BoyElroy
02-07-2006, 02:27 AM
Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Texas)
February 4, 2006 Saturday
HEADLINE: Long-range plan;
Pentagon wants new high-tech bomber
BYLINE: DAVE MONTGOMERY, Star-Telegram Washington Bureau
As expected, the Defense report also restructures Lockheed Martin's F-22 program to extend production through the 2010 fiscal year to build 183 aircraft.
The report proposes a land-based, long-range strike capability by 2018 and modernizing the force of B-52s, B-1s and B-2s.
One possible beneficiary of the Pentagon's plan for a new bomber is Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries, which does work for the F-22 and the Bell-Boeing V-22.
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon wants to develop a new long-range bomber force within 12 years, opening the door for a costly defense project and another fierce contract battle between the nation's leading military aircraft manufacturers.
The contract could mean billions of dollars for Fort-Worth based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics if it pursues -- and wins -- the long-term project, analysts said. The company's chief rivals, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, are also considered potential competitors.
"We would certainly take a close look at the requirement and make a decision on whether or not we would want to participate in a bid," said Tom Jurkowsky, Lockheed Martin's corporate spokesman in Bethesda, Md. "But it's very speculative at this point."
The Quadrennial Defense Review, released Friday, proposes a land-based, long-range strike capability by 2018 while modernizing the bomber force of B-52s, B-1s and B-2s. At least 45 percent of the future long-range strike force would be unmanned, according to the report.
The proposal accelerates the Pentagon's timetable for developing a next-generation long-range bomber by nearly 20 years.
Previous plans called for a new bomber by no earlier than 2037.
"The new bomber is one of the biggest initiatives in the QDR report," said Loren Thompson, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute, a think tank in Arlington, Va.
The proposal did not provide details on the scope and cost of the bomber project and the likely requirements.
Nor did it explain how the government would pay for a new acquisition program at a time when President Bush is struggling to meet his commitment to cut the federal deficit in half by the time he leaves office.
The deficit is projected to be $337 billion this year.
Richard Aboulafia, an analyst for the Teal Group, based in Fairfax, Va., said the project could be "quite big." But, he added, "There are reasons to be doubtful."
Some industry officials and analysts said the concept could take a form other than a traditional bomber, such as future technology missiles, orbital devices or directed-energy weapons. It is also expected to include radar-evading stealth technology.
The 92-page QDR report is the first comprehensive assessment of defense strategy in four years and outlines more than 150 major recommendations to forge the military of the future into a more agile force to confront nontraditional threats such as terrorists and insurgents.
The review was conducted by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, a former Fort Worth aerospace executive.
As expected, the report also calls for restructuring Lockheed Martin's F-22 program to extend production through the 2010 fiscal year to build 183 aircraft.
Under a 2005 proposal by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, F-22 production would have ceased after the 2008 fiscal year, capping production at 179.
The QDR also calls for reducing the B-52 force to 56 aircraft, using the savings to fully modernize B-52s, B-1s and B-2s to support global-strike operations.
Pentagon officials did not discuss the planned aircraft during a briefing Friday on the QDR, but further details could emerge Monday, when the Pentagon releases a $439.3 billion defense budget for the 2007 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Thompson said bidding for the prime contract will likely center on "three logical players" - Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing.
The project would also mean new business for thousands of subcontractors, many of them in North Texas.
One possible beneficiary is Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries, one of the nation's biggest subcontractors, which does work for the F-22, the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, the C-17 transport and other major projects.
Lynne Warne of Vought said, "We'd want to be a part of it," if the project materializes.
The QDR calls for reorienting the nation's joint air capabilities with aircraft that have greater range, bigger payloads and more agility than predecessors conceived during the Cold War.
The aircraft should be equipped with next-generation electronic-warfare systems and be able to gather intelligence from the sky, the study said.
The report also proposes doubling the capacity of unmanned aerial vehicles with accelerated production of the Predator and the Global Hawk, another one of Vought's projects.
The Dallas company provides wings for the Northrop Grumman UAV.
The timetable for the bomber project would at least partially parallel production of Lockheed Martin's joint strike fighter, which is expected to start up early in the next decade and extend for 30 to 40 years.
Jurkowsky said that Lockheed Martin would have to determine that there would be a "strong business case" before pursuing the project.
Spokesmen for Chicago-based Boeing and Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman likewise said that their companies would want to take a harder look before proclaiming themselves contenders for the project.
"Certainly, Boeing would consider being a competitor for that aircraft," said Dan Beck of Boeing. But he added, "Obviously, we would wait to see what the Air Force requirements are and what they're looking for in an aircraft."
Gus Gulmert, a spokesman for Northrop Grumman, said the company, which produced the B-2 bomber, has "a proven history in that area," but he said that company officials want to further study the QDR before commenting.
Asked whether Northrop Grumman would seek a new bomber program, he responded, "It's not for me to say today."
Aboulafia called the 2018 target date "unrealistic" and said that it puts heavy pressure on companies to begin gearing up for the competition.
The 2007 budget is expected to include funds for start-up research and development over the next several years.
LOAD-DATE: February 4, 2006
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February 4, 2006 Saturday
HEADLINE: Long-range plan;
Pentagon wants new high-tech bomber
BYLINE: DAVE MONTGOMERY, Star-Telegram Washington Bureau
As expected, the Defense report also restructures Lockheed Martin's F-22 program to extend production through the 2010 fiscal year to build 183 aircraft.
The report proposes a land-based, long-range strike capability by 2018 and modernizing the force of B-52s, B-1s and B-2s.
One possible beneficiary of the Pentagon's plan for a new bomber is Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries, which does work for the F-22 and the Bell-Boeing V-22.
WASHINGTON - The Pentagon wants to develop a new long-range bomber force within 12 years, opening the door for a costly defense project and another fierce contract battle between the nation's leading military aircraft manufacturers.
The contract could mean billions of dollars for Fort-Worth based Lockheed Martin Aeronautics if it pursues -- and wins -- the long-term project, analysts said. The company's chief rivals, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, are also considered potential competitors.
"We would certainly take a close look at the requirement and make a decision on whether or not we would want to participate in a bid," said Tom Jurkowsky, Lockheed Martin's corporate spokesman in Bethesda, Md. "But it's very speculative at this point."
The Quadrennial Defense Review, released Friday, proposes a land-based, long-range strike capability by 2018 while modernizing the bomber force of B-52s, B-1s and B-2s. At least 45 percent of the future long-range strike force would be unmanned, according to the report.
The proposal accelerates the Pentagon's timetable for developing a next-generation long-range bomber by nearly 20 years.
Previous plans called for a new bomber by no earlier than 2037.
"The new bomber is one of the biggest initiatives in the QDR report," said Loren Thompson, a military analyst at the Lexington Institute, a think tank in Arlington, Va.
The proposal did not provide details on the scope and cost of the bomber project and the likely requirements.
Nor did it explain how the government would pay for a new acquisition program at a time when President Bush is struggling to meet his commitment to cut the federal deficit in half by the time he leaves office.
The deficit is projected to be $337 billion this year.
Richard Aboulafia, an analyst for the Teal Group, based in Fairfax, Va., said the project could be "quite big." But, he added, "There are reasons to be doubtful."
Some industry officials and analysts said the concept could take a form other than a traditional bomber, such as future technology missiles, orbital devices or directed-energy weapons. It is also expected to include radar-evading stealth technology.
The 92-page QDR report is the first comprehensive assessment of defense strategy in four years and outlines more than 150 major recommendations to forge the military of the future into a more agile force to confront nontraditional threats such as terrorists and insurgents.
The review was conducted by Deputy Defense Secretary Gordon England, a former Fort Worth aerospace executive.
As expected, the report also calls for restructuring Lockheed Martin's F-22 program to extend production through the 2010 fiscal year to build 183 aircraft.
Under a 2005 proposal by Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, F-22 production would have ceased after the 2008 fiscal year, capping production at 179.
The QDR also calls for reducing the B-52 force to 56 aircraft, using the savings to fully modernize B-52s, B-1s and B-2s to support global-strike operations.
Pentagon officials did not discuss the planned aircraft during a briefing Friday on the QDR, but further details could emerge Monday, when the Pentagon releases a $439.3 billion defense budget for the 2007 fiscal year that begins Oct. 1.
Thompson said bidding for the prime contract will likely center on "three logical players" - Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing.
The project would also mean new business for thousands of subcontractors, many of them in North Texas.
One possible beneficiary is Dallas-based Vought Aircraft Industries, one of the nation's biggest subcontractors, which does work for the F-22, the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey, the C-17 transport and other major projects.
Lynne Warne of Vought said, "We'd want to be a part of it," if the project materializes.
The QDR calls for reorienting the nation's joint air capabilities with aircraft that have greater range, bigger payloads and more agility than predecessors conceived during the Cold War.
The aircraft should be equipped with next-generation electronic-warfare systems and be able to gather intelligence from the sky, the study said.
The report also proposes doubling the capacity of unmanned aerial vehicles with accelerated production of the Predator and the Global Hawk, another one of Vought's projects.
The Dallas company provides wings for the Northrop Grumman UAV.
The timetable for the bomber project would at least partially parallel production of Lockheed Martin's joint strike fighter, which is expected to start up early in the next decade and extend for 30 to 40 years.
Jurkowsky said that Lockheed Martin would have to determine that there would be a "strong business case" before pursuing the project.
Spokesmen for Chicago-based Boeing and Los Angeles-based Northrop Grumman likewise said that their companies would want to take a harder look before proclaiming themselves contenders for the project.
"Certainly, Boeing would consider being a competitor for that aircraft," said Dan Beck of Boeing. But he added, "Obviously, we would wait to see what the Air Force requirements are and what they're looking for in an aircraft."
Gus Gulmert, a spokesman for Northrop Grumman, said the company, which produced the B-2 bomber, has "a proven history in that area," but he said that company officials want to further study the QDR before commenting.
Asked whether Northrop Grumman would seek a new bomber program, he responded, "It's not for me to say today."
Aboulafia called the 2018 target date "unrealistic" and said that it puts heavy pressure on companies to begin gearing up for the competition.
The 2007 budget is expected to include funds for start-up research and development over the next several years.
LOAD-DATE: February 4, 2006
Prev