A potential European need to develop a new bomber is slowly being brought into focus after the intensive use of the Boeing B-52 and other US Air Force strategic bombers in the Afghan conflict. Noel Forgeard, Airbus chief executive, says: "When one sees the importance of the B-52 in Afghanistan it underlines the fact that Europe does not have such a weapon. We could make some effort of imagination to see if an Airbus platform could be used." Philippe Camus, co-chief executive of EADS, one of Airbus's two principal shareholders, says he is thinking along similar lines. Both stress that "it's a concept, not a project," for now.
Source: Flight International
