Senate lawmakers on Tuesday challenged new Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson to explain the service’s secrecy regarding its B-21 nuclear bomber program.
During a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) said it was “difficult to understand” why the Air Force is keeping all the B-21’s capabilities classified “under the veil of secrecy.”
The B-21 Raider, or the Long-Range Strike Bomber, is a new stealth system being developed with the capability to deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons. Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the developmental aircraft; details of a recently completed preliminary design review have not been made public.
“We are very open with the appropriate committees in the Congress about exactly what we’re doing and what we’re spending it on,” said Wilson, appearing before the committee for the first time since her March 30 confirmation hearing.
“[T]hat is simply not true,” McCain responded.
The B-21, which will replace an aging Air Force bomber fleet and is expected to be fielded starting by 2025, would receive $2 billion under the Pentagon’s fiscal 2018 budget request, up from $1.3 billion in the current year. McCain said the public should know more about this $2 billion research and development funding request for the program.
Last September, the Air Force said it would consider declassifying some parts of the program.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) also asked about conflicting reports from the Air Force on the number of B-21s it needs to procure – an amount he said has ranged from 80 to 100 to 165 bombers, based on various public statements from service officials.
“It is my understanding that it’s 100 B-21s,” Wilson said, noting the Air Force plans to buy a total of 165 bombers including some B-1s, B-2s, and B-52s. Gen. David Goldfein, Air Force chief of staff, also said during the hearing that “the sweet spot is at least 100 bombers when it comes to the B-21.”
Gen. Robin Rand, head of Air Force Global Strike Command, said last month B-21 development is progressing as expected.
