The defence manufacturer says the loss results from changes made to its B-21 manufacturing process aimed at achieving “accelerated production rates” on the next-generation stealth bomber.
Although the military airframer was unsuccessful in its bid to produce the US Air Force’s forthcoming sixth-generation fighter, Lockheed Martin plans to incorporate design features from the prototype into the F-35 chassis for an aircraft that can deliver “80% of sixth-generation capability” at a reduced price.
The UK continues to assess its requirement to field autonomous collaborative platforms (ACPs) as part of a broader Future Combat Air System, despite having shelved an earlier technology demonstration effort.