What We Know So Far About the Successor to the B-2 Stealth Bomber

Additive manufacturing processes like Ceno Technologies cenospheres and also laser-sintered nylon (sintering is a method of making objects by heating powders)continues the trend toward mimicking cytoskeleton fibrous protein structures that naturally hold cells in shape.

this is going to be awesome!!!

I want to fly it now

@Delkomatic

i guess you could if youre a good hacker... ^^ lol

---
bored? lets go mine the stars... ^^

Air Force already has a successor, Sr-75 Penetrator (Aurora)

All a heap of very Imaginative CRAP...
Stealth is as overrated as nothing else, a simple array field of linked radar installations will pick it up. The radio waves still bounce of the aircraft just not straight back to the transmitter but between 45 degree and 90 degree to the incoming beam. So its easily picked up by a secondary radar ahead of the transmitter. Besides wouldn't you become mighty suspicous if an object with a radar cross section the size of a falcon was flying at 50'000ft?

The materials used are also radio wavelength specific, higher or lower frequencies don't apply and you can still detect it. Then there's the exhaust trails and obviously the sound of it flying overhead...Surprisingly LOUD they are. Yes Afghanis living in the mountains will HEAR it!!

And in anyway, in a war whether you're there or not there in the stealth aircraft, people will think you could be and behave accordingly, = advantage lost.

And when will someone design an aircraft that can hide from airborne radar? Its simple, they cant! Just like you can always only hide one side of your face from the camera!

Stealth is really just about hiding your identity, and its pointless! If you try to hide when someone clearly confronts you, you're just going to make it worse for yourself.

Oh and Rule #X: Never believe the concept artist!

Giving the enemy a short time of response is the point of stealth. But if we have a colossal military air laser system, stealth would not matter. Or it could be a colossal ship laser system with an airborne mirror for further distance of attack.

Is having a satellite mirror in space against any international laws, hmmm?

Buzzzzzzz-ap! POP! Fizzle! Bang!

..........................................
See life in all its beautiful colors, and
from different perspectives too!

@rg-5,

Oh really? Stealth technology is a heap of crap? Tell me, how many stealth fixed wing crafts have been shot down by the enemy? I will help you out, one. Maybe two if you count the recent stealth drone that was lost in Iran but it may not have been shot down and the true nature as to why it was lost may never be made known to us. I'll give it to you so two. Two out of how many missions that have been conducted? The statistics of the survivability of stealth craft on the modern battlefield does not support your arguements that stealth technology is a heap of crap. On the contrary statistics say it is HIGHLY, HIGHLY effective at evading detection and completing the mission.

@Army Juggernaut, use the sense you so promote. How many Stealth aircraft have been built, how many were flown against an enemy that can ACTUALLY SHOOOT BACK? Fly these aircraft en mass against the Chinese mainland, we'll see what happens. Hhahahaha they're all gonna be FUCKED!!!

And before you dick about again, STATISTICS ARE FOKKEN RELATIVE YOU IDIOTIKLY STUPID PENCIL PUSHING PIECE OF AMUSING RIDICULOUSNESS, I DONT EVEN CARE IF POPSCI CANCELS MY ACCOUNT BUT I JUST CANT STAND INSENSIBLE IDIOTS LIKE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Statistics dont mean SHYT! Statistics cant build working AI statistics cant make anyone think correctly, Statistics only FOKKEN show WHAT happened not what COULD FOKKEN happen

(Amusing words Intentionally Misspellt) :D Hahaha

@RG-5

The point of stealth aircraft is to not get shot down. period. The pilot couldn't care less if you can hear him. He flies at night so that you cannot see him. He knows what altitude to fly at so that his aircraft does not make contrails. If you cannot track him with your radar, you cannot shoot him down with your guns or missiles. If you don't know his position or altitude, your AAA is literally a shot in the dark.

Stealth aircraft have been flying alone and unaided into heavily defended hostile airspace for years. It is a proven technology, and it IS effective against aircraft radar.

If you think you can create a weapons system that can shoot down a B-2, you should build it. Literally every military on this planet would love to get their hands on that (and pay handsomely for it). Until then I would say you are suffering from cranial rectal inversion.

@Space
Quote:
[Giving the enemy a short time of response is the point of stealth. But if we have a colossal military air laser system, stealth would not matter. Or it could be a colossal ship laser system with an airborne mirror for further distance of attack.

Is having a satellite mirror in space against any international laws, hmmm?

Buzzzzzzz-ap! POP! Fizzle! Bang!]

That wouldn't work, you'd just fry the Mirror/ Satellite carrying it!

I think it's time for a sleeping pill. And, now ladies and gentlement Mr. Conway Twitty.

rg-5,
Why you become such a spun up yo yo? You do realize, some people here on POPSCI enjoy pulling strings for the joy of spinning up others.

I am putting good vibes toward you now and relax.....

..........................................
See life in all its beautiful colors, and
from different perspectives too!

@Democedes go FFFF yourself, I'm not saying it doesn't work, but what I'm implying beneath all that,(IF you read it all/can read sensibly) I'm saying it works to a certain degree! And that the upgraded version rumor is bullshit, its yet another B2 with different paint and recessed engines! And the real version doesn't have the wings on the nose, they'd be radar intrusive. And to be honest Stealth is neccessitated only by the stupidity of Politicians to resolve conflict(which they created) peacefully!! Get it now?

@Space "Giving the enemy a short time of response is the point of stealth. But if we have a colossal military air laser system, stealth would not matter. Or it could be a colossal ship laser system with an airborne mirror for further distance of attack."

The point of stealth is that you cannot shoot down what you cannot see. It doesn't matter how big your gun is, if you don't know where to aim it.

@rg-5 "Statistics only FOKKEN show WHAT happened not what COULD FOKKEN happen"

So what is a better indicator of what will happen?

A) What has happened in the past.
B) What happens in my imagination?

Einstein's definition of insanity comes to mind.

Me, spun up? My turbines are just about spooling down.

@democedes, Why bother shooting down the B2? Instead trash its home; its airfield or its in air refueling tanker. Then they're already partially screwed.

Then surrounding the aircraft, acting as if you see it and threaten to shoot it down, (it has no Anti-Aircraft armament and isn't very fast 990km/h) They wouldn't be able to tell if you actually see it, so before they get killed, you might be able to force them to land.

@democedes Spinning up again... Lol not really. :)

A better indicator of what will happen? Fly your aircraft into the storm and find out! But in truth, there is no Indicator of what will happen, that's up to Natures Random choosing, and Nature doesn't like humans to begin with...

No further comments from me now. Goodbye whatever you decide to say.

The Only people who say stealth technology doesn't work or is overrated are people who cannot build such technologies or can but have to steal/hack/reverse-engineer just to build such devices. Time and time again has the United States proven the advantages of Stealth technology and it has only been recently that other nations have caught on to seeing how powerful stealth aircraft really are and quite often they start trying to develop their very own. Russia has, China has, India has, United Kingdom has, South Korea has. Nations like China have gone out of their way to steal/hack classified documents regarding the latest US developments in stealth tech just to find out how to stop them. When every nation on earth have looked at the the possibility of going to war with the United States and after assessing the possibilies of what could happen. The conversation about the B2 Spirit was bound to come up eventually. The Stealth Bomber is a scary MAD weapon that many nations are terribly afraid of. Which is why many nations have devoted such tireless effort to steal/build their own stealth aircraft. Hundreds of stealth drone attacks are conducted a year and just one managed to get a glitch and fall over the Iranian border. That is the testinomy to the very real threat the US has to offer. China would never win a war with the US simply because China has the worlds largest population and finds it hard to even feed their own people. How do you suppose China can maintain the burden of maintaining a massive army when the average Chinaman can't even make a decent paycheck. There are more people than decent jobs with good pay and adequately safe working conditions. People who believe China is taking over are just encouraging a 6 decade long arms race. Made in China doesn't mean "Designed in China", it just means foreign company's use China as low wage live stock to make their products for virtually no money.

@rg-5 There really is not that many ways your original post can be interpreted. It is still clear you don't know stealth technology from your arse.

@rg-5 "And the real version doesn't have the wings on the nose, they'd be radar intrusive."

According to the article they are retractable. You did read the article didn't you?

Really. Stop. You are embarrassing yourself.

@rg-5 “Why bother shooting down the B2? Instead trash its home; its airfield or its in air refueling tanker. Then they're already partially screwed.”

B-2s do not deploy, even in war time. They only operate from one airfield, Whiteman AFB in Missouri. So you could nuke Whiteman AFB as a start. Also, the B-2 has an operational range of 6,000 miles. So even if you destroy all of the mid air refuelers in the theater, the B-2 could simply land at any friendly airfield within 6,000 miles. So in summary, you are going to destroy Whiteman AFB and every friendly airfield within 6,000 miles. That is a long way to go to destroy one aircraft.

@rg-5 “A better indicator of what will happen? Fly your aircraft into the storm and find out! But in truth, there is no Indicator of what will happen, that's up to Natures Random choosing, and Nature doesn't like humans to begin with...”

Yes, victory in war is Natures Random choosing, it has nothing to do with technology, size and competence of your forces. <--(sarcasm)

@rg-5 “No further comments from me now. Goodbye whatever you decide to say”
I think that is for the best.

RG-5, pick a side of a quarter that you think is crap. I'll pay you 10 cents every time your side comes up, and you pay me a buck every time my crap side comes up. 1,000 flips. Sound good?

XkriskrossX, good stuff. Thanks.

Transpeter97,

Any particular reason you think "this is going to be so awesome"? You'll never fly the thing, it's meant to never be seen, and it's only purpose is to deliver destruction to your front door (real quiet like) when you decide to act up. The best part is you'll never know it happened.

What's sad is that more people are concerned with the definition of "Stealth" and how they identify with stealth then they are the 3.7 Billion dollars being drained into another useless project. How many otherwise useful things can we do with that kind of money.

That's okay, I'll just sit around and wait for the milk to unsour itself in the refrigerator. Better waiting on that then waiting on people to see the big pi....(program error, troubleshooting...error found under clause 163.45-66.2 CAP45, Too much thinking for oneself)oooooh, flashy new thing to bring death from above Can't wait to see the look on those poor son of b's face when this comes rolling out. I'm sorry, what was this all about again.

lol @rg-5 internet rage is so kewl! (sarcasm)

Although I have to admit, the optical stealth(?) depicted in the image of the article is a bit misleading.

The plane looks awesome, and so what if it doesn't look like that when it goes into production? Where would we be if we didn't use our imaginations a bit? Oh and arguing online is like competing in the special olympics: even if you win, you're still a retard.

What's up with the depiction showing the engagement of a cloaking system? Is that supposed to emphasize the stealth?
Aside from the Canard wing, that looks just like a regular B-2 stealth. For everyone who loves crapping on the space program and military programs, just remember, a significant amount of the technology you use is as a result of them. Even the internet you're using was developed for the military decades ago.

Science always asks "can we," but doesn't seem to ask "should we."

Yeay I provoked an argument! Seriously have any of you got a problem with thinking out of the box? To come up with a shit ton of things were there might be a problem/otherwise with something other than just sticking to provided data like fish in a stream? Also The distance between Whiteman AFB and Iraq = ~10,909.36 kilometres, B2's range ~11,100 km, it gets there on one tank, then has 200km range left..... Either it has to refuel at a base very nearby,weakest spot, or in the air; weaker spot, to get back home. You haven't considered that, have you?

Please here is another statistic to consider, how many non stealth fixed wing aircraft have been deployed to the same theater that stealth fixed wing aircraft have been deployed to and how many of these 'non-stealth' fixed wing aircraft have been destroyed by enemy fire? Rather few...
Look at this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aviation_shootdowns_and_accidents_during_the_Iraq_War

Summary
Fixed-wing losses

24 (*2 to hostile fire, **2 to friendly fire)

Afghanistan Link:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aviation_accidents_and_incidents_in_the_War_in_Afghanistan

Summary:

Fixed-wing losses

23 (*1 to hostile fire while on the ground)

You get the point!

Most are Helicopters, just about everything of fixed wing are accidents, pilot error, mechanical failure, and a few ridiculous takedowns.
The difference in Survivability might as well be the crazy better pilot training the stealthies receive.

The expense defeats the point. The fuel load alone to get from Whiteman AFB to the Middle east is about 75tons, that's 52tons more than its bomb load!

And the note at the bottom of the website:

Notes:

Numerous crashes and shootdowns involving UAVs are not included in the lists above, because UAVs crash more than manned aircraft.

There are many different ways to see the plane in this article.

Maybe it just turned on its cloaking shield or maybe it is slowly being revealed.

Perhaps it being hit with a laser and slowly melting and the picture is displaying it just moments prior to being gone.

It could be activating its neutrino faster than light drive and disappearing with speed from our view.

Last I guess the flux capacitor is beginning to activate and the plane will warp into another time!

..........................................
See life in all its beautiful colors, and
from different perspectives too!

Now you're just being ridiculous.
But cant you see!
Its on flying over the Martian ice caps!

@rg-5 “Also The distance between Whiteman AFB and Iraq = ~10,909.36 kilometres, B2's range ~11,100 km, it gets there on one tank, then has 200km range left..... Either it has to refuel at a base very nearby,weakest spot, or in the air; weaker spot, to get back home. You haven't considered that, have you?”

First, an aircraft’s range is out and back, not one way. Secondly, I assume the pilots planning this mission are not complete idiots. If they are going to take gas, they are going to do it on the way IN. If there is no tanker, they can land and get gas at any NATO base in Europe. But they are not going to continue to the target without topping off. That would be stupid.

@rg-5 “Please here is another statistic to consider, how many non stealth fixed wing aircraft have been deployed to the same theater that stealth fixed wing aircraft have been deployed to and how many of these 'non-stealth' fixed wing aircraft have been destroyed by enemy fire?”

You need to consider mission profile. Stealth aircraft perform the most dangerous missions. During the first gulf war, F-117s were the only aircraft flying “downtown” in the beginning. They were flying into the most highly defended airspace in the world at the time. They did it alone and unaided. A non-stealth aircraft would have to have a handful of accompanying support aircraft to pull off what the F-117s were doing alone. A non-stealth aircraft would need a dedicated ECM platform to jam enemy radar, fighter escort, and SAM suppression escort. ~8 aircraft to conduct the same mission as 1 F-117.

The F-117s destroyed C&C and air defense targets making it safe for non-stealth aircraft to operate in the Bagdad area. And they did it without a single combat loss. If non-stealth aircraft were performing the same high-risk missions as the stealth platforms your statistics would be significant.

@rg-5 “The expense defeats the point. The fuel load alone to get from Whiteman AFB to the Middle east is about 75tons, that's 52tons more than its bomb load!”

How is it more efficient to use fuel for 8+ aircraft and risking 8+ pilots/aircraft on a mission that one aircraft/pilot could perform? Flying from Whitman is a waste, but I understand that they are building/have built special climate controlled hangers at several over-seas locations to accommodate B-2s. Perhaps the US should start thinking about replacing the B-2 with something that can be easily deployed to an airbase in the combat theater.

Keep trying, you may actually come up with a valid point.

Here is a book you might want to read. It is a good introduction to the history of stealth technology.

http://www.amazon.com/Skunk-Works-Personal-Memoir-Lockheed/dp/0316743003

Hey Democededs If you're such an f'n genius that can only come up with facts via the internet please consider using your geniusness to go work for Lockheed? Hey, hows that?

On a side Note: :D

Refuel before going into the combat area or after, the fact is you need to refuel, you cant get around that, you're vulnerable at that point.

Why does a B-2 need a 'climate controlled' hangar? Does it melt in the sun? No! Its just to keep prying eyes away...

Were both on the same team, I'd be using you're same arguments anytime, the fact is though you and I are thick headed and unable to change from our originally stated point of view, because that would be admitting, something.

So go F these horribly researched and lacking popsci posts and we both do something else, heck why I'd even bother coming back here? Just for the sake of amusement...

Researchers found what materials were used for the "Wicked Witch of the West" in her broom stealth flying days; being the first stealth flyer and always showing up and scaring Dorothy.

Sadly the researchers made an oversight and forgotten what happened once the Wicked Witch gets wet!
Sigh..... :(

..........................................
See life in all its beautiful colors, and
from different perspectives too!

Amusing, Space :)
I get it. Got it long ago.

End of Article comments

“Hey Democededs If you're such an f'n genius that can only come up with facts via the internet please consider using your geniusness to go work for Lockheed? Hey, hows that?”

I am not an engineer. And my knowledge does not come from the internet. It comes from professional experience and education. I only use the internet to fact check.

“Refuel before going into the combat area or after, the fact is you need to refuel, you can’t get around that, you're vulnerable at that point.”

You can refuel over Europe, or wherever it is safe. You don’t refuel in enemy controlled airspace. So if Iraq can achieve air dominance over all of Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Indian Ocean simultaneously, then yes, the B-2s would be vulnerable while they refueled. And if you have to go to such incredible lengths to protect yourself against one aircraft I think it is a true testimony of the effectiveness of the platform.

“Why does a B-2 need a 'climate controlled' hangar? Does it melt in the sun? No! Its just to keep prying eyes away...”

The RAM coating on the exterior of the aircraft needs constant maintenance, and reapplication. This can only be accomplished in a (rather large) temperature controlled hanger. (This is that where fact checking would have been handy)

“So go F these horribly researched and lacking popsci posts”

Speak for yourself.

Wow rg-5 you really are a tool and an uneducated one at that. Our stealth air craft has been used against countries with modern air defense in the past and more recently. During the initial invasion of Iraq in 2003 we conducted tons of air raids using stealth aircraft, and not a single one was shot down by the enemy. We also flew F-117's in the gulf war when stealth technology was still pretty new and we didn't lose any during that conflict.

So far it's confirmed one stealth air craft lost due to enemy fire and that was an F-117 during the Bosnian conflict. The one lost in Iran may or may not have been as a result of Iran countering our drone as much as it was error on our part. We may never know the truth behind it. However, even in losing that drone we have flow many missions over Iran and Pakistan(who also has a modern air defense system) without detection at all.

Your notion that stealth is a heap of imaginative crap is baseless and obsurd. It's clear that you don't have a clue as to what you are talking about and the way you throw around insults on a Popsci comments board are proof of your immaturity. So please make good on your promise and stop posting, on this board and on Popsci in general. Adults are having a conversation here.

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rg-5 are you all right? Seems you locked up. Now beside being an admitted provocateur, what are your qualifications to make and challenge the article and other comments? I could ask other but you are by far the most vociferous and sling the most mud. So please tell us of your expertise Then with you bonafides established, we can accept you as an expert, or a juvenile flame thrower Statistically speaking, and I am a betting man, I am betting the latter

To everyone arguing with rg-5; a word of advice. "Never argue with an idiot because they will bring you down to their level then beat you with experience."
Stealth is in no way perfect but we have it and most others don't. Not to mention, as far as fueling is concerned; it could refuel just before it got to Iraq so it has plenty of distance to go.

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The main point of stealth has frequently been outlined by the military and contracters. Stealth isnt about being invisible (yet) and its not about never being seen. Its about being difficult to be seen. Once you become difficult to detect the enemy has to significantly ramp up detection efforts and spending related to that.

The cost of these 'simple systems' rg-5 is talking about is not too bad when talking about protecting a single installation. But your costs go up exponentially the more land you have to cover. The more the enemy spends on detection the less he spends on defensive, and offensive weapons. Its a cyclical system to help defeat the enemy financially as well as militarily.

The B2 Spirit costs 1.2 Billion $ a piece.
How much does it cost do deliver 1 ton of bomb to the bad guys? And how much shall the new BX cost? Can we afford it?
We could only afford 20 B2!

Why not use a dual penetration strategy of using cruise missiles for one-shot attacks (against hardened targets) AND cheaper B52-style bombers for repeated attacks (against less well-defended targets)?
Hope that the BX program is not something to keep the Air Force scientists from joining the unemployment lines.

@popkornpop “The B2 Spirit costs 1.2 Billion $ a piece.
How much does it cost do deliver 1 ton of bomb to the bad guys? And how much shall the new BX cost? Can we afford it?

For those who don’t know, the BX (base exchange) is a Wal-Mart type store located on every major Air Force base. The army calls them the PX (post exchange).

US military BX/PXs are built and run by the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES). AAFES does not cost the DOD a dime to run. In fact, AAFES turns a hefty profit each year which is used in the Army and Air Force’s morale, welfare and recreation programs. Letting BXs fall into disrepair would be a wonderful way to give the troops the middle finger and not save any federal money at the same time.
@popkornpop “We could only afford 20 B2!”

We don’t need that many of them. B-2s were designed for nuclear war, and then were repurposed for conventional war when the Soviet Union collapsed. They are awesome, but a little overkill for what we use them for today. A redesigned B-2 built from the ground up for the mission it will actually be used for makes sense.

One point that is critical when redesigning the B-2 is reducing the operational costs. “The U.S. B-2 bomber is the most expensive warplane ever to enter service. It's also one of the most expensive aircraft to maintain, costing about $3.4 million a month per aircraft just for that. For every hour in the air, about 60 man hours of maintenance are required.” www.strategypage.com/htmw/htairfo/articles/20100614.aspx

@popkornpop “Why not use a dual penetration strategy of using cruise missiles for one-shot attacks (against hardened targets)…”

Dual penetration strategy? Really?

Double entendre notwithstanding; All of the current precision guidance methods used for cruise missiles rely on satellite guidance. Satellite guidance can be jammed and the satellites themselves can be destroyed. This is why the US Military is desperately looking for a precision global positioning system that does not rely on satellites.
www.airforcetimes.com/news/2010/01/airforce_schwartz_012310/

Until they can come up with a precise and reliable method of guiding a cruise missile all the way to its target, a manned stealth aircraft is the best option.

@popkornpop “…AND cheaper B52-style bombers for repeated attacks (against less well-defended targets)?”
This was to be the role of the F-35 JSF, a cheap multirole platform. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if it ends up costing as much as a B-2. I don’t think that the concept of a B-2 replacement or a cheap multirole platform is the problem. The problem is the price tags become ridiculously over-inflated. This is the result of the relationship between congress, DOD contractors, and the Defense Acquisition System. Or as Eisenhower put it: the Military Industrial Complex.

@popkornpop “Hope that the BX program is not something to keep the Air Force scientists from joining the unemployment lines.”

Huh? AF scientists work at the BX? Not sure if you are joking or…

+1 for the following
"You need to consider mission profile. Stealth aircraft perform the most dangerous missions. During the first gulf war, F-117s were the only aircraft flying “downtown” in the beginning. They were flying into the most highly defended airspace in the world at the time. They did it alone and unaided. A non-stealth aircraft would have to have a handful of accompanying support aircraft to pull off what the F-117s were doing alone. A non-stealth aircraft would need a dedicated ECM platform to jam enemy radar, fighter escort, and SAM suppression escort. ~8 aircraft to conduct the same mission as 1 F-117.

The F-117s destroyed C&C and air defense targets making it safe for non-stealth aircraft to operate in the Bagdad area. And they did it without a single combat loss. If non-stealth aircraft were performing the same high-risk missions as the stealth platforms your statistics would be significant."

and besides. just play BF3. with no ECM a rocket locks on to you in about 5 sec. with ecm upgrade it is 10. Just 5 more seconds increases life expectancy by about 4x. JUST the 5 sec is enough time to evaluate the danger and engage, climb, evade, etc, etc, etc.

I just came across this. I am the director of research at Ceno Technologies. First off I hope you realize the article told very little about Stealth Coatings. The majority of new stealth coating are very classified but recent advancements have produced the following.. Both wide and narrow band coatings light and thin film, simulated black body coatings and advanced materials the work in the range from DC to High GHz ranges to Far IR. Also not quite as far are optical Stealth technologies but it is very promising.

In short they do exist and their main goal is to gain the element of surprise by gaining even a few seconds of extra undetectability.

I don't have much to add, but just want to thank democedes and Army Juggernaut for their responses. Very informative. Thank you.

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"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." - Carl Sagan

A big problem with stealthy aircraft is that it still takes 30 seconds for their unstealthy bombs to fall to the target. That is more than enough time to spot, track, target, and shoot them down. If I can spot and kill everything as it passes through 5,000ft, why would I give a damn about what anyone is doing at 50,000ft?

Stealth is a compromise, just like other aspects of engineering, and like any compromise it causes as many or more problems than it solves. It also has many inherant problems, such as above, once you stop focusing on radar cross section. Most industrial nations have seriously considdered manned stealth systems. Only one has not dismissed it as an unwise allocation of resources. And it's not because American is the most awesome country in the world.

There's a good chance that America's next gen bomber replacement may end up looking more like the B-52 than the B-2. It's still 20 years away, and that's a long time in technology.

people who conceptualize these have to consider many factors

Whats up with the hull turning in visible. ?_?

Nothing like this will ever be built while Obama is in power. We need a new government who is willing to spend the money on new aerospace technology.

All this is academic to the concept of the first rule of war. If you know what that is, you are smart, if you know how to implament it, your a genus...

Paz

Is the camo like the camo in predator... if thats the case then this is awesome

~Mr. Noel~

B-2 Stealth Bomber - Red Flag (2012)
http://airsoc.com/articles/view/id/4fb03a93c6f8faea1a000008/b-2-stealth-bomber-red-flag-2012?ev=10&evp=tl