The Raider!
By 
I’m pleased to announce that I’ve joined the new National Security Journal as a contributing editor. Most of my work there will focus on technical, analytical, and strategic questions, although of course politics will necessarily intrude intermittently. My first piece takes a look at the unusual success of the the B-21 Raider strategic bomber…
Strategic bombers programs have historically suffered from severe procurement issues, as they attempt to unite a raft of capabilities into an advanced technology platform that is intended to serve for decades. In World War II, the B-29 Superfortress was a huge headache, and every ensuing bomber program has suffered from significant problems. But the B-21 seems to have avoided these problems. How has it done so, and how is the program faring overall?
These days when a procurement program looks like it might come in anywhere near budget, you have to scratch your head and ask “how?” With the B-21 there seems to have been quite a bit of discipline in both the Air Force and at Northrop Grumman.