Re:The New B-21 Stealth Bomber to Be Revealed Later This Yea...
by sharpy on Monday July 25, 2022 @09:32AM
(#32223999)
Because even USA doesn't have unlimited money. A B-21 can carry a lot of cheap precision weapons. Eg. JDAM costs like $25k each, compared to many millions each target would require with missiles.
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Re:The New B-21 Stealth Bomber to Be Revealed Later This Yea...
by sschueller on Monday July 25, 2022 @10:07AM
(#32224493)
They sure print like they do and the pentagon has a $35 trillion accounting inaccuracy. [1] We don't even know what this stuff costs us in the end.
[1] https://www.thestreet.com/phildavis/stocks-options/the-penta...
Re:The New B-21 Stealth Bomber to Be Revealed Later This Yea...
by sofixa on Monday July 25, 2022 @09:36AM
(#32224059)
But you'd also have to include the cost of the B-21, crew, maintenance, etc. - it's not only the $25k vs millions for a missile.
Re:The New B-21 Stealth Bomber to Be Revealed Later This Yea...
by throw0101a on Monday July 25, 2022 @09:39AM
(#32224099)
'Cheap' / dumb ammunitions may be easier to produce in volume, so if you need to increase production it could be easier.
The B-21 is a fixed cost that is ready to go: just 'add water' (munitions) and you can have a higher pace of operations as long as you can feed the machine (B-21).
Re:The New B-21 Stealth Bomber to Be Revealed Later This Yea...
by closewith on Monday July 25, 2022 @09:45AM
(#32224179)
Eh, bombers aren't a fixed cost. There's certainly a fixed CapEx, but the B2 OpEx is ~$130,000 per hour (https://www.wearethemighty.com/articles/air-forces-10-expens...).
Still, strategic bombers add capability that drones/missiles don't. In particular, eyes on the target still haven't been deprecated by remote optics in drones and missiles can't loiter.