JOE PAPPALARDO: B-1 Pilots Turn Their Bombsights to the Pacific.

One of the hottest topics in the defense and diplomatic worlds is the Obama administration’s “rebalancing” of U.S. interests toward Asia. The new focus is a slate of military and geopolitical strategies meant as a hedge against China, and to a lesser extent its client, North Korea. But what does it mean for the armed forces when the White House focuses its gaze on a new part of the world, and a new foe? . . .

After 9/11, the Pentagon’s focus was fixed on small wars, counterinsurgency tactics, and ways to keep ground forces safe from asymmetric attacks such as roadside bombs. America’s high-tech weapons were used against low-tech targets: Aircraft built to dogfight Soviet fighters scanned convoy routes for IEDs; tank-killing helicopters fired missiles at mud huts; submarines launched cruise missiles against terrorist training camps.

Now, though, the Pentagon has been tasked with keeping up with China’s ambitious militarization. The Chinese military has invested billions in aircraft, long-range missiles, submarines, anti-ship missiles, and air defense missiles, all meant to keep the American military from gaining access to the South China Sea and, increasingly, the Pacific.

Focusing the Pentagon’s attention on the Pacific Rim will present unique challenges for the Air Force. Unlike Marine units (who will be stationed in a new base in Australia) and Navy ships (that will stage in Singapore), combat aircraft will have a role that’s much different from their current missions in Afghanistan.

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