DefenceTalkToday Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter announced the U.S. Air Force’s decision to award the contract for the new, nuclear-armed, long-range penetrating strike bomber (or B3) program, which would cost in excess of $100 billion to design and build 80-100 of the planes. The bomber buy is just one part of the Pentagon’s plan to […]https://www.defencetalk.com/bomber-contract-highlights-unrealistic-nuclear-modernization-strategy-say-experts-65704/

DefenceTalkWashington: Northrop Grumman beat out Boeing and Lockheed Martin on Tuesday to win a multibillion-dollar contract to build America’s next generation of long-distance bombers. The award, valued at more than $55 billion, will see the creation of up to 100 strategic bombers to replace America’s aging fleet of B-52 and B-1 planes. “We believe that […]https://www.defencetalk.com/northrop-wins-contract-to-build-next-us-superbomber-65694/

DefenceTalkThe principle of integrated modular avionics, in which each aircraft system can perform various functions, will be implemented in a modernized version of Russia’s Tu-160 strategic bomber. A modified version of Russia’s Tu-160 strategic bomber will be equipped with integrated modular avionics, in which each aircraft system will perform various functions to substitute for another […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russias-tu-160-bomber-to-be-equipped-with-advanced-avionics-65260/

DefenceTalkA fast-flying, heavy strategic aircraft is needed and long overdue, defense experts say. “Please try your best to develop new bomber aircraft.” That was the last wish of the dying Lieutenant General Liu Yudi, 92, a flying ace from the Korean War and a former senior officer of the People’s Liberation Army air force. Lying […]https://www.defencetalk.com/long-range-bomber-may-be-in-chinas-plans-64816/

DefenceTalkBEIJING: China needs to develop a long-range strategic bomber to strike adversaries farther away from its coast in the event of conflict, state media reported Tuesday, quoting defense experts. Beijing has been steadily beefing up its military through years of double-digit increases in defense spending, rapidly expanding its naval power, commissioning its first aircraft carrier […]https://www.defencetalk.com/china-needs-long-range-strategic-bomber-state-media-64812/

DefenceTalkThree B-52 Stratofortresses assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, deployed today to Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford, United Kingdom. The deployment demonstrates the United States’ ability to project its flexible, long-range global strike capability and provides opportunities to synchronize strategic activities and capabilities with allies and partners in the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/b-52s-to-demo-long-range-strategic-capabilities-in-europe-64430/

DefenceTalkThe Russian Defense Ministry will purchase no less than 50 new Tu-160 (Blackjack) heavy strategic bombers when production is renewed, Russian Air Force Commander Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said Thursday. “No less than 50 aircraft over time will be purchased in order to cover the costs that will go into production,” Col. Gen. Bondarev said […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-air-force-to-get-at-least-50-new-tu-160-bombers-64356/

DefenceTalkA major overhaul of Tupolev Tu-160 strategic bombers will be completed in 2019, Boris Naishuler, the director of the Gorbunov Kazan Aviation Production Association’s design center, which upgrades the aircraft, said Tuesday. “The first stage of modernization has been completed; the second stage connected with replacement of nearly all onboard radio electronic equipment on existing […]https://www.defencetalk.com/major-overhaul-of-russias-tu-160-strategic-bomber-to-be-completed-in-2019-64328/

DefenceTalkThe Boeing [NYSE: BA] B-1B Lancer celebrates its soon to be 30th anniversary with the U.S. Air Force at Dyess Air Force Base this week – marking one of many milestones in a legacy that will continue long into the future as Boeing’s B-1 team ushers the supersonic bomber into the digital age with new […]https://www.defencetalk.com/boeing-upgrades-to-keep-b-1-bomber-soaring-for-decades-to-come-64090/

DefenceTalkNATO jets were scrambled Tuesday to escort Russian fighters and nuclear-capable bombers flying near the Baltic states and Sweden with their transponders switched off, sparking protests over the danger they posed to civil aviation. Lithuania’s defence ministry spokeswoman Asta Galdikaite said NATO air policing aircraft identified two Tu-22 type bombers and two SU-27 jets. The […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russian-bombers-spark-nato-scramble-protest-in-baltic-63650/