Article

2016-09-05 Science & Technology

Will The Air Force B-21 Bring New, Next-Generation Stealth Technology?

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Blossom Unains5562 2016-09-05 00:00|| || Front Page|| [8 views ] Top

#1 The service plans to field the new bomber by the mid-2020s. The Air Force plans to acquire as many as 80 to 100 new bombers for a price of roughly $550 million per plane in 2010 dollars, Air Force leaders have said.

So that's $1.2B/plane in 2025 dollars?
The fad of using the surgical strike to moderate local governments will have faded by then.

I choose the hyper-velocity option. That will at least advance boost technology in time for the alien landing.

Posted by Skidmark 2016-09-05 01:12|| 2016-09-05 01:12|| Front Page Top

#2 No figuring where you are going to get spare parts and maybe some aviation fuel for your existing fleet after the economic collapse?

Augustine' Law XVI - In the year 2054, the entire defense budget will purchase just one aircraft. This aircraft will have to be shared by the Air Force and Navy 3-1/2 days each per week except for leap year, when it will be made available to the Marines for the extra day.

Posted by Procopius2k 2016-09-05 08:39|| 2016-09-05 08:39|| Front Page Top

#3 Built: 744xB-52's .... 104xB-1's .... 21xB-2's.
Following the progression (7,5,3): 7 B-21's.
All gold-plated hanger queens too expensive to risk in combat.

Posted by magpie 2016-09-05 14:05|| 2016-09-05 14:05|| Front Page Top

#4 On a more serious note: the greater the surface area the harder it is to "stealth" it. A long-range stealthy drone that is semi-disposable (if it comes back fine, if not, shrug) seems a more practical goal.

Posted by magpie 2016-09-05 17:59|| 2016-09-05 17:59|| Front Page Top

23:58 Thor Lumumba3940
21:43 SteveS
21:28 Skidmark
20:25 Blossom Unains5562
19:58 Silentbrick
19:51 Blossom Unains5562
19:11 Glanter Trotsky5797
18:32 Pappy
18:06 Raj
17:59 magpie
17:23 M. Murcek
17:15 Raj
16:10 NoMoreBS
15:55 Dale
15:30 Maggie Elmusoth7448
15:25 trailing wife
15:12 trailing wife
15:10 Pappy
14:45 Raj
14:39 Pappy
14:32 Besoeker
14:29 Zenobia Floger6220
14:27 Bright Pebbles
14:16 g(r)omgoru