The Next Generation Bomber: Background, Oversight Issues, and Options for Congress

reportActive / Technical Report | Accession Number: ADA478268 | Open PDF

Abstract:

The Air Force is in the initial stages of formalizing a new bomber aircraft acquisition program. This program, in accordance with Department of Defense DOD and congressional mandates, is to produce a new long-range strike aircraft to be operational by 2018. Air Force plans for acquiring a new bomber aircraft have been accelerated by about 20 years from earlier projections because of a combination of the Air Force s desire to retire a portion of its B-52 fleet and DOD s perception of a developing bomber capability gap. Defense analysts have estimated that it will cost between 8 billion and 10 billion to develop a new bomber using current or soon-to-mature technologies.

Author(s):
Murch, Anthony
Author Organization(s):
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS WASHINGTON DC CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE
Descriptive Note:
Congressional rept.
Supplementary Note:
CRS Report for Congress.
Pagination:
0034

Security Markings

DOCUMENT & CONTEXTUAL SUMMARY

Distribution:
Approved For Public Release
Distribution Statement:
Approved For Public Release; Distribution Is Unlimited.

RECORD

Collection: TR
Identifying Numbers
Monitor Series:
CRS/DC
 Subject Terms
Joint Capability Areas:
JCA_5_Command and Control; JCA_8_Building Partnerships; JCA_8.2_Shape; JCA_5.3_Planning; JCA_7.2.1_Mitigate Lethal Effects; JCA_7.2_Mitigate; JCA_7_Protection; JCA_8.2.2_Provide Aid to Foreign Partners and Institutions; JCA_5.5_Direct; JCA_5.5.1_Communicate Intent and Guidance; JCA_1_Force Support; JCA_5.2_Understand; JCA_5.2.2_Develop Knowledge and Situational Awareness; JCA_2_Battlespace Awareness; JCA_5.3.4_Develop Courses of Action; JCA_5.3.5_Analyze Courses of Action; JCA_2.1_Planning and Direction; JCA_2.1.1_Define and Prioritize Requirements; JCA_4.2_Supply; JCA_1.2_Force Preparation; JCA_6.4.1_Secure Information Exchange
Modernization Areas:
Hypersonics; Autonomy
Communities of Interest:
Air Platforms
Descriptor(s):
*CONGRESS, *AIR FORCE PLANNING, *BOMBER AIRCRAFT, DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, DEFENSE SYSTEMS, ANALYSTS, COSTS, LONG RANGE(DISTANCE), STRIKE WARFARE, PERCEPTION
Field(s)/Group(s):
Bombers, Government and Political Science
Report Date:
2008 Mar 07
Creation Date:
2008 Mar 26