The US Air Force is developing a new stealth bomber to counter growing anti- access/area-denial (A2/AD) challenges around the world – but the programme faces enormous challenges in the face of declining US defence outlays. The Long Range Strike-Bomber (LRS-B) is part of a socalled “family of systems” being designed to ensure US forces can hold any point on Earth that may be at risk from aerial attack. The Long Range Strike family of systems – particularly the new bomber – is the centrepiece of the Pentagon’s emerging “AirSea Battle” construct/.../
However, despite strong support from senior leaders at the Pentagon, it is unclear if the LRS programme will survive a “sequestration” budget-cutting measure, which will come into effect on 2 January. If Congress and the president are unable to find a solution, another $500 billion will be cut from the US defence budget in the next 10 years. If that happens, “all bets are off”, says Mark Gunzinger, an analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and a former Boeing B-52 pilot/.../
Gunzinger considers the Department of Defense’s projected unit cost of $550 million a conservative target. “I’m optimistic about the cost,” he says. In Gunzinger’s view, the key to an affordable LRS-B is strict discipline on the requirements imposed on the aircraft: “Fix your requirements early, then let industry do what it does best – and that is to figure out capabilities solutions.”