Wynne discusses next-gen bomber publicly

[unhappycamper]

Wynne discusses next-gen bomber publicly
By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Sunday Mar 9, 2008 8:25:26 EDT

The Air Force is developing both manned and unmanned versions of its next-generation bomber, the service’s top civilian official said Wednesday.

Air Force Secretary Michael W. Wynne’s testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee was one of the first public comments by a top official acknowledging that the new bomber, scheduled to debut in 2018, is well along in development. The program is currently classified, he said, but Air Force leaders think they can meet the 2018 timeline.

“We are excited about the prospect for maintaining the funding profile, maintaining the level of competition that we have, and we’ll probably be back here as we can declassify our ongoing pursuit of the next-generation bomber,” Wynne said. “I think the committee’s going to be extremely pleased with the way we’ve integrated technologies … to make this happen.”

There has long been speculation that the Air Force is conducting a “black” — or classified — program to develop the bomber, but officials have shied away from public comment. The B-2 Spirit was a classified program for several years before it was publicly unveiled in 1988.

Wynne said the Air Force is pursuing an unmanned option because unmanned systems can stay aloft much longer than manned aircraft.


Rest of article at: http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2008/03/airforce_bomber_030608w/