Is the Air Force "Accelerating" B-21? - to Bring NextGen Stealth to War Faster
by
Kris Osborn
New stealth technology is being pursued with a sense of urgency
“The computational capabilities that were available to design the F-117 and B-2 are dwarfed by the power now available to design teams,†writes the Mitchell Institute essay,â€The Imperative for Stealth.â€
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(Washington, D.C)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 does, at very least, raise the question as to whether to new bomber could be an important element of the service's "faster" acquisition strategy.
Although acquisition and schedule specifics are not discussed regarding the B-21 program, the Air Force's 2018 Acquisition Annual Report does mention "bomber" in the context of its accelerated acquisition strategy. Senior Air Force officials have told Warrior Maven that the Critical Design Review has been underway, and in recent months Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson told reporters the aircraft appears to be on track for the 2020s. While the B-21 is certainly not a program on which the Air Force would cut corners or "speed" up prematurely, the broader service emphasis upon a less-bureaucratic prototpying and development, it seems feasible, could impact the new stealth bomber.
https://defensemaven.io/warriormaven/air/is-the-air-force-accelerating-b-21-to-bring-nextgen-stealth-to-war-faster-e6x4BQo0d0-62RxK9jpIzw/
