2018 Bomber
A joint project of Boeing and Lockheed Martin that started off in 2003. It is expected to be a manned, mach 0.85, medium endurance bomber that will have the capability to penetrate the enemy area and bomb the ground facilities. While its purpose is more of abridging the gap between the 2036 bomber and the those previously in use.
World’s largest defense contractor, Lockheed Martin, and second, Boeing, have teamed up for this project. Exact specs for the aircraft are to be specified this year by USAF. Earlier, it was expected that airforce will go for an unmanned, high endurance and an ultra-sonic bomber to meet the requirements of a bomber that could stay for longer time periods in the airspace and bomb the facilities according to changing situations. 2018 will be a stealth aircraft that will provide with the enhanced bombing characteristics than that of B-52, B-1B and B-2 spirit.
With increasing challenges, an airforce has to face these days due to advanced technological equipment, military budget is increasing for all the countries. China is also up to development of a stealth bomber, named H-8, that will be operational by 2010. It is to replace china’s bombers used previously.
Russian MiG SKAT unmanned aerial fighting aircraft is another of the bomber category but the good thing is that it is unmanned. A latest mock-up released by MiG showed the concept of this unmanned fighter. It is quite comparable with Boeing’s X-45; that is an unmanned combat air vehicle produced in 2002. Mikoyan Engineering Center expects to further develop the assault aircraft as an international project with other countries involved in it. If this project goes international, it would be able to get one step ahead X-45. Even then a manned high-tech, heavy bomber has its own importance in the bomber category.
Bomber 2018 project is expected to be a bridging project that might get US going till Bomber 2037 shows up; which will be an unmanned heavy bomber. 2018 bomber will certainly have the capacity to be upgraded so as to meet the requirements till next one.
Expected specs:
- Subsonic speed
- Combat radius of 2,000+ miles
- Weapons Payload of 14,000-28,000 lb
- Greater stealth capabilities to assists in extended time of survival
