Defense
U.S. Bombers’ Future Hints at Flying Missions Along With Drones
- Kendall says ‘manned/unmanned’ teaming may solve budget woes
- The new B-21 bomber could serve as a quarterback for drones
Northrop Grumman B-21 stealth bomber.
Photographer: Northrop GrummanThis article is for subscribers only.
The Air Force can’t afford to keep buying all the piloted bombers and jets it plans, the service secretary says, so he’s considering a hybrid force of drones operating in tandem with aircraft like the new B-21 stealth bomber.
“I’m looking at things that would introduce unmanned platforms” that could be sacrificed in combat, would “complement some of our more expensive high-end platforms” and would “give us the quantity we need at a reasonable cost,” Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said in an interview this week.