Military spending

Cost Estimates on New Air Force Bomber Draw Questions From Congress

An Air Force spokesman said on Monday that the true cost estimate for both years should have been $41.7 billion. Air Force spokesman told Breaking Defense in an email that both 10-year estimates in the two reports were incorrect and that “the program costs have remained stable,” presumably at $41.7 billion.

The LRS-B is the last of three major Air Force programs lacking a final decision on the contract winner. The current plan calls for the Air Force to buy 80 to 100 of the bombers, which values the purchase portion of the contract at $40 billion to $50 billion. Parts and maintenance would be negotiated and added later.