This week, the USAF took the wraps off of the new Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. It’s a spiffy update to the B-2 bomber and expected to be able to infiltrate the air defenses of the US’s strategic threats. Namely China.

What I find interesting is that this new plane is expected to supplant the B-1 and B-2, but not the B-52. Which the military has used more. And is constantly updating because no new B-52 airframes have been produced since before I was born.

Also this week, the Army announced it selected Bell’s V-280 to replace the venerable Blackhawk. I guess the Army felt a little left out of the tilt-rotor games? Let’s assume that Bell managed to incorporate lessons learned from the Osprey’s myriad of teething troubles, I can’t see the V-280 being able to squeeze into the same areas that the Blackhawk was able to put down into. Unlike Sikorsky’s Defiant offering. Which means either the troops are having to travel further on foot – or the Army will have an excuse to buy another new helicopter.

Don’t get me wrong. I like looking at shiny new toys as much as the next guy. I’m just not sure they’re the right toys for the right game.