First, though, it has to pick which weapons manufacturer will actually make the new craft, Northrop Grumman or a team of Boeing and Lockheed Martin. This is expected to be a multi-billion dollar project, and the bombers could be ready for combat by next decade.

Even now, though, we won’t be learning everything about the new project. Some details, officials say, will still be kept secret. From Bloomberg:

The contract award may offer a rare glimpse at a major weapons system entering the public spotlight. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James is grappling with how much to reveal about the highly classified aircraft, suggesting that she’ll discuss funding and acquisition but not “the crown jewels — the technical capabilities.”

Up till now these bombers have been part of the Pentagon’s “black budget,” projects that are so secret they are only a title in the budget.

The new bomber was featured briefly (and under covers) in Northrop Grumman’s Super Bowl commercial in February:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-vkdUBNOOc