The Air Force's right bomber mix

The chief of Air Force Global Strike Command thinks the right bomber force size is around 175 aircraft, but an Air Force review to be completed late this fall will validate the requirement.

AFGSC Chief Gen. Robin Rand and his team completed an internal bomber force structure study earlier this year that considered what number and what mix of bombers was appropriate for the service given fleet demand and the on-ramp of the new B-21 stealthy strike bomber.

Rand told reporters following a July 14 congressional hearing that Air Force leadership decided to review the AFGSC results.

"They're going to grade our homework," Rand said.