The B-2 was designed to be stealthy against long-range early warning radars, while the F-117 and F-22 were designed to survive against shorter range search radars and missiles, Boeing Advanced Systems President George Muellner explained Thursday at AFA’s symposium in Orlando. In the new long range strike system, the technology push would be “to do both” and optimize the platform to be stealthy in all regimes. Such a feat is “doable,” he said.
The KC-Z4, a blended wing body tanker concept being developed by startup JetZero, could fuel larger groups of aircraft at longer range to hold more targets at risk, company officials say.