U.S. Air Force Developing “Optionally-Manned” Nuclear Bomber
February 27th, 2012Via: The Diplomat:
The Air Force has been working on a bomber since 2006, according to most reports, with the aim of first complementing then replacing the existing fleet of 150 B-52, B-1 and B-2 bombers, the oldest of which date from the early 1960s. Then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates suspended the bomber development in 2009, citing out-of-control cost and technical ambition.
But Gates’ successor, Leon Panetta, revived the bomber work as part of the Pentagon’s “strategic pivot” towards the Asia-Pacific region, whose long distances pose huge problems for military planners – and play to the strengths of heavy bombers. The so-called “Long-Range Strike Bomber” is meant to be stealthy, capable of carrying nuclear weapons and “optionally-manned,” meaning it can be remotely flown without a pilot on board.
Boeing, Northrop Grumman and Lockheed are all competing for the Long-Range Strike Bomber contract. The fleet of up to 100 new bombers is expected to cost at least $55 billion over the next 20 years.
