US Next Generation Bomber Studies

[TomS]

So with that being the logic, then it's "Mach 2.5 cruise or don't even bother breaking 0.85?" Pardon the expression, but Huh!?

Why bother with the complexity? Why did the Tomcat bother with the complexity of swing wings? Because it was a solution to meet the requirements. I will wager anything that the winning proposal will be at least able to break supersonic.

Nope, the logic is, the difference between mach 0.9 and Mach 1.2 is minimal in operational terms but severe in terms of cost and complexity.


I'd take your bet. It's not at all clear what operational requirement would drive LRS-B to a supersonic solution, especially balanced against the budget requirement for a low unit cost. The B-1 has a supersonic dash capability, certainly, but it's not often needed. The B-2 and B-52 seem to be acceptable with strictly subsonic performance. I see no reason for the LRS-B to be faster.

 

[Deino]

Is there an official site, where the announcement can be seen ???

I think ... nearly 13 minutes to go ... !

Deino

 

[flanker]

4 PM EST =/= 4 PM GMT...

 

[DrRansom]

The announcement is likely to be scheduled after markets close, 4pm EST sounds right.

I wonder if we'll see any pictures of the bomber or get any description other than it flies a long range and drops bombs.

 

[Deino]

Upps my bad ... so 4 PM EST is now + 5 hours !

So have to wait until 9 o'clock = 21 h ! ... or am I wrong again?

Deino

 

[flanker]

Correct. That is at the earliest tho, we don't know the exact time yet.

 

[Ian33]

RAF types have a wager: One man, one podium, one grainy F117 style photo, nothing else till roll out for testing.

The photo will come from the Top Secret cleared photographer who got a ride in a B2B and wasn't told what he was to photograph until it flew formation with said stealth bombers.

 

[kaiserd]

Given that I am excited to hear the announcement I fear that I can no longer maintain any pretense that I am not a giant nerd. Oh well..............

 

[bring_it_on]

SECDEF, CSAF, Bill LaPlante and Lt. Gen Arnold Bunch will announce at 5:15 PM EST. DOD live may cover it, CSPAN may as well.

http://www.defense.gov/live1

Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James, and Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III will announce the long range strike bomber contract award at 5:15 p.m. EDT in the Pentagon Briefing Room (2E973).

Following their remarks, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition Dr. William LaPlante, Gen Robin Rand, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command and Lt. Gen. Arnold Bunch, Jr, military deputy, Air Force Acquisition will answer questions.

Journalists without a Pentagon building pass will be picked up at the River Entrance only. Plan to arrive no later than 30 minutes prior to the event: have proof of affiliation and two forms of photo identification. Please call 703-697-5131 for escort into the building. The press conference will be streamed live at www.defense.gov

Who would have thought a few weeks ago that we would have the bomber award announced on the same day the Congressional leaders and the White house have agreed to push a budget deal..

 

[FighterJock]

Talk about keeping the suspense up, the timing makes it 22:15 GMT. I will haunt this website for the announcement at that time.

 

[flanker]

To avoid confusion; it is at 21.15 GMT, 22.15 at GMT+1

Basically, just use this; http://www.worldtimebuddy.com/est-to-gmt-converter

 

[FighterJock]

Thanks flanker, I can never get used to the time changes!

 

[Steve Pace]

Another thing to look for is contract awards on the DOD website. But that might not appear until tomorrow because here's what the site says: "Contracts valued at $7 million or more are announced each business day at 5 p.m. Contract announcements are also available by e-mail subscription. Go to DOD News for more information and for links to other news items.." -SP

 

[marauder2048]

Any predictions on how many seconds it'll take to start seeing "company X should have won instead" articles regardless of who wins? (I would not be surprised at all if there are some with two articles already written ready to go depending on who wins.)

I'm sure the different T-shirt variants have already been printed.

 

[bring_it_on]

I am sure a certain blogger is sifting through this thread while working on a WRONG CHOICE post for either scenario Smart phrases and Gif's await us soon

 

[TAGBOARD]

.

 

[lastdingo]

So with that being the logic, then it's "Mach 2.5 cruise or don't even bother breaking 0.85?" Pardon the expression, but Huh!?

Why bother with the complexity? Why did the Tomcat bother with the complexity of swing wings? Because it was a solution to meet the requirements. I will wager anything that the winning proposal will be at least able to break supersonic.

Nope, the logic is, the difference between mach 0.9 and Mach 1.2 is minimal in operational terms but severe in terms of cost and complexity.


I'd take your bet. It's not at all clear what operational requirement would drive LRS-B to a supersonic solution, especially balanced against the budget requirement for a low unit cost. The B-1 has a supersonic dash capability, certainly, but it's not often needed. The B-2 and B-52 seem to be acceptable with strictly subsonic performance. I see no reason for the LRS-B to be faster.

The engagement envelope of surface-to-air missiles is no doubt smaller against a quicker-flying aircraft, and especially so at high altitudes.

Now remember all the talk about LRS-B going to be a sensor platform - that's going to pay off much more at high than at low altitudes.
A very high-flying aircraft would achieve great ranges with unpowered glide munitions, and it could go supersonic rather easily.

Imagine a large aircraft (larger than F-22) sensing SAM radars in order to stay at the limit of their engagement envelopes, sensing ground targets with radar, engaging with glide bombs, serve as quasi satellite relais for radio comm and run away with a supersonic dive/dash from incoming fighters. No stealth would be needed at all, or even only make much sense.

 

[sferrin]

I am sure a certain blogger is sifting through this thread while working on a WRONG CHOICE post for either scenario Smart phrases and Gif's await us soon

Sure you don't mean the guy at F.A.? (TR?) He's an expert. He said so himself. And completely unbiased because he knows nothing. . .or something. ;D

 

[quellish]

Requirements were developed through a DARPA program that scans internet posts to "crowdsource" DoD urgent needs requirements.

 

[Ian33]

Requirements were developed through a DARPA program that scans internet posts to "crowdsource" DoD urgent needs requirements.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA NOW YOU TALKING MY LANGUAGE!

 

[sferrin]

Requirements were developed through a DARPA program that scans internet posts to "crowdsource" DoD urgent needs requirements.

No way. It'd have 3 Skybolts under each wing on the big pylons and AIM-120s on the dinky pylons between the engine nacelles. And a frickin' laser CIWS on the tail.

 

[quellish]

No way. It'd have 3 Skybolts under each wing on the big pylons and AIM-120s on the dinky pylons between the engine nacelles. And a frickin' laser CIWS on the tail.

Your post changed the requirements, which will delay the announcement.

 

[bring_it_on]

Given that we have a few hours to go I'll indulge in some highly likely design/program essentials .

A large 30 mm Cannon with thousands of rounds to pacify Congresswoman McSally and of course a fly-off with the A-10 before Milestone C. No electronics other than an 8 track player that plays only Jazz music to win over the father of the F-15, F-16, A-10, Bugatti Veyron etc..A big decal stating " USAF LOVES CAS" on the underbelly in support of the CSAF, and of course an announcement of the date and time of its combat deployment to pacify Senator McCain.

 

[Ian33]

Well I want to see a YB 23 mach two screamer with optical camouflaged skins.

 

[Steve Pace]

With Halloween fast approaching - who'll get the Trick and not the Treat? -SP

 

[DrRansom]

Quellish - Brilliant, when can we expect the USAF announcement about a delay for the bomber program?

"It is important to get this right, to bring critical capability to the Warfighter and to keep America the strongest military in the world. We have received breaking news from our research team about a one 'Sferrin'. This has lead to a revision for our bomber program and we will bring you more details when our bored employees web-surfing at work highly qualified research team gets back to us."

I'd love for the bomber to be a Mach 2 tailless cruising design with self-defense capability. But, sadly, I must be realistic. It will totally be hypersonic.

 

[sferrin]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

 

[TomS]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Briefing is at 5:15. I just created a new thread for the announcement.

 

[quellish]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Absolutely. But posting anything here means it wil end up all over paid sites without attribution or a donation.

 

[marauder2048]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Absolutely. But posting anything here means it wil end up all over paid sites without attribution or a donation.

Go ahead and give us the md5sum of a .txt file with a random sentence containing the winners name somewhere in it. Then upload the source file after the announcement. I dare you!

 

[lowchi]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Absolutely. But posting anything here means it wil end up all over paid sites without attribution or a donation.

we will give you our respect and recognition! isn´t this much more worth than a donation....

 

[sferrin]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Absolutely. But posting anything here means it wil end up all over paid sites without attribution or a donation.

We will vote you God of The Intertubez for a whole week if you spill. B)

 

[totoro]

That could almost be a polite way of saying: "come on, bloomberg, cnn, msnbc, whoever - give me a ring and present a "donation" offer"

 

[weavty1]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Absolutely. But posting anything here means it wil end up all over paid sites without attribution or a donation.

Go ahead and give us the md5sum of a .txt file with a random sentence containing the winners name somewhere in it. Then upload the source file after the announcement. I dare you!

Hahahahaha!!! ;D ;D ;D

I found out a few minutes ago, but can't say a word.. Have to wait and talk about it after 5:15, like everyone else. Bleh

 

[Ian33]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Absolutely. But posting anything here means it wil end up all over paid sites without attribution or a donation.

That's fair enough - too many fly by night 'look at me' cowboys willing to steal words and images without any desire to punt up some coin in return.

 

[marauder2048]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Absolutely. But posting anything here means it wil end up all over paid sites without attribution or a donation.

Go ahead and give us the md5sum of a .txt file with a random sentence containing the winners name somewhere in it. Then upload the source file after the announcement. I dare you!

Hahahahaha!!! ;D ;D ;D

I found out a few minutes ago, but can't say a word.. Have to wait and talk about it after 5:15, like everyone else. Bleh

I extend the dare to you, good sir. It's easy to do: there are online random sentence generators and online md5 utilities. And you have ~ 15 minutes.

 

[sferrin]

So. . . .anybody hear anything? ???

Absolutely. But posting anything here means it wil end up all over paid sites without attribution or a donation.

Go ahead and give us the md5sum of a .txt file with a random sentence containing the winners name somewhere in it. Then upload the source file after the announcement. I dare you!

Hahahahaha!!! ;D ;D ;D

I found out a few minutes ago, but can't say a word.. Have to wait and talk about it after 5:15, like everyone else. Bleh

That qualifies as "cruel and unusual punishment".

 

[quellish]

That could almost be a polite way of saying: "come on, bloomberg, cnn, msnbc, whoever - give me a ring and present a "donation" offer"

The donation I meant was to keep this site running. When I see paid sites very obviously sourcing material from here, but not contributing to the operation of the site, I find that distasteful.


And I thought you guys would be more interested in the wings.

 

[weavty1]

Nope and nope, good sirs! :-X :-\

 

[marauder2048]

That could almost be a polite way of saying: "come on, bloomberg, cnn, msnbc, whoever - give me a ring and present a "donation" offer"

The donation I meant was to keep this site running. When I see paid sites very obviously sourcing material from here, but not contributing to the operation of the site, I find that distasteful.


And I thought you guys would be more interested in the wings.

I'm sure a bunch of us will donate if you accept my dare and are proven correct.