| 2037 Bomber | |
|---|---|
| Role | Heavy bomber |
| Introduction | 2037 (projected) |
| Status | Planned |
| Primary user | United States Air Force |
The 2037 Bomber is the unofficial name given to a heavy strategic bomber planned by the United States Air Force. It is projected to enter service in 2037 as a stealthy, supersonic, long-range, heavy-payload, possibly unmanned aircraft to potentially replace the B-52 Stratofortress, which entered service in 1955 and is scheduled to be retired in 2040.
Development[]
With the ending of B-2 production in the early 1990s, the U.S. Air Force was left with a gap in its bomber development. A new bomber would be needed in the 2037 time frame to replace retiring B-52s and B-1s according to the Air Force's Bomber Roadmap, released in 1999.[1][2] This was considered too long to wait, as the Air Force needed an interim bomber before the 2030s.[3][4] This left the aircraft proposed for 2037 as more of a heavy bomber than a medium bomber.
Specifications[]
- Supersonic max speed
- Ability to carry nuclear weapons
- Possible requirement for unmanned technology
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ Tirpak, John A. "The Bomber Roadmap", Air Force Magazine, June 1999.
- ↑ Air Force Assoc. Feb. 2007, p. 11.
- ↑ Hebert, Adam J. "Long-Range Strike in a Hurry". Air Force magazine, November 2004.
- ↑ Hebert, Adam J. "Issue Brief", 2018 Bomber. Air Force Magazine, March 2008.
- "Return of the Bomber, The Future of Long-Range Strike". Air Force Association, February 2007.
External links[]
- "The 2018 Bomber and Its Friends". Air Force Magazine, October 2006.
- "Great Expectations". Air Force Magazine, August 2007.
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The original article can be found at 2037 Bomber and the edit history here.