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 ...
Just posting it here, because it might be interesting. As per usual don't post anything which might compromise any interests.
Thanks.
“At the same time, the U.S. Air Force has decided to aggregate all of its bombers under a single, unified command,”
Good luck with that.
What is a “bomber?”
F-15E. . .A/A and drops bombs
A-10 close air support aircraft that shoots A/A missiles, gun (A/A and A/G) and drops bombs.
F-16. . .does A/A and drops bombs, too.
Try telling an F-15E, A-10 and F-16 fighter pilot they are “bomber” pilots.
Let's give this new command a catch name like, I dunno, "Strategic Air Command", SAC for short. And a catchy slogan like, I dunno, "Peace is our profession."
Network centric is exactly what China and Russia want to hear. Once the satellites are gone or blinded command and control is a figment of someone’s imagination.
I still like the “rod from god” concept.
There is an issue with capacity and loiter time in using fighters as strike aircraft. One of more unheralded aircraft of the initial campaign in Afghanistan to take down Al-Q and the Taliban, was the Bone (B-1B). It had capacity and loiter time in spades. A modern bomb truck with more stealth, current engines and electronics, etc., would be very useful.
All that is old is new again!
Can’t wait to see this bomber when it is deployed in 2050. Shoot, I’ll be dead. Oh well.
Haha.
Here is a picture, of something approximating the bomber (from the article)
Don’t know whether that is the actual plan, and don’t want anyone to post anything about it other than what is in the article.
But here it is:
The Air Force decided to aggregate all of its Heavy Bombers under the Eighth Air Force.
Well!Once again the Eighth Air Force will be known as the Mighty Eighth.Like it was in the past.
But what is a “heavy bomber?”
What is a bomber?
As a former A-10 fighter pilot, I like “First from Gawd” (the A-10 GUN).
For conventional bombing, B-1s and B-52s are still viable. Spend the money on re-engining the B-52 and you automatically increase it's range and payload just from the fuel savings.
F-15E has great loiter time and bomb-load and the A-10 can fly a long time and carries as much as WWII B-24 bombers did. . .trying to nail down a definition of a bomber is like defining art. . . .same thing.
“As per usual don’t post anything which might compromise any interests.”
Please elaborate.
Don’t know if I agree with that.
However I am not in defense. So maybe I don’t understand.
We however cannot simply keep making the same things over and over. The world is advancing very rapidly.
America also needs to grow, and advance. That is very important.
“Spend the money on re-engining the B-52”
We’re already doing that or at least getting ready to.
The Air Force classifies the Air craft like the B52,B1,B2 as heavy bombers.
The F15 Strike Eagle,F16 and F18 are concidered to be fighter bombers.
Don’t post anything which might compromise and interests.
I think that says it all.
I am not in defense, and don’t usually post on defense topics. I am just making sure this post keeps things which should be secrets, secrets.
Just being careful.
Google these two:
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Convair B-58 Hustler
That should get you started.
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