Arlington, VA, September 19, 1995 -- The Air Force Association today repeated its call for acquiring more than 20 B-2 bombers and at least 120 C-17 airlifters. AFA also strongly endorsed development and deployment of the F-22 "with no further delay."

In its 1996 Issue Paper on Research & Development and Force Modernization, released during AFA's 1995 National Convention, the Association stated that aerospace forces would form the nation's first line of defense against uncertain threats. "The global nature of US interests and the varied nature of the threats will place a very high premium on the flexibility, reach, and potential lethality inherent in these forces."

Looking ahead, "the F-22 fighter and advanced air-to-air munitions are key to achieving and maintaining air superiority in the twenty-first century," the paper said. It also called for the continued production of F-16 and F-15E fighters.

The paper embraced the tremendous advances in situational awareness and battlefield management. "Advances in information, sensor, and guidance technologies will generate critical, timely information and the ability to strike targets accurately, with great lethality," it said.

AFA stated that a flexible and responsive triad of nuclear forces remains an important element of our national security. "Modernization of the ICBM force will be needed to assure viability into the next century, and the bomber force structure must be sufficient to retain adequate capability for the nuclear deterrence mission."

The Association was critical of the low priority placed on assuring that the US industrial base can produce advanced military systems and support the mobilization of US forces.