proposed american attack aircraft weather carrier based stealth bomber replacement united_states navy marine_corps taken world war development troubled cost delays causing questions program ability deliver objectives doubts led development program canceled manner cancellation contested litigation settlement reached january design development program united_states_navy began program program develop field replacement stealth technology developed united_states_air_force heavily program concept design contracts awarded industry teams november teams awarded contracts concept development team selected winner january rival team led surprisingly failed submit final bid team awarded development contract aircraft designated flight initially planned december named homage world war era navy torpedo bomber navy initially sought buy marines wanted addition air_force briefly considered ordering derivative promoted possible replacement air_force united_kingdom tornado fighter bombers craft flying wing design shape triangle cockpit situated near apex triangle gained nickname flying aircraft powered general_electric engines producing pounds force thrust designed carry precision guided weapons internally air air missiles harm air ground missiles complement air ground ordnance including precision guided bombs carried internal weapons bay claimed capable delivering nuclear weapons held internal weapons bay weapons load pounds beginning early revealed delays projected cost increases complications composite materials aircraft weight increased design specification airplane needed operate efficiently effectively aircraft carrier technical difficulties complexity radar system caused costs increase estimate consume navy budget aircraft delays critical design review successfully completed october maiden flight rescheduled early december plans navy aircraft carriers equipped wing government report released november documented problems development program december secretary defense told navy justify program deliver reasons canceled response given navy contractors failed persuade secretary defense canceled program following month january breach contract government felt contractors complete program instructed repay billion spent development disputed court reasons causes cancellation debated remain issue controversy suggestions political action aftermath cancellation navy elected purchase super went replace uses engine modified variant upgraded version developed size revealed public naval air station joint reserve base june cancellation seen major losses 1990s weakened led merger rival boeing years storage facility texas transported adjacent airport north june park later renamed manner program canceled led years litigation contractors breach contract june ruled justified contract ruling required contractors repay government billion plus interest charges billion boeing merged vowed appeal ruling september said hear companies arguments government canceled project use state secrets claim prevented mounting effective defense supreme_court set aside decision returned case federal circuit court january case settled boeing agreeing pay million lockheed martin lightning development carrier capable fighter featuring stealth technology oriented ground attack operations effect successor role industrial origins comparisons drawn role future aircraft sub sonic bombers designed carry comparable bomb loads fly similar ranges specifications data stealth general characteristics crew length wingspan folded height wing area weight max takeoff weight powerplant non lbf maximum fuel capacity pounds internal performance maximum speed knots mph range nmi service ceiling rate climb min wing loading thrust weight armament capability pounds internal weapons bay including air air missiles harm air ground missiles precision guided bombs
McDonnell Douglas A-12 Avenger II