Message posted by Aaron Johnson on February 11, 2004 at 19:49:27 PST:

Lockheed Martin is promoting a bomber version of its F/A-22 Raptor designed to cover great distances, hit well-defended targets, evade radar and outrun opponents.

Call it a paper plane because, so far, the plane known as the F/B-22 is only an idea.

But Air Force officials say they will decide in the next month whether to update current bombers, develop new ones or create an entirely new category of unmanned vehicles to fulfill their "long-range strike" ambitions. That decision could boost Lockheed's bomber plans.

Replies: