LOLITA C. BALDOR
Associated Press
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Air Force must balance its legacy of combat fighters with the surveillance, space, transport and cyber missions that will dominate future wars, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said Friday.
He told cadets at the U.S. Air Force Academy that there still a pressing need for American air supremacy as countries such as China and Iran pursue longer range weapons and air defense missiles.
Developing more sophisticated fighter jets is critical, the Pentagon chief said. But he also said air-to-air combat and bombing must not continue to dominate the Air Force culture to the neglect of other capabilities needed to fight terrorists and hostile nations are neglected.