U.S. Air Force Close To Awarding Contract For New Bomber

Boeing-Lockheed Long Range Strike Bomber concept

Reuters: U.S. Air Force says close to awarding bomber contract

The U.S. Air Force is close to announcing an award for a contract for a new long range strike bomber, a U.S. Air Force official said on Wednesday.

"The message here is we're very close," said Air Force acquisition chief William LaPlante.

Northrop Grumman Corp, maker of the B-2 bomber, is competing against a team made up of Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp for a deal that could be worth $50 billion to $80 billion.

The purpose of the new long-range bomber is to upgrade from the aging B-52, B-2 and B-1 bomber. Without naming any specific countries, LaPlante said that the long range bomber would allow the United States to continue to "influence power" in the face of other countries increasing their air power.

More News On U.S. Air Force Close To Awarding Contract For New Bomber

USAF ‘Really, Really Close’ To Bomber Contract Award -- Defense News
LRSB Contract Coming ‘Very, Very Soon': LaPlante -- Breaking Defense
USAF touts LRS-B cost as downselect approaches for 100 bombers -- Flight Global
Air Force Poised to Buy New Bomber, Avoid Acquisition Death Spiral -- National Defense
U.S. Air Force is 'Very Close' to Selecting Bomber Contractor -- AIN Online
Reports: William LaPlante Says Air Force to Award Bomber Contract Soon -- GovConWire
A $550 million Air Force bomber so good it will never be used -- David Axe, Reuters