Washington: Senior Pentagon officials are moving ahead to develop a long-range strike weapon or bomber, a key recommendation in the Pentagon's Quadrennial Defense Review that could mean billions of dollars in new business for contractors, a source familiar with the process said on Tuesday.
Defense Department and Air Force officials agreed in principle on Monday that they needed to start work soon if they wanted to meet the Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) goal of having the new weapon ready by 2018, said the source, who asked not to be identified.
The Air Force's Air Combat Command, which provides the bulk of US combat air power, began an analysis of alternatives for the project last October that is expected to take a year.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin Corp and Chicago-based Boeing Co are likely competitors in any future competition. It could well be the only new major weapons program the Air Force embarks on this decade.
A long-range bomber, or strike system, could be manned or unmanned and involve a mix of missiles, rockets, lasers and other munitions, according to defense experts. "They had a meeting on Tuesday. They're going to go ahead with a new long-range bomber," said the source.
Lockheed said its Skunk Works unit, which works on cutting-edge programs, is already designing several concepts "that may meet Air Force requirements for this new aircraft," said company spokesman Tom Jurkowsky. Boeing said it would also be part of the race.
"Boeing is looking at all the options and will definitely compete in any new program," said spokesman Erik Simonsen.
The analysis of alternatives would help the Pentagon decide how to proceed, but defense analysts said the Air Force clearly favored development of a new bomber rather than a new missile or other alternative.
The target date for the new bomber's deployment had been 2037 but was moved up 19 years in the QDR, the roadmap for US strategy that Congress requires the Pentagon to prepare.
The US is keen to forestall any military challenge from China. Beijing has threatened to use force against US-equipped Taiwan and is searching for oil supplies worldwide.
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