But range only means something if we know what payload is associated with it. If the range gets cut in half, just to carry a useful payload, then how much value does it have?
Yes and I'm sure its range would be at a useful payload under a given mission scenario just like it is for every other bomber or aircraft before it. The B-2 can probably fly a lot farther if it was flying empty as well. They haven't said a whole lot but sticking one's neck out and saying that it will fly farther than the current bombers is pretty bold for it to be just a random remark written into a speech of the highest ranking DOD official.
I keep hearing, "well it doesn't need to carry as much as a B-2". Well, why not? Saying, "it wasn't a requirement" doesn't answer the question.
We don't know how much it carries. Apparently a few here have *confidently* figured out size, payload, range and even mission from the handful of pictures. We'll see if that stands the test of time when actual data is revealed over the coming months --> years. As to how much it will carry and it being determined by its actual payload requirement..then I agree.
Payload is one attribute..same for range, LO signature, mission systems and hitting a APUC of $550 million to field a fleet of at least 100 as is the program requirement. Every attribute there impacts the other so one can only assume that it was derived after some very careful analysis by SMEs and the bomber community.
So if the question was - "how much bomber can we afford for $550 MM APUC" then we seem to have an answer to it. Within those constrains, we will need some time to see which attributes, amongst signature, range, payload, mission-systems, etc were given more importance..