Behind Closed Doors

Members of the Senate Armed Services strategic forces subcommittee were given a classified briefing about the Air Force's next-generation bomber this afternoon, directly following an open session in which the committee discussed nuclear deterrence and complying with the follow-on Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty with Russia.

Sen. Ben Nelsen (D-NE), the subcommittee chairman, announced at the beginning of the hearing that the open session would adjourn at 3:30 p.m. -- after one hour of discussion -- to meet behind closed doors with Lt. Gen. Mark Shackelford, the Air Force's military deputy for acquisition. The topic of the closed session concerned the service's newest acquisition project, the development of a nuclear-capable, optionally manned, penetrating bomber. The service expects to procure between 80 and 100 of the aircraft, and the bomber will be fielded in the mid-2020s, service officials announced last month.

Nelsen and Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), the subcommittee's ranking member, were the only senators present at the open hearing.