From: (The Enlightenment)
m

It's value as a reconaisance platform must be significant as well.

My guess, and it's only a guess, is that the plan is to ramp up technologies
that have already proven themselves in the recon role into a bomb carrying
platform.

I base my guess on the fact that the SR-71 has been retired, but that mission
profile still exists. There has to be something that has replaced it that isn't
public knowledge yet.
Dave