Fighter vs. Bomber I

I have a new series at the National Interest…

Over the next seventy years, the actual and perceived balance of capability between bombers and fighters would have an enormous impact in how nations built their military institutions and provided for their defense. This balance would depend to great extent on how effectively fighters could detect, intercept and destroy incoming bombers. Even today, the biggest air forces weight trade-offs between fighter and bomber aircraft, based to some extent on how effectively each type can carry out its missions.