What's $100 billion among friends?

[Minimalist]

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/us-air-f...th-bomber/

The US Air Force on Friday unveiled the first image of its next-generation bomber that will replace antique B-52s first developed during the Cold War.

The all-black plane has a distinctive, zigzagging shape and a super-low profile that will make it hard to spot on radar, and bears more than a passing resemblance to the Air Force’s B-2 bomber, which is also made by Northrop Grumman.

Important because ISIS and al Qaeda and the Taliban have first class anti-aircraft systems.  Oh wait.  No they don't.

The Pentagon in October announced Northrop as the winner of the contract to build the bomber in a decades-long program that will likely end up costing in excess of $100 billion.

The Air Force wants 100 of the warplanes

So a billion apiece.... before the inevitable cost overruns that is.

[vorlon13]

[Wyrd of Gawd]

http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/us-air-f...th-bomber/

The US Air Force on Friday unveiled the first image of its next-generation bomber that will replace antique B-52s first developed during the Cold War.

The all-black plane has a distinctive, zigzagging shape and a super-low profile that will make it hard to spot on radar, and bears more than a passing resemblance to the Air Force’s B-2 bomber, which is also made by Northrop Grumman.

Important because ISIS and al Qaeda and the Taliban have first class anti-aircraft systems.  Oh wait.  No they don't.

The Pentagon in October announced Northrop as the winner of the contract to build the bomber in a decades-long program that will likely end up costing in excess of $100 billion.

The Air Force wants 100 of the warplanes

So a billion apiece.... before the inevitable cost overruns that is.

You can't wait until you need a weapon system.  If you don't have it before the SHTF you're out of luck.

[brewer]

I hear Kanye asked Zuckerberg for a billion. Probably for something not nearly as nifty. Zoom-Zoom!

[Chad32]

Do you think it would be a better idea to invest in aircraft if they DID have anti aircraft systems? I understand our military budget is overblown, but that doesn't mean they shouldn't be making bigger better weapons.

[vorlon13]

And that $100 billion will go up rapidly as the Pentagon starts changing the mission requirements during development, qualification and production in response to China's growing militancy in the South China Sea.

Imagine the irony if one of the first missions of the new bomber is to defend Vietnam from Chinese hegemony.

[vorlon13]

J/K about Vietnam, after the balanced budget amendment is ratified by all 50 states, the new bombers primary mission will be the first of what will turn out to be annual wars with Iceland.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

'A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon you're talking real money.' Some USian pol whose name escapes me.

Boru

[vorlon13]

Proxmire, William Proxmire.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I'm happy to take your word for it.

Boru