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Secret Bomber Prototype Appears to Be Under Development at Northrop Grumman, Defense Technology International Reports
NEW YORK, May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Data in Northrop Grumman’s recent earnings report indicate the company has a classified, sole-source contract to build a demonstrator for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Bomber (NGB), Defense Technology International (DTI) reports in its latest issue. The DTI article, available today in print and online, http://aviationweek.com/aw/generic/s...i&id=news/DTI- Bomber.xml, reports that an unprecedented $2 billion jump in backlog in "restricted programs" listed in the company’s financial report confirms the existence of the contract (copy and paste URL into browser).
DTI reported in March that USAF budgets showed no funding for the NGB in fiscal years 2008-2010. But in 2007, Northrop Grumman CEO Ron Sugar noted that Integrated Systems, the company’s aircraft division, had made stride in "black" programs, and identified restricted projects as the company’s top new-business opportunity. Also last year, Northrop Grumman acquired Scaled Composites -- a company which has proved that it can develop large prototype aircraft quickly.
According to DTI, the Northrop Grumman prototype likely will be built on technology that already is under development for the Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator, putting within reach the USAF’s goal of a 2018 initial operational capability date for the new bomber. DTI reports that industry and USAF sources have talked about a competition in 2010, leading to the start of systems development and demonstration in 2011, but says "it would be Northrop Grumman’s contest to lose."
The DTI article, titled "Ultra Stealth: Is Northrop Grumman Building a Secret Bomber Prototype?" was written by Bill Sweetman, editor-in-chief of DTI. Sweetman, who joined DTI in April 2007 from Jane’s Information Group, has written nearly 40 books and hundreds of articles about aircraft technology and advanced weapons systems for the world’s leading aerospace publishers, as well as consumer magazines and newspapers. TIME magazine once described him as "the best authority on high-tech weaponry outside the Pentagon." To contact Sweetman for further details, email william_sweetman@aviationweek.com.
DTI, part of the McGraw-Hill Companies’ AVIATION WEEK portfolio, is an integrated media business dedicated to covering the interplay of defense technology, funding, operations, programs and policies. Worldwide print circulation includes 38,000 military, government and defense industry decision-makers, as well as defense infrastructure opinion leaders and influencers. In addition to the magazine, the DTI media portfolio includes the ARES defense blog for daily insight and events and management forums.
About AVIATION WEEK
AVIATION WEEK, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, and includes the publications Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Business & Commercial Aviation, Overhaul & Maintenance, ShowNews, Aviation Daily, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report and the World Aerospace Database. The group’s website, http://www.aviationweek.com , offers the industry’s most reliable news, information, search and online community tools. Premium content services include the Aviation Week Intelligence Network, an integrated business tool for managers, business developers, buyers and technical professionals, and MRO Prospector, a unique web-based suite of data and tools for business development and benchmarking in maintenance, repair and overhaul. The group also produces prominent conferences, exhibitions and management forums around the world.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com .
SOURCE AVIATION WEEK
NEW YORK, May 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Data in Northrop Grumman’s recent earnings report indicate the company has a classified, sole-source contract to build a demonstrator for the U.S. Air Force’s Next Generation Bomber (NGB), Defense Technology International (DTI) reports in its latest issue. The DTI article, available today in print and online, http://aviationweek.com/aw/generic/s...i&id=news/DTI- Bomber.xml, reports that an unprecedented $2 billion jump in backlog in "restricted programs" listed in the company’s financial report confirms the existence of the contract (copy and paste URL into browser).
DTI reported in March that USAF budgets showed no funding for the NGB in fiscal years 2008-2010. But in 2007, Northrop Grumman CEO Ron Sugar noted that Integrated Systems, the company’s aircraft division, had made stride in "black" programs, and identified restricted projects as the company’s top new-business opportunity. Also last year, Northrop Grumman acquired Scaled Composites -- a company which has proved that it can develop large prototype aircraft quickly.
According to DTI, the Northrop Grumman prototype likely will be built on technology that already is under development for the Navy’s X-47B Unmanned Combat Air System Demonstrator, putting within reach the USAF’s goal of a 2018 initial operational capability date for the new bomber. DTI reports that industry and USAF sources have talked about a competition in 2010, leading to the start of systems development and demonstration in 2011, but says "it would be Northrop Grumman’s contest to lose."
The DTI article, titled "Ultra Stealth: Is Northrop Grumman Building a Secret Bomber Prototype?" was written by Bill Sweetman, editor-in-chief of DTI. Sweetman, who joined DTI in April 2007 from Jane’s Information Group, has written nearly 40 books and hundreds of articles about aircraft technology and advanced weapons systems for the world’s leading aerospace publishers, as well as consumer magazines and newspapers. TIME magazine once described him as "the best authority on high-tech weaponry outside the Pentagon." To contact Sweetman for further details, email william_sweetman@aviationweek.com.
DTI, part of the McGraw-Hill Companies’ AVIATION WEEK portfolio, is an integrated media business dedicated to covering the interplay of defense technology, funding, operations, programs and policies. Worldwide print circulation includes 38,000 military, government and defense industry decision-makers, as well as defense infrastructure opinion leaders and influencers. In addition to the magazine, the DTI media portfolio includes the ARES defense blog for daily insight and events and management forums.
About AVIATION WEEK
AVIATION WEEK, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, is the largest multimedia information and services provider to the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries, and includes the publications Aviation Week & Space Technology, Defense Technology International, Business & Commercial Aviation, Overhaul & Maintenance, ShowNews, Aviation Daily, The Weekly of Business Aviation, Aerospace Daily & Defense Report and the World Aerospace Database. The group’s website, http://www.aviationweek.com , offers the industry’s most reliable news, information, search and online community tools. Premium content services include the Aviation Week Intelligence Network, an integrated business tool for managers, business developers, buyers and technical professionals, and MRO Prospector, a unique web-based suite of data and tools for business development and benchmarking in maintenance, repair and overhaul. The group also produces prominent conferences, exhibitions and management forums around the world.
About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands including Standard & Poor’s, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2007 were $6.8 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com .
SOURCE AVIATION WEEK
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