Lockheed Martin Corp. and Boeing Co., the nation’s top two defense contractors, have formed a team to explore whether to submit a bid to design and build a new long-range bomber for the Air Force.
The Air Force aims to develop the bomber by 2018, the companies said Friday. They didn’t provide a potential value for the program, which could call for an unmanned aircraft. A detailed bid request is expected in 2010, the companies said.
The partnership builds on an existing relationship on the F-22 Raptor stealth fighter built by Lockheed with an aft fuselage and wings supplied by Chicago-based Boeing. The pair would likely compete with Northrop Grumman Corp., maker of the current fleet of B-2 Spirit stealth bombers.
Lockheed and Boeing will fund development, which includes work on advanced sensors and defense electronics, until more specific plans emerge from the Air Force, executives said.
Before deciding to bid, the companies will wait until the Air Force issues more detailed requirements, such as whether the aircraft will be flown remotely, executives said.
“It could be manned, it could be unmanned, it could be optionally manned,” said Darryl Davis, president of Boeing Advanced Systems. “We’re anxiously awaiting for the Air Force to determine what is the right set of requirements.”
Lockheed said in July 2006 that the Air Force is in the “early stages” of studying both manned and unmanned alternatives for a new bomber.
Northrop said in November it was “prepared to assist” the Air Force with creating a new bomber. Northrop received a $1.04 billion award in August 2004 from the Defense Department to develop an unmanned bomber. The five-year contract called for the design of three of the planes.
The partnership announced Friday has been under discussion for about a year and a half after Lockheed approached Boeing, the executives said. Lockheed said it met once with Northrop Grumman when considering partnerships.
“When we integrated the experience that Boeing had in terms of the bomber, it was just overwhelming,” said Frank Cappuccio, a Lockheed executive vice president.
