New Long Range Strike Bomber to Phase Out Older Aircraft

[101ABN]

On Tuesday, the Pentagon awarded the contract for the new Long Range Strike Bomber to Northrop Grumman.

Northrop's contract, valued at around $60 billion, beat out competitors Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

The plane, after hopefully entering service in the 2020s, will be designed to penetrate deep into enemy territory and will be capable of carrying nuclear and thermonuclear payloads. Also, if its procurement is anything like the F-35 joint strike fighter, it will be a budget nightmare.

The Long Range Strike Bomber is meant to phase out the United States' aging fleet of bombers, which includes the B-52, an aircraft that has been in service since the 1950s.


www.stripes.com/new-long-range-strike-bomber-will-start-phase-out-of-older-planes-1.375550

Hard to imagine "Old Buff" retiring.

[Sailor]

I remember a saying that made the rounds after the B-2 entered service. It went something like "When the last B-2 flies to the boneyard in Arizona, it's crew will be picked up by a B-52." Or something like that.

Prophetic? Could be. The B-1B is no longer part of the nuclear deterence force but IIRC the cruise missile armed BUFF still is along with the B-2 as a defense penetrator.

Hard to believe the "Spirit" entered service around 20 years ago.

[warrior1972]

Oct 28, 2015 17:50:15 GMT -8 Sailor said:

I remember a saying that made the rounds after the B-2 entered service. It went something like "When the last B-2 flies to the boneyard in Arizona, it's crew will be picked up by a B-52." Or something like that.

Prophetic? Could be. The B-1B is no longer part of the nuclear deterence force but IIRC the cruise missile armed BUFF still is along with the B-2 as a defense penetrator.

Hard to believe the "Spirit" entered service around 20 years ago.

These planes write their own lyrics when it comes to the real deal.

The B-52 is almost exactly as old as I am, yet it's been in the inventory for at more than half a century half a century.
They really DON'T make'em like they used to.

The B-2 is twenty, and still the most awesome defense penetrator going, not just in our Air Force, but on the planet.

The B-1B "is no longer part of the nuclear deterrance".

Geez, are there any questions?

[Sailor]

More than 20 years ago I was stationed at NAS Norfolk MAC Air Terminal the base was preparing for an air show. They brought in the BUFF and a B-1B, both big planes. The Friday before the show was to start some of the crews and teams were practicing or showing off, neither bomber was to fly for the show but the B-1 crew took her up for a little demonstration.

I was on the cargo ramp, babysitting a cargo pallet next to the "rework facility" where a Tomcat was being prepped for a post-overhaul test flight. As the bomber crew did their thing including a near vertical climbout on full afterburner I overheard the F-14 crew talking, the pilot saying "I wish that thing (B-1) had a tail hook." High praise from a Navy pilot.

It's still an impressive bird, glad it's ours. The Russians can keep their "Blackjack."

Warrior you, I, the Buff and Hercules are close to the same age, still going strong (more or less in my case) and at least 2 of the 4 of us are still in service.

Got physical therapy this afternoon for that busted ankle.

Be well bro.