US Air Force says air superiority remains critical as China advances

ISTANBUL

The US Air Force’s ability to dominate the skies is more critical than ever as adversaries, particularly China, introduce advanced stealth platforms, Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, commander of Air Combat Command, said Wednesday.

Speaking at the Air and Space Forces Association Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, Wilsbach underscored the necessity of maintaining air superiority.

"The entire joint force counts on air superiority," he said.

"Anything else you want to do in the battle space, if you don't have air superiority, it becomes much more difficult, if not impossible," he added.

Wilsbach emphasized the need for integration between air and space capabilities, calling them a "seamless necessity." The Air Force, he noted, is investing in advanced fighters, networked systems and non-kinetic tools to counter evolving threats.

Despite debates on the relevance of air superiority, Wilsbach was firm.

"There’s been some talk in the public that the age of air superiority is over, and I categorically reject that," he said.

He warned that without it, military operations risk stalemates, as seen in Ukraine and Israel.

Wilsbach also addressed readiness, stressing frequent training and aircraft maintenance.

"We've been challenged with the fixing part of it lately, which then translates to the number of sorties that we can fly," he said.

He also urged airmen to bridge capability gaps with ingenuity while awaiting modernization efforts.

The Air Force is balancing investments in both high-tech and cost-effective munitions.

"We've spent a lot of our time in public talking about these very exquisite weapons that are unbelievably expensive...but we don't need to spend all of our money on those," Wilsbach said.

Lt. Gen. Dale White, military deputy, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, echoed Wilsbach’s call for readiness, highlighting the force’s reliance on "access, freedom of maneuver, deterrence."

Wilsbach concluded with a message to airmen: "The headquarters will drive everything it can from the top down, but I need you to meet us from the bottom up.”

The symposium continues through the week, focusing on the future of US air and space power.