Article Summary: DARPA’s NextRS hypersonic bomber project is setting the stage for the future of U.S. air dominance, promising MACH 5+ speeds, stealth, and unmatched strike capabilities.
Key Point #1 – Designed as a potential NGAD successor, this bomber could revolutionize warfare with its ability to evade enemy defenses, deploy hypersonic missiles, and even target satellites.
Key Point #2 – However, budget concerns and technological hurdles could threaten the project’s survival. With DARPA and the Air Force Research Lab working on a prototype by the 2030s, the NextRS could be the ultimate high-speed strike platform—if it ever takes off. Will this futuristic bomber become reality?
Next RS: DARPA Project Aims to Create a Hypersonic Bomber
The B-21 Raider has many defense analysts excited about its stealth, range, and power. The bomber will be produced regularly in the coming years and is currently in flight-testing mode.
Some generals and observers believe that at least 100 or as many as 200 B-21s could be built. But the futuristic Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is again looking many years ahead and has its next-generation bomber that will improve the B-21.
NextRS Bomber: MACH 5 Hot Rod Could Bomb Them to the Stone Age
DARPA is working on a hypersonic bomber concept and hopes to build a prototype soon. It’s called the Next Generation Responsive Strike (NextRS) program.
This multi-mission stealth warbird can take on ground strike roles and deliver intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data to the warfighter.
This NextRS- at least it is hoped – can fly at speeds over MACH 5.
Could It Be an NGAD Bomber?
The secretive think tank envisions the NextRS airplane as the next step after the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, which is slowly winding its way through the Air Force acquisition process as Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ponders its future. The NGAD may even be paused indefinitely as it is under further review.
Powerful Engine Powers the Ultra-high Speed
The main asset of NextRS that is most interesting is the engine.
With its turbine-based combined cycle engine, this propulsion plant will have an estimated thrust range of 30,000 to 38,000 pounds. Since it is traveling at MACH 5 or higher, the airplane will have high levels of survivability and maneuverability that will enable it to avoid air defenses.
This airplane would be perfect for a shock and awe bombing and cruise missile attack to blind enemy radar and command and control centers in the opening days of warfare.
DARPA is working with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for the prototype of NextRS. Both entities want to have the design piece squared away by the end of the 2020s.
This will evolve as an ultra-high-speed strike machine that could see additional research and development by 2030 and first flight by the early 2030s.
NextRS: NASA May Make It Able to Hit Near Space Altitude
The NextRS is considered a “Y” plane that should be headed to the engineering and manufacturing development phase if all goes according to plan with DARPA and AFRL.
Interestingly, NASA may have a role in this research work, which leads one to wonder if NextRS can become a near space bomber that could use long-range air-to-air missiles or lasers to take out satellites. This could mean that NextRS could have a dual role with the Air Force and Space Force.
The Aerospace Projects Office at DARPA is leading the efforts with NextRS, and this is a “black” program that resembles a Skunk Works classified concept, so many details are under wraps.
The Aerospace Projects Office does not even appear on the DARPA website.
Why Not Just Launch MACH 5 Missiles?
One question that came up on a thread on X about NextRS is why this NextRS bomber is needed when the Air Force could just launch hypersonic missiles instead.
Defense analyst Alex Hollings replied on X, “An air-breathing hypersonic missile means building a scramjet propulsion system and rocket booster for every single target, just to embed the guidance system and scramjet in the foundation of their house. You only need to build a bomber’s engines, guidance once.”
The key part of NextRS is its re-usability. However, questions remain about the futuristic bomber. Will it be manned or unmanned? There will likely be an unmanned option to go along with live pilots who could use the NextRS as a drone mothership that can control remotely piloted or autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This could help with recon duties and targeting and allow the CCA drones to launch their missiles and bombs.
The next question is price for NextRS. The B-21 Raider bomber is a whopping $780 million per unit. That gives you an idea of the amount of money involved. With research and development costs, the NextRS will need an expensive budget line item for many years.
This may be the project’s undoing. Some are questioning the need for NGAD, and it would be challenging to envision the NextRS coming to fruition without the NGAD coming first.
However, DARPA has a different budgeting structure than other airplane acquisition programs and the Aerospace Projects Office gets its line item that would likely be apart from the other Air Force acquisition programs. This budgetary item would stand alone from NGAD and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft projects.
The NextRS program is exciting, especially if the bomber can fly at MACH 5 or more incredible speed. The engine would be topnotch and could be placed on the NGAD someday which could lengthen the life of that airplane should it be produced in numbers.
The DARPA budget can keep the NextRS running for the next few years until the program matures. However, watchdogs overseeing futuristic airplanes could perceive the NextRS as aspirational but unnecessary.
This question of resources and money could be the undoing of NextRS despite its compelling advantages.
Bombers Throughout the Age: A Photo Essay
A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer assigned to the 34th Bomb Group undergoes maintenance at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., July 23, 2024. Five B-1Bs flew from Ellsworth AFB, S.D., to participate in Red Flag 24-3, an exercise that provides Airmen and Guardians with the opportunity to work alongside allied air forces in a realistic combat training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Brittany Kenney)
A B-1B Lancer, tail number 86-0094, is moved across Douglas. Blvd. to the Maintenance Repair and Overhaul Technology Center (MROTC) to receive an initial portion of Gate 1 of programmed depot maintenance April 21. 567th AMXS personnel will perform three days of maintenance which include single system checks on 40 individual actuators validating voltage outputs as
well as interrogating each actuator for hydraulic leaks. After single systems are completed, the horizontal stabilizers will be removed from the aircraft. This is the first time that horizontal stabilizers have ever been removed at the MROTC. Once complete, the aircraft and horizontal stabilizers will be brought back across Douglas to the 569th AMXS strip facility for plastic media blasting. Once stripped, the horizontal stabilizers will be routed to the 76th Commodities Maintenance Group for overhaul and repairs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kelly White)
B-1B Lancer Bomber. Image Credit: U.S. Air Force.
B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber.
B-21 Raider Bomber U.S. Air Force.
About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood
Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
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