Future Bomber Force (Draft).
Abstract
Under the current DOD program the United States will stop building bombers in 1998. The B-2 has been the subject of controversy since the original aircraft roll-out. The driver of that controversy has been the aircraft's unit cost, which started high and rose steadily as the total buy was reduced from 132 to 75 to 20. The decision to stop the B-2 program at twenty aircraft resulted from budget constraints and changes in our nuclear force planning. However, this decision was not preceded by an examination of the B-2's potential in conventional force missions. The current status of B-2 production--nearing completion of the final funded aircraft-- and the requirement for additional finding in the FY 96 budget to maintain B-2 production capability, suggests an informed judgment on halting or continuing B-2 production is needed now.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 23, 1993
- Accession Number
- ADA326136