[MilCom] Interim Bomber may get ISR role

[Jack L. Metcalfe]

The new USAF Interim Bomber, scheduled to be fielded in 2018, may 
take on a new role.  According to Aviation Week & Space Technology, 
the USAF is considering using the bomber for Intelligence, 
Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) in heavily defended airspace.  In 
the ISR role, the bomber will be unmanned, sparking speculation that 
the total number of aircraft planned, currently around 100, may be 
increased.  The Interim Bomber proposal calls for an aircraft able to 
penetrate very heavily defended airspace & carry 28,000 - 40,000 
pounds of ordinance, including nuclear weapons.

AW&ST link: 
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=awst&id=news/aw042808p2.xml&headline=Next-Generation%20Bomber%20Sets%20Stage%20for%20ISR%20Penetrator

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Jack L. Metcalfe
Stanford, KY
jlmetcalfe at hughes.net
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