WASHINGTON - The Air Force appears to have completed its Critical Design Review of the emerging B-21 bomber, inspiring confidence and optimism that a new-generation of stealth will be ready for war by the mid-2020s, and beyond. The apparent program progress did, at very least, raise the question as to whether to new bomber could be an important element of the service's "faster" acquisition strategy. Now, according to a report in Air Force Magazine --This faster plan is happening. The B-21's arrival has been accelerated from the mid 2020s to 2021, writes Kris Osborn for DefenseMaven.io.
Continue reading original articleThe Intelligent Aerospace take:
July 26-USAF Vice Chief of Staff Gen. Stephen “Seve” Wilson, speaking at an event July 24, said that the Air Force is deciding whether it will extend the usage of the B-1 and B-2 bombers, which are scheduled to be retired in the early 2030s, or if the branch will switch to an all B-21 and B-52 bomber fleet.
Wilson noted that the USAF “isn’t going to get any new B-52s,” the branch may take “one or two more out of the boneyard.”
With a brand-new, cutting edge bomber alongside the legendary B-52 which took to the skies during the first Eisenhower administration, the Air Force will have a pair of bombers that bring the best of Cold War technology with cutting-edge 21st century stealth.
Related: What it takes to keep the B-2 bomber flying
Related: Air Force brings 1950s-vintage B-52 bomber into the network-centric 21st century
Jamie Whitney, Associate Editor
Intelligent Aerospace
