Defense Officials Outline Long-Range, Global Strike Plans

Posted on: Apr. 21st, 2006 || Source: aviationweek.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Defense Officials Outline Long-Range, Global Strike Plans

The U.S. Air Force's analysis of alternatives (AOA) for a new long-range strike (LRS) bomber awaits formal approval by the Pentagon's acquisition chief, while the service's prompt global strike (PGS) concept's AOA is about to be published, Air Force Brig. Gen. Andrew Dichter said April 19.

"This thing is hung up largely because of the complexity of the discussions of global strike," Dichter said about the new bomber, slated for 2018. "Do we want to just make this very specific and we need to develop that bomber, or do we want to take it holistically?"

The fiscal 2007 budget request includes almost $2 billion for a "new-start" LRS bomber, which is the second phase of the service's three-phase LRS strategy, Dichter said.

Most observers agree that fleet delivery will require $15 billion - $50 billion, he added, and that the bomber will sport low-observable stealth technology. But debate continues over speed, number of engines, payload capacity, whether it should feature just munitions or the full suite of AESA radar and air-to-air missiles, and range with or without refueling. Regardless, a milestone decision is expected in early 2007, the general said.

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