Air Force Names Partners for New Bomber--Update

By Doug Cameron

The U.S. Air Force on Monday identified the seven main partners alongside lead contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. on the multibillion-dollar B-21 bomber program, potentially providing decades of work on one of the Pentagon's highest priorities.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said the Pratt & Whitney unit of United Technologies Corp. would provide the engines for the proposed long-range bomber. Northrop Grumman recently resumed work on developing the plane after Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. dropped a protest after losing the main contract

The Air Force awarded the main contract to Northrop Grumman last October and has been under pressure from some lawmakers to identify other companies involved and to boost the transparency of the highly classified program as it tries to steer funding for the plane through Congress.

Analysts estimate the Pentagon will have to spend $80 billion to $120 billion to develop and build a fleet of at least 100 radar-evading bombers, designed to deliver weapons and other systems deep into enemy territory.

Ms. James identified three specialists in building aircraft structures and other systems on the team: a unit of UK-based GKN PLC, Spirit AeroSystems Inc. and Orbital ATK Inc. Rockwell Collins Inc., which makes a variety of avionics, and electronic warfare specialist BAE Systems Inc. were also named alongside closely held Janicki Industries Inc., which makes in composite materials.

Pratt & Whitney had been widely tipped by analysts as the engine supplier. It already builds engines for the Lockheed-built F-35 combat jet after beating out General Electric Co., which initially self-funded a rival power plant.

The bomber program has remained highly classified, and Ms. James said all of the partners were required to have cybersecurity plans in place to protect their work on the plane.

The B-21 is eventually expected to be equipped with nuclear weapons, and Ms. James said the program budget should be included alongside a new Navy submarine in a special fund for modernizing the U.S. nuclear arsenal if the Pentagon opts to take that route.

The Pentagon faces a so-called bow-wave of funding next decade as it boosts output of the F-35, the B-21, a Boeing-made refueling tanker and the new submarine, alongside new intercontinental missiles and support systems.

Write to Doug Cameron at doug.cameron@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 07, 2016 17:46 ET (22:46 GMT)

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