Boeing and Lockheed Martin Team for Next Generation Bomber Program

[lenny100]

ST. LOUIS, and BETHESDA, Md., Jan. 25, 2008 -- The Boeing Company and Lockheed Martintoday announced they will team to perform studies and system development efforts including collaborative research and development in pursuit of the anticipated U.S. Air Force Next Generation Bomber program.

This collaborative effort for a long-range strike program will include work in advanced sensors and future electronic warfare solutions including advancements in network enabled battle management, command and control, and virtual warfare simulation and experimentation.

"Boeing and Lockheed Martin are working closely at all levels to capture the best of industry to develop and provide an effective and affordable solution for the warfighter," said Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Advanced Systems. "The work performed by the Boeing/Lockheed Martin team is designed to help the Air Force establish capability-based roadmaps for technology maturation and date certain timelines for the Next Generation Bomber program."

Boeing and Lockheed Martin have formed teams for several high profile programs including the F-22 Raptor and Small Diameter Bomb Increment II.

"The combined technical strengths of Boeing and Lockheed Martin offer the best possible team to provide a new long range capability to the USAF by 2018," stated Frank Cappuccio, Lockheed Martin's executive vice president and general manager Advanced Development Programs "!the Skunk Works" and Strategic Planning.

[Martin H]

what happened to customer choice?

[Scooterman]

So is it going to be Boeheed or Locking? 

[Shasper]

Well I guess it's a joint effort on their part, but I wouldnt be surprised if Northrup Grumman makes an appearance.

Shas

[Thorvic]

what happened to customer choice?

Northrop are the competitors using a manned version of one of thier UCAV concepts.
(BTW the requirement is more for an FB-111 sized machine rather than full heavy bomber.

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/01/25/221126/boeing-and-lockheed-martin-team-for-next-usaf-bomber.html

Geoff

[GTX]

What's the big deal - they've already teamed on projects in the past such as the F-22.

Regards,

Greg

[Shasper]

So, it could be a rehash of the ATF comp? FB-22 verses FB-23 (Yes IK, no "hard" facts, but I wouldnt be surprised if these concepts were brought back up)

Shas

[lancer]

Talk about carving up the market....Co-operate and grab the lions share of the market between them rather than compete and possible loose out. Personally, I hate those two companies!!!

[B777LR]

I hope this will become a Boeing something, and not a Lockheed like the Lockheed F-22...

[jcf]

Talk about carving up the market....Co-operate and grab the lions share of the market between them rather than compete and possible loose out. Personally, I hate those two companies!!!

Market? What market?
There is no 'market' for the aircraft under discussion as the USAF is the only customer.

Anyhow, when was the last time there was an actual competition for a US bomber contract?
The last real competition was before WWII, since then its been dueling paper proposals followed by contract award,
and some of those paper fights weren't really true competitions. B-60 offered against the B-52? Gimme a break.

Modern development costs are so high, and the products so complex, that no one can afford to go it alone.

Jon

[Gary]

Personally, I look forward to the day when rival fighter aircraft companies do all the research and development themselves and vie for the right to sell their products to the government by a dual. Companies eat their BS cost overruns and if they aren't ready by joust day, they die. Each company finds their own team of pilots and ground crew, loads up and the team left alive at the end of the day, has the better airplane and consumes their opponent's company assets with regard to the fighter program they just vanquished.
As for bombers, each company must defend against the attack of their opponent. A spending cap on air to ground weaponry and limits on air to air defense. Add to that, each company must begin design on the same day, so delays and cost overruns could mean that their opponent may be in the air loaded with weapons to bomb you long before you get your prototype out of the hanger.
It would make life a lot more interesting.