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 Air Force plans to start buying thousands of advanced new handheld radios in 2027 for downed aircrew to communicate with search-and-rescue forces, a capability spotlighted earlier this year during the recovery of two aviators shot down in Iran.