U.S. Air Force to unveil the ‘most advanced military aircraft ever built’ with cutting-edge stealth technology costing $203 billion
The US Air Force plans to unveil the most advanced aircraft ever created this week, after spending nearly $203 billion on the program.
The B-21 Raider stealth bomber will be unveiled at the Northrop Grumman facility in Palmdale, California, on Friday, December 2.
The bomber was designed to carry out long-range bombing and nuclear missions employing cutting-edge stealth technologies.
Currently, six bombers are being built in Palmdale at about $2 billion per aircraft. They are expected to be flying in 2023.
The Air Force and Northrop began developing the bomber in 2015 after the aerospace and defense company won the contract to design and produce the aircraft.
The advanced aircraft was named after the Doolittle Raiders – a team of B-21 bomber crewmen from World War II known for their daring and bravery.
An artist rendering of the B-21 Raider. No images of the actual aircraft have been revealed yet
Representatives for Northrop called the B-21 ‘pioneering’ and ‘technological excellence.’
‘The B-21 is the most advanced military aircraft ever built and is a product of pioneering innovation and technological excellence,’ said Northrop sector vice president and general manager Dough Young.
‘The Raider showcases the dedication and skills of the thousands of people working every day to deliver this aircraft,’ he added.
Full details about the bomber have been kept tightly under wraps, with next to nothing having been revealed about the aircraft.
Photos of the plane haven’t even been revealed at this point – only artist renderings of the aircraft revealed by the Air Force, and a teaser reel released by Northrup showing the shape of the B-21 hidden beneath a covering.
The plane is said to utilize previously unseen stealth technology to avoid detection from enemies, and could be capable of flying with or without pilots, according to Defense One.
A rendering of the B-21 Raider released by the US Air Force. The plane will be unveiled on Friday
A teaser for the unveiling of the B-21 Raider released by aerospace and technology contractor Northrop Grumman
Northrop President Tom Jones said the plane was ‘optimized for operations in highly contested environments.’
The unveiling event on Friday will be by invitation only. Jones told Defense One the development project involved more than 8,000 people across 40 states.
‘I think it’s the first view of what’s going to be a great capability for our country,’ he said.
The Air Force has called the B-21 a sixth-generation aircraft, meaning it would be the most advanced plane on the planet.
Aircraft generations denote the major phases of flying technology. The fifth generation – which until the B-21 the world’s most advanced warplanes are a part of – consists of technology that has predominated the 90s and early 21st century.
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GUNS N GEAR
$203 BILLION already spent on the program.
Each copy now tagged at $2B each (that will grow like Topsy)….MIC getting fatter and fatter.
RUSS to unveil their newest stealth bomber, the Tupolev PAK DA in April, 2023–costing (best number I can find) $82 million a copy.
Technical parameters of the PAK DA include subsonic speed, 12,000 km operational range and a capability to continuously remain in the air for up to 30 hours while carrying both conventional and nuclear payloads up to 30 tons. The aircraft is expected to have a crew of 4.
…but, what do I know….
PS
RUSS aircraft and aerospace industry–you screw up, and it’s not only your arse, but those above and below you that “should have known better.” One-way ticket to Siberia. It seems to make their engineers and contractors double and triple check their work for competence, reliability, and performance.
God forbid any effort goes to defensive systems.
My times have changed..ref 117 and B2
Why would the Chair Force(Government) be doing this NOW? 🧐🧐🧐🧐
Where did they get all the IC Chips that thing is gonna require? 🧐🧐🧐🧐
I get the Tech end, Low Level and such.
How long till ground clutter isn’t a thing??
Stealth …ain’t so much anymore.
Radars look UP and Out…yes???
What happens when they look Down and Out?
Is Space Based “Radar” a thang yet?
Equivalent of Satellite “NV” “Thermal” “Live Feed”…???
X37B perhaps???
Every Country now has seen Americas TTP going to War.
Missles and Stealth in Opening Days if not Weeks.
Just some passing thoughts (granted uneducated thoughts but none the less) from reading this article..the daily mail article that is.
The Whole Affair seems …$trange.
CCP/PRC will reveal the copy a few hours later?
Two problems with the B-2.1! Not enough range (without a stealth tanker to support it), and not enough bomb load. (Nothing counts as much as hits on target). Should be able to carry at least 12, mk-83 jdams! Or 12 cruise missiles.