The Blended Wing Body (BWB) aircraft is one of the single most impactful technology opportunities for future Air Force aircraft, both in terms of capability improvement and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The optimized airframe diverges from traditional tube-and-wing design to a more streamlined design where the body blends into the wing. The engine may either be placed on top of the aircraft body or embedded in the airframe, giving additional lift, range, and efficiency while improving survivability.

Cargo, tanker, and non-stealth bomber aircraft account for approximately 60% of the Air Force’s total annual jet fuel consumption, about 1.2 billion gallons per year, and incorporating BWB design into these platforms would significantly increase efficiency and Air Force capability through increased range, time-on-station, and fuel offload. The Department of the Air Force expects at least 30% aerodynamic efficiency improvement over current Air Force tanker and mobility aircraft. Incorporating BWB designs across the cargo, tanker, and non-stealth bomber fleet would result in an annual fuel savings of $1 billion per year (with current year fuel price and flying hours) and an annual emissions reduction of 3.3 million metric tonnes.