Posted on 07/05/2016 2:43:41 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Secrecy is the linchpin of a stealth aircraft's ability to carry out strikes deep within enemy territory, but when it comes to the tax dollars that are going to be spent on the U.S. Air Force's new B-21 bomber, some members of Congress say it is time pull the curtain back.
The Air Force said it has no plans to publicly disclose the cost estimate for the aircraft touted as the "backbone" of the U.S.'s future strike and deterrence capabilities, arguing it would reveal too much information to potential adversaries and compromise a classified program.
That's infuriated some lawmakers, including Sen. John McCain, who argue that the public deserves to see the price tag because so many defense projects have blown their budgets due to waste and fraud.
Officials have been tight-lipped as to the specific capability expectations for the B-21, but indications are that it will be stealthy, able to carry conventional and nuclear weapons, and could possibly operate with or without a pilot....
(Excerpt) Read more at channel3000.com ...
No excuse to not discuss and for Congress to approve or deny funding. That will not, in my opinion, disclose anything that our adversaries don’t already know. The real secret they are protecting is keeping the American public in the dark about the costs.
What is $10 billion per copy, Alex
Clean up (get rid of) welfare, 0bamacare, and socialist insecurity ... then we can talk about DOD.
It is most certainly subsonic.
Just download the financial data from Hillary’s server....Actual blueprints require a donation to the Clinton Foundation.
I think that photo is the B-2. They probably don’t have a drawing yet.
Another aircraft that will cost more than its weight in gold for each unit?
No problem. We probably only need a dozen or so of them.
In fairness to the Air Force, part of this has to do with the Congressional habit of trying to force the defense department to move portions of the production of these systems to their individual states and districts. The longer the Air Force can keep the project closed the more they can get done before Congress starts pulling it into 435 pieces.
Two problems with your theory. First, the contractors spread the production to buy support from Congress, but I can see how one could mistake it for the other way around.
Second, the cost isn’t being hidden from Congress, it’s being hidden from you and me. Let that sink in.
Two problems with your theory. First, the contractors spread the production to buy support from Congress, but I can see how one could mistake it for the other way around.
Second, the cost isn’t being hidden from Congress, it’s being hidden from you and me. Let that sink in.
One-word: Plasma.
I believe they have said it will be subsonic. It looks to be a slightly smaller, much cheaper and more advanced version of a B-2. With the ability to fly autonomously.
It comes without Bomb Racks
Oh, I get it. B-21. B-2.1.
It’s not the contractors holding out. It’s the Air Force itself. The details of where the money is being spent is what Congress is asking for and being denied. Congress is pushing for disclosure so that the process of spreading production around can begin. The Air Force would happily spread production around in order to get funding for a project, but in this case they already have funding.
Again, Congress knows the price tag.
The Air Force is simply trying to keep this out of the public eye so that cost overruns can’t be highlighted. Don’t you think the Air Force brass would be happier if you never knew how much was wasted on the F-35?
They’re hiding these costs from you and me, and pretending that if the North Koreans knew how much we were spending they’d be able to reverse engineer the plane. It’s nonsense.
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