If anything, the AF is more relevant today than ever. In fact, the AF is morphing into Space Command. This is the same boneheaded thinking that prevailed when they talked about missiles eliminating the need for guns on fighters.
Like strategic bombing will never be required ever again.
“In fact, the AF is morphing into Space Command. This is the same boneheaded thinking that prevailed when they talked about missiles eliminating the need for guns on fighters.”
I heartily agree with the second part, but as to the first...why should USAF get to monopolize space? As a writer in Proceedings Magazine put it, Space is a giant ocean, and oceans are where Navies go. If we ever truly militarize space beyond our orbit, the Naval model is certainly the logical one; the economics and realities of space travel favor the large traveling, self supporting ship model more than a model on the small craft squadron that would require a base somewhere.