I’m in line with your thinking.
When will it fly?
How many will we have?
What are they capable of?
We need these NOW if we’re going to influence the Chinese.
I think I read they are planning on 100 of these things- we know how that works, we’ll probably end up with far fewer.
The price per plane will be based on 100 built.
But we’ll only build 20 and call it done.
With overruns, the cost will be 2-3 BILLION per plane.
For a bomber that will never dare to overfly a tier-one enemy’s air defenses. Radar stealth is just ONE factor in finding and killing an aircraft.
What is needed is 1. Low cost per plane. 2. Very long range. 3. Ability to launch long-range stand-off missiles from over open ocean.
But the MIC won’t make fresh billions out of maintaining B-52s.