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New stealth bomber's cost is under the radar
WISC-TV ^ | July 5, 2016 | Zachary Cohen, CNN

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 ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: airforce; bombers; congress; military

1 posted on 07/05/2016 2:43:41 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

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.


2 posted on 07/05/2016 2:46:42 PM PDT by Reno89519 (No Sharia, No Islam. No Problem. Just say No to Islam. Period.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

What is $10 billion per copy, Alex


3 posted on 07/05/2016 2:46:44 PM PDT by PGR88
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
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.

Clean up (get rid of) welfare, 0bamacare, and socialist insecurity ... then we can talk about DOD.

4 posted on 07/05/2016 2:49:31 PM PDT by NorthMountain (A plague o' both your houses.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
It looks nearly identical to the B-2.

It is most certainly subsonic.

5 posted on 07/05/2016 3:08:14 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: NorthMountain

Just download the financial data from Hillary’s server....Actual blueprints require a donation to the Clinton Foundation.


6 posted on 07/05/2016 3:10:17 PM PDT by spokeshave (Somewhere there is a ceiling for Trump.....Yeah, it's called The Oval Office)
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To: Mariner

I think that photo is the B-2. They probably don’t have a drawing yet.


7 posted on 07/05/2016 3:15:42 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There'd be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet
no... it's a drawing of the B-21


8 posted on 07/05/2016 3:25:49 PM PDT by Chode (You Owe Them Nothing - Not Respect, Not Loyalty, Not Obedience)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Another aircraft that will cost more than its weight in gold for each unit?


9 posted on 07/05/2016 3:29:09 PM PDT by Little Ray (Freedom Before Security!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

No problem. We probably only need a dozen or so of them.


10 posted on 07/05/2016 3:37:31 PM PDT by smokingfrog ( sleep with one eye open (<o> ---)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

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.


11 posted on 07/05/2016 3:44:14 PM PDT by SeeSharp
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To: SeeSharp

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.


12 posted on 07/05/2016 3:50:38 PM PDT by Gunslingr3
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To: SeeSharp

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.


13 posted on 07/05/2016 3:50:38 PM PDT by Gunslingr3
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To: Mariner

One-word: Plasma.

14 posted on 07/05/2016 3:53:44 PM PDT by Justa
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To: Mariner; 2ndDivisionVet

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.


15 posted on 07/05/2016 3:57:22 PM PDT by TalonDJ
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

It comes without Bomb Racks


16 posted on 07/05/2016 4:06:26 PM PDT by butlerweave
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To: Chode

Oh, I get it. B-21. B-2.1.


17 posted on 07/05/2016 4:46:24 PM PDT by Charles Martel (Endeavor to persevere...)
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To: Charles Martel
LOL!!! very good...
18 posted on 07/05/2016 5:18:07 PM PDT by Chode (You Owe Them Nothing - Not Respect, Not Loyalty, Not Obedience)
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To: Gunslingr3

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.


19 posted on 07/05/2016 5:23:54 PM PDT by SeeSharp
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To: SeeSharp

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.


20 posted on 07/05/2016 9:23:55 PM PDT by Gunslingr3
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