Seven Ways to Make the LRS-B Program a Success

The U.S. Air Force announced today that Northrop Grumman was selected to build the next bomber, known within the Pentagon as LRS-B (Long Range Strike–Bomber). This is one of the most consequential new defense programs for the foreseeable future and the only new manned combat aircraft currently in development. The new bomber will be an essential part of the future force, providing the ability to penetrate enemy air defenses and strike targets over great distances—quite literally putting the “global” in the Air Force’s global precision strike mission. Barring a successful protest that forces a do over, the LRS-B competition is done, but the long and potentially perilous development phase of the acquisition process is just beginning. Many things can (and often do) go wrong in defense acquisitions, but here are seven things the military, contractor team, and Congress can do to help keep the program on track.