Arlington, VA, September 17, 1996 - The Air Force Association repeated its call for rapid modernization of current Air Force technology and weaponry.

In its 1996-1997 Issue Paper on Research and Development (R&D) and Force Modernization, adopted by delegates during AFA's 1996 National Convention and Aerospace Technology Exposition, being held in Washington, D.C., from Sept. 16-18, AFA renewed its support for the development and deployment of the F-22 fighter, the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, additional procurement of F15s and F-16s, additional acquisition of the B-2 bomber with conventional munitions upgrades, and upgrades to precision munitions.

The association also repeated its call for a larger force structure based on 24 fighter wing equivalents, versus the current 20. The paper called for adequate readiness funding and for a more stable means of funding contingency operations.

Looking to future needs, AFA drew attention to the lead taken by the Air Force in the new realm of information warfare, stating that, to meet the diverse operational demands of the future, "our nation's leaders must exploit those advantages to the fullest." The paper emphasized the need for aggressive efforts to dominate the information battlefield.

"Threats have not gone away," the paper stated. "They have become more subtle, more complex, more difficult to predict. The flexibility, range, payload, stealth, precision and lethality of Air Force combat forces will be critical to overcoming them decisively with minimum U.S. losses."

The Association also remained critical of the low priority that is given to maintaining a strong and viable U.S. industrial base.