Posted on 11/17/2015 4:12:20 AM PST by Cringing Negativism Network
The U.S. Air Force is developing a new bomber that promises to secure the U.S. advantage in modern warfare.
The next-generation long-range strike bomber, recently awarded to Northrop Grumman Corp. NOC, +4.36% for development, will not be designed to rely on as yet undeveloped technologies, as is so often the case with new aircraft and weaponry. Instead, the aircraft will combine and fully exploit existing advanced stealth technology, integrated software, ordnance and countermeasures.
In effect, the military is consolidating the best of its technology in one package. At the same time, the U.S. Air Force has decided to aggregate all of its bombers under a single, unified command, clearing the way to making bombers a more central part of its operations. Thus the new long-range strike bomber is poised to become a central pillar of the U.S. strategy to project its power throughout the globe.
(full article)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-new-high-tech-bomber-is-designed-to-keep-china-and-russia-at-bay-2015-11-16?siteid=yhoof2
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
The F-15, F-16 and F-35 can also carry the B-61 thermonuclear bomb. The B-61-12 version is a bunker-buster, and the B-61-12 is precision-guided (JDAM-like).
Okay, but how would anyone know if they accidently stumbled into something? And who within FR would know to be able to identify anything like that?
Well in that case, mods please pull this entire thread.
Just saying. I found that article and thought it interesting. I had not heard of it, but with the article out, it is apparently public domain.
All I am saying is there are a large number of FReepers in government and the military. A huge number. Some of them (unlike me) have access to information which shouldn’t be made public.
I know and understand everyone already knows that, and everyone already takes that into account every time they are online. I get that.
All I am saying is I thought this was something interesting, but I was just repeating that just for emphasis.
I am not trying to cause any misunderstanding, and not trying to provoke you or anyone.
Just saying that is all. I agree with you on the subject of making things public. Russia and China are (much) more closed as societies, and as military powers than we are.
I get that. I actually lived in China for a while. I completely get what you are saying.
All I am saying is to be aware of this. I love America and want us to remain strong and powerful.
Just be aware is what I am saying. Thanks.
Some military bean counter is always looking to save money and increase efficiency by consolidating and aggregating. It never works, and they never learn.
I’m not worried about Russians or Chinese, the democrats will get us first.
“We however cannot simply keep making the same things over and over.”
You mean like the latest blocks of F-15’s, F-16’s and F-18’s, their associated avionics, armaments and ordnance? Or how about the latest in armored tracked and wheeled vehicles?...Submarines, destroyers, attack helicopters?...Why not? Producing mass quantities of these weapons systems would be a good thing and it would take a lot less time than to always be innovating, inventing and testing the “better” mousetrap. IMO, the latest is not always the greatest.
We know one thing for sure, we won’t be able to afford it.
We also know one other thing, Northrop has promised a lot of Generals and Admirals high-paying gigs post-retirement if they get this thing approved.
There is no integrity at the highest ranks in our military anymore. Integrity excludes you in the age of Obama.
There have been no high-ranking resignations over policies like Rules-of-Engagement - that kills US troops. They are all protecting their career viability and retirement perks.
I don’t know how far down the ranks this pervasive lack of integrity seeps, probably pretty far by now.
Nobody has the balls to say “WTF, we can’t afford this thing”
You are technically correct!
Yes, our very own fifth column will do us in long before the ChiComs or Ruskies.
Actually the current approach is adaptive networking where the various vehicles form networks on the fly as they establish contact with each other. This includes relay nodes (aircraft/drones) to keep regional commanders in the loop.
It's true that a heavy ECM environment may degrade things, but frequency hopping makes complete jamming impractical.
Loss of GPS would be a 'bad thing' given how many weapons use it, but that's a different conversation.
A good starting point would be making sure whatever's being discussed is in the open literature... ;-)
What a dumb mistake to get rid of SAC in the first place. The number of nuke handling “mishaps” is but one example.
You call the A-10 a FIGHTER...?
Looks like the job of being a FR thread moderator has just become more important than ever!
Spend the money on missles instead.
“Failsafe”...Yeah, that was the one with Fonda as POTUS...Henry Fonda, that is.
You forgot the best of all.......YB-70
Bombing never kept anyone “at bay”.
Why don’t they just make a fleet of new B-52’s with modern upgrades (glass cockpit, high bypass turbofan engines, maybe 2 or 4 instead of 8, etc) and we will be set until 2100 or 2150? ;-)
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