2050s, which means the massive, eight-engine bomber should have an Air Force career spanning a full century.
All three of the American bombers are capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear ordnance.
AFGSC’s long-range strike capabilities also include intercontinental ballistic missiles, specifically, the LGM-30G Minuteman III. Currently, the United States has up to 400 Minuteman missiles at its disposal. According to the Department of Defense, the Minuteman “is a strategic weapon system using a ballistic missile of intercontinental range,” which is “dispersed in hardened silos to protect against attack and connected to an underground launch control center.” Minuteman missiles are manned around the clock. Each Minuteman weighs about 40 tons, relies upon three stages of rocket boosters, and has a range in excess of 6,000 miles. So, while the Minuteman cannot reach any target on Earth, the system does provide the United States with a reliable, domestically-based option that can cross oceans with ease.
To further augment long-range strike options, the United States is working to develop reliable hypersonic missile systems. Hypersonic missiles are a burgeoning variety of missiles which rely on kinetic energy rather than an exploding warhead to cause damage.
In sum, the United States has an enviable and diverse array of long-range strike options.
Harrison Kass is a defense and national security writer with over 1,000 total pieces on issues involving global affairs. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
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