ASELSAN:
Lockheed Martin:
Rheinmetall:
BAE Systems:
Thales:
Leonardo:
Saab:
Kongsberg Gruppen:
Indra Sistemas:
Mitsubishi Heavy Ind.:
Hanwha Aerospace:
AVIC Shenyang Aircraft:
Hindustan Aeronautics:
KEY INTELLIGENCE TAKEAWAYS & SUMMARY
- The US Air Force is discussing equipping bombers with air-to-air capability to achieve the target inventory of 1,509 combat-coded aircraft by 2035.
- The B-21 Raider stands out as the most suitable platform for this role due to its long range, high-altitude capability, advanced sensors, and low observability (stealth) features.
- The future air-to-air concept is planned to be executed in an integrated manner with unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drones.
A New Era in Strategic Aviation: Are Bombers Turning into Fighter Jets?
Technical Capacity and Field Balances
Conclusion and Future Perspective
Statements from the US Air Force high command indicating that they "have not taken any options off the table" clearly demonstrate that the future race for airspace superiority will be conducted through stealth platforms. The integration of bomber-focused air-to-air solutions during the evolution of the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) program will directly impact the tactical and strategic orientations of not only the US but also the global aviation industry. In the coming years, joint operational concepts involving unmanned systems and heavy bombers will redraw the boundaries of military aviation.
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