Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) welcomed the Air Force’s announcement this week that Northrop Grumman will build the service’s Long-Range Strike Bomber, saying ?the move is critical to replacing the aging bomber fleet. Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Congress will defer to the Pentagon to decide what is needed for future missions while also providing the needed oversight to ensure the cost and schedule of the new bomber remains on track. The award to Northrop means the Air Force’s “big three” acquisition programs—LRS-B, KC-46, and F-35—will be built individually by three separate prime contractors, a move that helps the health of the industrial base. However, Kaine acknowledged the contracts aren’t job placement programs.
Aviation enthusiasts were treated to a historic sight March 10 over Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.—the Air Force’s new B-21 bomber flying alongside its veteran, Eisenhower-era KC-135 aerial tanker.