Rep. Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) is taking exception to the Pentagon premise that fielding a new long-range strike platform sooner is more preferable to upgrading the B-2 stealth bomber. At a House hearing on Wednesday, Skelton said, “In my view, a great deal of new capability can be achieved by continuing to modernize our most advanced bomber, the B-2.” He did admit that the B-2 might not fill all requirements “contemplated in the QDR” but maintained it could “satisfy a large percentage of those requirements.”
The Air Force has embraced new technical approaches like open mission systems and rapid software updates for cutting-edge aircraft like the B-21 and Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Increasingly, though, the service is also working to apply these to its older, “legacy” aircraft, officials said this week.