"USAF to Unveil B-21 Bomber Today" Topic

Good to see these finally getting close to becoming operational:

link

A real pity we didn't buy many more B-2s back in the day. We only have 20 of those in inventory.

Nice to see these ready to go, could be needed real soon.

Is the B-21 another delta wing or did they go conventional?

it looks to be a flying wing style bomber, parrot1500.

The "Bat plane" !!!

Is it just an upgraded B-2?

Yea, supposedly a simplified, smaller, "cheaper" B-2 variant.

Though of course, it seems the pricetag is virtually the same per copy, albeit in newer, less valuable dollars.

"US Air Force to unveil ‘most advanced military aircraft ever built' "…

…until we build the next one.

If that one is being "unveiled" that would indicate there are numerous others even more "advanced" being developed as we speak.

Russ Dunaway

Yea, it will be interesting to see if the SR-72 (Aurora?) is/will be armed with either AAMs, or bombs.

It would make for a great strike bomber if they give it that capability.

Wish they'd dust off the plans and produce some B-70s, since Soviet/Russian SAMs have been proved to be far less effective than once thought, especially when we take down their radar and command and control networks.

Here's some info about the bomber – not much, but a little info on it:

link

Most interesting to me is the fact that there is apparently also a long-range escort fighter to be developed to go along with these too.

This is the first time I had heard of it, but is similar in concept, though probably far less speedy, but more stealthy than the F-108 fighter, which was planned to escort the B-70 bombers on their long-range, penetration raids. I imagine it might even be the same aircraft as the B-21, but fitted out with AAMs and air search radars rather than bombs and ground attack sensors.

Alas, still haven't seen a photo of it yet, just artists renderings, even today, for the big reveal.

It is expected that the aircraft will make its first flight sometime next year. Currently 6 aircraft are in production, or have been produced.

The expected buy on these is somewhere between 80 – 200+ units, and 165 is one number the USAF says it needs. In contrast, only 20 B-2 bombers are in our inventory, so you can see the need for more of the B-21s, given the aging B-52 fleet, and B-1s in very limited numbers, with some of those being retired.

Here's some more info about the program:

PDF link

Northrup Grumman won the contest to build these over Lockheed and Boeing, due to their cost to build, primarily. Not surprising given Lockheed's penchant for extreme cost overruns, and heartburn from some of the last aircraft projects – F-22, F-35, and the B-2.

What we see & hear is generally unclassified …

heartburn from some of the last aircraft projects – F-22, F-35, and the B-2.

Northrup built the B-2 and that was a significant factor in being chosen to build the B-21. The per unit cost is estimated to be $692 USD million per unit and includes support equipment, training and spare parts however that is based on 100 units and that cost will rise if fewer units are purchased and drop if more (all in 2022 dollars). I do not know if amortized R&D recapture is included in the estimated per unit price but it usually is thus making the production run a key element in per unit price.

breakingdefense.com

"would place an initial order for 100 B-21s and build up to a full fleet of 175 to 200.[16][17] Two USAF studies suggested that Air Force could increase its initial purchase from 80-to-100 to 145 aircraft.[18] Initial operating capability (IOC) was expected to be reached by 2030."

Predictions:
USAF will buy 35 of them.
They will cost a $ billion each.
They will not be fully operational until 2033.
They will not replace either the B1 or B52.

Mike Bunkermeister Creek

I heard today in the media they are calling it the "Raider" after Dolittle's Raiders. Kind of cool !

Finally same a front photo of it.

Looks to be rather small – more like a large fighter bomber than a true bomber. Of course, without any scale references in the image, it is rather hard to tell for sure.

One of the clues is the landing gear, and fewer wheels on it, which some take to believe indicates a smaller, lighter bomber than the B-2 original.

I wonder how much similarity it has to the USN's ill-fated, canceled, A-12 bomber?

Love the name.

"Unveiled" is weird because we already knew what it was going to look like. I was hoping for some hard info – range, payload, speed. What we got was marketing malarkey about agile programming.

Oh, well.

I suppose it's to keep China from knowing all about it, but I would bet China already knows more about it than we will know in 2030.

Andrew Walters,
I'm sure the Chinese have the plans and specs already. Whether its some Chinese spy in the industry, or our glorious leadership just giving it to them, or some state-sponsored Chinese hacker, its a given they've got everything they need to make a copy.

The Chinese have only just unveiled their F-35 knockoff. Stop giving them so much credit. They are not way ahead of us on much of anything. Unless they got the plans from one of our famous resorts…

I believe you are correct AW and bc.

Wouldn't surprise me if Chinese "sleeper agents" in the truest sense of the word (sleeping with our "leaders") already have the plans and data from that, or from hacking.

Actually, their F-35/F-22 knockoff has been on full display for quite some time. Seems they don't have a powerful enough engine to match the F-35, so had to opt for a twin engine plan.

From Miltiary.com – link

The B-21 can fly manned or unmanned + carry nukes … "Peace thru Strength" …

I suspect it is not commonly known, but most of our aircraft since the 1950s/1960s were/are nuke capable. Some, more so than others, but many of even our small tactical fighters and fighter-bombers can do that.

Your are right about the F35, Thresher. They still included it in their big arms convention show recently.

There is no way for the public to confirm what the Chinese know or how they find out stuff.

Actually, Tort., we know a lot about this from the news, though I suspect some/many sources don't/won't cover it for obvious reasons.

"Chinese Sleeper Agents" literally sleeping with those in congress on defense committees to get the info first hand, from "pillow talk", or other more persuasive methods I suppose, from what I've read and seen on the nightly news.

Interestingly, one guy didn't lose his security clearance, and wasn't pulled off the committee, even though he was caught with his pants down due to the above, and the beautiful Chinese agent quickly fled the USA after she found out she had been compromised like her target.

Apparently, he may have that security clearance and committee position revoked shortly for cause.

A-4, A-5, A-6, A-7, F-4, teen series, and many from the hundred series of fighters and fighter bombers were nuke capable, in addition to our strategic nuclear bombers.

I doubt the Skyraider was, or the F-5.

Unsure about the F-8 Crusader, but it could probably carry a pair of B-61s, one under each wing in a pinch.

Same for the British fighters and fighter bombers. Even their venerable old Seahawks were nuke capable.

Yes, pretty much anything in the USAF & USN that flew or flies could/can carry nukes. Just like any other ordinance you can hook up on the wing racks, etc.

And BTW PRC/CCP has spies in the USA almost everywhere. Some have even worked with our elected and appointed leadership. Hell, probably some still do !