Air power would be crucial to fighting a conventional war with Russia or China Tech Sgt Richard Ebensberger/EPAThe Pentagon is to appoint a military commander to co-ordinate a combat force capable of defeating Russia or China in a conventional war. The planned air, sea and land strikeforce is evidence of a national defence strategy shift away from counterterrorism and counterinsurgency to confronting the US’s old Cold War foes. General Paul Selva, vice-chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, said that Russia and China posed different types of threat, requiring separate war planning. “Any fight with China would be a largely maritime and air fight,” he told defence writers in Washington. General Paul Selva said there may be insufficient money to counter Russia and China’s differing threats Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty ImagesWar with Russia, on the other hand, would involve a largely air and ground battle, although maritime forces would need to fight their way…

Source: The Times January 31, 2018 17:06 UTC