BOMBER PROGRAM CHOICES NEAR

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP92B00478R000800340013-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 23, 2013
• Sequence Number: 13
• Publication Date: June 1, 1981
• Content Type: OPEN SOURCE

".1
I
r
I!
Declassified and Approved For Release 2013/12/23 : CIA-RDP92B00478R000800340013-3
? -
?.. _
Administration must decide on whether to build both B-1
version, Stealth technology aircraft, or only the latter
By Clarence A. Rolainecn,
?. ?
Washingtosee-The Reagan AdMinistratioa
is facing a major decision on whether to
accept an Air Force recommendation and
build two bombers or opt for a single
aircraft based on Stealth technology.
USAF wants first to build a modified
version of the Rockwell International B-1
bomber and then follow- it with an
advanced technology Steal bomber. -
Defense Secretary Caspar W. Wein-
berger expects to decide by June 15 and
recommend to President Ronald Rmgazt a
U. S. bomber aircraft program. That deci-
sion is expected to be followed closely by
another selecting a team of - aerospace
companies to be awarded a contrast to
develop and build a preproduction ad-
vanced technology bomber?the so-called
Stealth aircraft. - -
? .
aces ea
?
?
?
Air Force Recommendation
If the strong Air Force recommendation
is accepted, the U. S. will build first a
modified version of the Rockwell Interna-
tional B-1 bomber and have the firstsqua-
. _ dron operational by 1986. -
During this period the Defense Dept.
would continue to fund through USAF a
Stealth aircraft development program-
leading toward an initial operational capa-
bility in 1991e
. This approach would providn.approxi-
mately 100 .modified B-11, known- as the-
long-range combat aircraft (LRC.A), fol-
lowed by a second bomber force of approx-
imately 110 Stealth bombers in the
1990s. - ? _
The two-bombee plan wonl?oet
?
approximately $19.7 biltent for the 100
LRCAs and $30 billion for the 110
Stealth air craft fleet- - --
In seeking to convince the Defense
Dept. to take this route, USAF already
has included approximately $3 billion in
the Fiscal 1982 budget request now being
considered in Congress..
Two-thirds of this sum is earmarked for
the modified B-1 program and the remain-
der for the advanced technology bomber.
program. -
The service already has structured in
the Fiscal 1983 program objective memo-
randum draft plan $4 billion for the two-
bomber concept. -
The funding is divided about the same
as in Fiscal 1982. ???
Aerospace contractor teams believe that
the U. S. can decide to build a single:
advanced technology bomber and have-the
preproduction model flying by 1986, with
an initial operational capability in 1988_
While taking the single advanced tech-
nology bomber approach would save mon-
ey, it also adds an element of risk should
problems develop in building the large
composite structure of the bomber,
according to high-level Defense Dept- offi-
cials. -
"It also means a delay in getting an
oPerational bomber into the inventory as
soon as possible, and-that must be weighed
against any possible saving," an official.
said_ - ? : - _
_
"It also must be realized that those
savingbased on a sinele-bomber program
are only hypothetical and would evaporater
? - .
EireaattaiStieiir_N=rii ig hi riild(43;
I- ' =
u = .-.,.. r
....cat?c-_? P-0:1-t41,:inft. --CEA;6a:Pg11*-!Vtt decPah'e_it
serre=-ori Mali 2&reaultedFirr deatetto*:orsotfourairerafrancretlesse4-1.fddeat
_.
ee Thee iVier& awe opeezia7;*ati)Oresirnatel)* 6pr ritt; frOne,lacksorn'e4a4aet Week wher-
1 t!-:e.=&ectinia-..witsire4episiaiser.-4ereh letrecie+.4, thit right-ref*-th;a.;ar lee. dol,?-1:5
c--?-*4.71 i'',:iirit-leagisliC...,-,.1',.A*---r;' 4. .....ft#Iiirg_nra? 10,040/Vp,p9r3Crrre.--7C.
M ; 11_ tCc e:e4aVtiser&-*?,,,rf r..--1--_,-,,:--_---.1'.1-7,1;;t---,....'rt:.2,:_-,J.::::-.4:44,--.-1 ?-:"?,--til-,...
. ' ' Aso, tate Met weei4.114:44sio3t Freer identified tire followingaircsa- it dlens4asustainecktf
[ In theCrisieed tire fint,-;:::F. .'_-??-?.;4::::.??-,=::';'-','4,_-;?.:--3'-',-----
_. a Deztreged?One EAW5el4artcl three a-rurnmarrF..14e.:::-:.
- a litiejor darnas;pe?OneF-1and three Vaught A-.7m- -: - , ..
: :,. is Nilnordamage?One F-14-, one ilcorsky.
Aircraft SI+3. fiveA-Ts, one Grumman
A-Ei an& threeLocicheed S-3A-s.,..---. .: ' . ? : 7,'.,! -32- f-:? '::. _-:: '1 -- - --:'
:pt I.--q-sf 14- crevenembers died-as a result of the. crash, inCludt;tet;crnernbere. 16-f--
the EA-68c.rwormonewarereported missing,. 2t receiving-major injurisa and anothe-
24 as receiving- minor injuriea_Many of the serionely injured were airlifted to hospitals
on shore_,7:-.=if ::.:-.: . : 7 '' -*..1";::::-"..:..:'-':::f:-;-*-1:: --;'".;--;;---:,:.--7s-T'r:----:-7,...
The Nimitz was scheduled to return to its home port of Norfolk late last weelc.. Navi--;ii
officiatarsaid it is to early-todetermine the. cause of the crash; but thstweather wast.-
not- a tor_-.-.fac
;.-. ::-,:;;;---;z:-Lf-:--,- -
- i-1,---,:?-.1f-A:'-
2.. -,-... 7
--.:1-,---jr...7-4.7t!..?-.2---:',,..
-:?.-_-,-.7:-