Some blurry pictures taken from the ground are all we know about a possibly new, unknown, U.S. stealth jet. Based on those images we have tried to figure out the shape of the mysterious plane.
On Mar. 10, 2014, three mysterious planes were spotted over Amarillo, Texas, by Steve Douglass, Dean Muskett and few fellow photographers.
The analysis of the photos shot by Douglass and Muskett showed something interesting: the aircraft was almost boomerang shaped and, based on the contrails, it was equipped with two engines (or at least two exhaust nozzles).
One of the images, seemed to show a loose resemblance with the B-2 “batwing” bomber, whereas another one, highlighted a shape reminiscent of an X-47B UCAV (Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle) killer drone.
As done years ago with the famous Stealth Black Hawk exposed by the Osama Bin Laden raid at Abbottabad, based on the grainy images available, I worked with artist Ugo Crisponi to create an image that melted the various details that could be guessed by the shots taken by Douglass and Muskett.
Therefore, the one you can see in this post is a possible shape of a large 6th Generation (probably manned) aircraft, seen over Amarillo; a Black Project, inspired by the B-2 Spirit and F-117 Nighthawk, with inputs from more recent UCAVs designs.
What do you think?
Related articles
Dear david I think your illustration is spot on. The number one requirement for the NEW advanced technology bomber is that it must operate at over 70,000 feet altitude. The US Airforce has stated that the B 2 Spirit simply cannot survive in daylight hours against even a MIG 21 gun only.
Once you go over 70,000 feet you are leaving the benchmark high altitude interceptor MIG 25 interceptor behind. 70,000 feet altitude is the MIG 25’s operating level. However Russia is upgrading the existing inventory of MIG 25’s presumably to equip it against the perceived LRSB (us long range strike bomber)
However 70,000 feet will defeat a MIG 21 bit not a MIG 25 (modernised).Ergo does it have the ability to launch itself on a ballistic Mach 2.5 + trajectory up to 200,000 feet( that is the level of our putative first space tourist ) thus making pursuit a worthless adventure plus any missile in pursuit close enough will not be able to manoeuvre much as it’s control surfaces would be inoperable.
Presumably the US Airforce have enough common sense to ensure that the new bomber has the same cockpit/ controls/ Bomb bay- weapon dispenser as the B-2. I say this because only 21 B-2’s were built and as a result according to ‘popular mechanics’ is horrifically short of parts . The reason for this is that companies that manufactured parts for the B-2 simply don’t even exist any more and a lot of parts are no longer produced any more by those that do
Parts that can be retrofitted to the old B-2 are a sensible option.
If this was the case then any ‘new’ systems for a new bomber would be hidden under the all purpose
‘System upgrades’ as they were tested on the ‘old’B-2.
To get to the altitudes mentioned means bigger battier wings and gruntier engines to begin with.
This is interesting because all B-2 aircraft are to have the rear of the plane modified because of ‘excess heating ‘ as I understand it.
Seeing as 90,000 lb thrust engines on commercial aircraft are quite pedestrian these days I assume that the ‘overheating’ was from a higher thrust engine being tested out in one of the engineering / test group of B-2 ( as I understand it only 12 are available for combat duty at any time).
You probably would need a ramjet or two to operate so high but that is a solvable engineering problem
Presumably it would have two commercial derived engines for ‘normal ‘ altitudes.
As for re-entry from a high altitude look no further than the BOEING X-37 popping off into space
Wow you really have no idea what you are talking about do you? Don’t get me wrong it sounds good but you don’t know anything about aircraft engineering or propulsion capabilities.
More likely 75% design of Northrup Grumman Next Generation Bomber. Contract let out October 2011 for such and now they are flying it daytime prior to unveiling the aircraft once declassified. This could be one off and it could be one of three pre-production prototypes built by Northrup Grumman. Boeing/Lockheed Martin are the other contenders in the Long Range Strike Aircraft program which may consist of prototypes built before contractor down select.