US Air Force says very close to awarding bomber contract

Washington, D.C.is eagerly anticipating an announcement by the U.S. Air Force about the new Long Range Strike-Bomber.

Northrop Grumman Corp, maker of the B-2 bomber, is competing against a team made up of Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp for a deal that could be worth $50 billion to $80 billion. According to a report from Reuters, Air Force acquisition chief William LaPlante reported on Wednesday that officials are very close to reaching a final decision.

Now there are 28 B-1 bombers located at Ellsworth Air Force Base. They suggested that the service will soon award an engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) contract calling for about four flying test aircraft, with options for the first five production lots of 21 new bombers.

Seligman writes that the program is already in the mature stages of development because it is handled by the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office.

The next generation bomber, known as LRS-B for “long-range strike bomber”, or more commonly “B-3”, will be able to operate in the most heavily defended environments with a combination of stealth, propulsion and other classified advantages.

LaPlante said the program was created to be easily upgraded for new technology or requirements. LaPlante revealed that a few components “are operationally being used” already, and that a few technologies are unknown to the public.

The Air Force said it expected to meet the $550 million target for the price of each airplane, in fiscal 2010 dollars, and would release comparable numbers in fiscal 2016 dollars when it announced the victor.

When the contract is announced, the Air Force will include estimated costs for the procurement, research and development of the bomber, LePlante said.

“We’ve established a high level of tech maturity, higher I would say than any other developmental program that we’ve tried to initiate at this phase for a new aircraft”, Bunch said.