The Next-Generation Bomber program (formerly called the 2018 Bomber) was a program to develop a new medium bomber for the United States Air Force that was then superseded by the "Long-Range Strike-B" (LRS-B) heavy bomber program. The NGB was originally projected to enter service around 2018 as a stealthy, subsonic, medium range, medium payload "B-3" type system to augment, and possibly to a limited degree replace the U.S. Air Force's aging bomber fleet.
On 24 June 2010, Lieutenant General Philip M. Breedlove said that the term "next-generation bomber" was dead and that the Air Force was working on a long-range strike "family" that would draw on the capabilities of systems like the F-35 and F-22 to help a more affordable and versatile bomber complete its missions. On 13 September 2010, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley said that long range strike would continue cautiously with proven technologies and that the plan to be submitted with the 2012 budget could call for either a missile or an aircraft. The bomber will be nuclear-capable, but not certified for nuclear use until a later time.
On 24 February 2012, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley announced that a competition was underway with a target delivery in the mid-2020s.