So you're telling me that the Secretary of Defense has never heard of the B-1 bomber?
Posted on 01/14/2015 11:47:10 AM PST by smokingfrog
Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel on Tuesday vigorously endorsed an Air Force plan to build a next-generation strategic bomber, arguing that it would help deter nuclear war and preserve America's global pre-eminence.
"I think the long-range strike bomber is absolutely essential to keep our deterrent edge as we go into the next 25 years," Hagel told reporters after addressing a group of several hundred airmen at this B-2 stealth bomber base in western Missouri.
Hagel later traveled to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego, and also planned to visit Navy sailors aboard an aircraft carrier and Army soldiers in Texas this week.
He called the future bomber, estimated to cost $55 billion to $80 billion for as many as 100 planes, "a critical element" of U.S. global power.
The price tag is an issue, however, not least because the Pentagon says it also needs to modernize the two other elements of the strategic nuclear force: the Navy's fleet of Ohio-class strategic submarines and the Air Force's Minuteman 3 land-based nuclear missiles. The combined cost would exceed $300 billion, by current estimates.
Hagel noted that the 20 planes in the B-2 fleet — all based at Whiteman — are operating on 25-year-old technology. The other nuclear-capable plane in the bomber fleet, the venerable B-52, is even older.
Hagel's designated successor, Ashton Carter, is expected to win Senate confirmation in early February. Until then, Hagel will remain in office.
The Whiteman stop gave Hagel a chance to say farewell and to cap a series of visits over the past year to key parts of the nuclear weapons force.
(Excerpt) Read more at kpbs.org ...
So you're telling me that the Secretary of Defense has never heard of the B-1 bomber?
I thought Hagel had left. I guess he has to keep going through the motions until Ashton C. gets the okay.
I know Hagel is a RINO and allowed himself to be used as Obama’s tool until the B.S. with Guantanamo prisoner releases became too deep even for Hagel, but he deserved a more dignified dismissal than what he got. John McCain predicted he would not suit that position.
They never finished building 100 B-2s.
I don’t think they are “nuclear capable” anymore (wink, wink) - part of a deal with the Ruskies
He called the future bomber, estimated to cost $55 billion to $80 billion for as many as 100 planes,
...
The final cost will be ten times that. The cronies are licking their chops.
Which genius signed off on that?
What Next Gen bomber is that? Haven’t heard about it.
Why don’t they just build more B-52’s?
Yeah, it’s old, but is a workhorse. They could build them by the hundreds with all the latest technology and save billions if not trillions....................
Beautiful sight.
If you are ever here in Ft. Walton Beach on vacation, stop at the Air Force Armament Museum and you can see one close up and personal along with other aircraft dating back to WWII. They even have a Blackbird............... http://www.afarmamentmuseum.com/exhibits.shtml
I thought the goal was always only 30?
B-3 ?
Way cool. I’ll keep it in mind.
AND since you’re Exnavy, you can go over to Pensacola and visit the Naval Aviation Museum just 40 miles away. It’s waay cool as well.................They gots I-MAX theater!..............
http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/
A procurement of 132 aircraft was planned in the mid-1980s, but was later reduced to 75.[30]
[30]^ Pace 1999, pp. 75–76.
Pace, Steve. B-2 Spirit: The Most Capable War Machine on the Planet. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1999. ISBN 0-07-134433-0.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_Grumman_B-2_Spirit
I thought it was 120.
Which are the nukes in that array?
If there are any, and I kinda doubt there would be, your guess is as good as mine............................
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