AIR FORCE LEADER FIRES WARNING SHOT AT B-2 STEALTH BOMBER FLEET EXPANSION.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

PALMDALE - A bid to build more B-2 stealth bombers is running into opposition from the new secretary of the Air Force, who said expanding the fleet ``won't add one drop of sweat to any enemy.''

Air Force Secretary James G. Roche said he would rather focus efforts on modifying fighter planes into fighter-bombers capable of hitting truck- mounted missile launchers and other moving targets. Roche also wants to invest in technology that would enable aircraft to establish data networks with each other, providing clearer pictures of potential targets and threats in a battle zone.

``If we buy 40 more B-2s, I don't think we'll add one drop of sweat to any enemy,'' Roche told The Washington Post in an article published Oct. 24.

On the other hand, he said, if the Air Force can work out a system that allows all aircraft to share sensor data and information from ground sources, ``that's going to make the enemy sweat a lot.''

Rep. Howard P. ``Buck'' McKeon, R-Santa Clarita, whose district includes the B-2 plant in Palmdale, said he was stunned and disappointed by the comments.

``It did a fantastic job in Kosovo. It's doing a fantastic job in Afghanistan,'' McKeon said of the B-2. ``I don't understand what the problem is.''

McKeon said he believes the Bush administration supports the bomber and thought the appointment of Roche as secretary of the Air Force was a sign of that support.

Roche is a former executive of Northrop Grumman, the prime contractor of the B-2.

Supporters of the bomber say they will continue their push to get more of the batwing aircraft built.

Earlier this year, Northrop Grumman presented a letter of offer to the Pentagon, indicating it could build 40 more B-2s at a cost of about $28 billion, compared with the $44.4 billion that was spent manufacturing the existing 21-plane fleet.

The new B-2s, dubbed B-2Cs, could be built cheaper because of improved manufacturing techniques and the use of off-the-shelf electronics.

The B-2 is earning praise for its performance in the bombing of Afghanistan, flying 45-hour missions from Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. On Oct. 19, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld traveled to Whiteman to be briefed on the program and to praise the B-2 team.

Despite that, Roche told The Washington Post he had yet to find a general who advocated more B-2s.

Roche is advocating the use of fighters, particularly the F-22, as fighter-bombers. The idea is to equip the fighters with data links to quickly locate targets and to hit them with small-diameter bombs now under development.