Global Information2037 bomber controversy information
| 2037 bomber | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Issued by | United States Air Force |
| History | |
| Successors | Next-Generation Bomber Long Range Strike Bomber |
The 2037 bomber was a short-lived 1999 United States Air Force proposal to modernize and extend the service life of the U.S. bomber fleet and defer the introduction of a replacement "capability" (a strategic bomber or some future equivalent platform) until 2037. The plan was criticized by lawmakers and Pentagon officials, some of whom believed the existing fleet was in danger of becoming outmoded and overstretched.[1] Amidst this controversy, Air Force officials revised this plan in 2001 to put forward an accelerated timeline for a new bomber. Accordingly a Next-Generation Bomber program was started with the goal of introducing a bomber in 2018, but this was canceled in 2009. This program was restarted as the Long Range Strike Bomber which resulted in the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, currently expected to enter service in 2026–2027.
- ^ Hebert, Adam J. (August 2007). "Great Expectations" (PDF). Air Force Magazine. 90 (8). The Air Force Association: 34. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-06-07. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
The controversial 1999 bomber roadmap proposed delaying the start of a new acquisition program until 2019 and not fielding that bomber until 2037