Meet the Raider: US Air Force releases first details of top secret B-21 that could take to the air

Meet the Raider: US Air Force releases first details of top secret B-21 that could take to the air in 2020 - and a pilot will be optional

The Air Force’s long-range strike bomber that will replace the antique B-52's developed during the cold war has officially been named the B-21 Raider.

The all-black plane has a distinctive, zigzagging shape and a low profile designed to make it hard to spot on radar.

It is 'projected to enter service in the mid-2020s, building to a fleet of 100 aircraft.'

Ok so the article says that the Air Force has let out a few details about the new plane. And here are a few that stood out in the article.

It will be capable of operation by an onboard crew or piloted remotely.

I think we spoke about this on the board before. But they finally came out and said it.

The rendering bears more than a passing resemblance to the Air Force's B-2 bomber, which is also made by Northrop Grumman.

However the new document reveals it may not be that accurate.

'The released rendering shows a flying-wing design not dissimilar to the B-2, although simpler in shape.

'It resembles early proposed designs that later evolved into the B-2.'

Does this mean the rendering will not look like the finished aircraft? We might see a different aircraft entirely once it's in production?

They need something, didn't china just figure out some quantum stealth detector? Flux capacitor.

a reply to: Kazber

That has a published range of 60 miles.

a reply to: grey580

Renderings almost always look different than the actual aircraft. It could be something as simple as inlet shape, all the way up to overall shape. It all depends on what they were ready to reveal and when.

a reply to: grey580


You have to wonder (doesn't take much imagination) if the B-21 will cost substantially more than a B2. A B-2 was estimated to cost $553.6 million each in 1997 dollars. (That does not include the 2 billion for R&D.)


This release about the B-21 estimates their cost at $560 million each. Golly, gee, really cheaper in real dollars than a B-2 in 1997! Development cost or any detail of significance were not provided at the news release.

My hope--no my suspicion--is that this craft will be so unique, that it will live up to its new double-digit type of designation as a revolutionary type of craft and not be more of the same ol' stuff. We don't need another subsonic bomber!

If this craft is not based on the UFOs' principle of motion, then it will be merely another extra-expensive façade hiding the true secret craft such as the triangles and others that were made obvious to us years ago. (You understand, they do have to keep large sums of money in the pipeline for them to also.)

a reply to: Aliensun

Get ready to be disappointed again then.

And yes, it is significantly cheaper than a B-2. When adjusted for inflation a B-2 runs closer to $1B. But the latest CAPE estimate puts the B-21 at $511M.

a reply to: Aliensun

Hollow planes

Just looks like the Beast to me.?

Crazy bassplyr speculation time below:

Im thinking she has a more acute wing sweep making her closer to a triangle in shape to better thwart radar. Like less flying wing more arrowhead.

Inlets probably got some sort of hall generator banks in front to strip electrons off the upper fuselage fed by northrups electroplasma like laminar flow sysyem. Engines a little more advanced than ADVENT using a new adaptation to a type of turbine augmentation which will feed electricity to a bunch of things. Fluedic thrust like vectoring on tail end to steer and a bunch of bypass doors to facilitate. Giving her unprecedented range well beyond the speculated. Like well beyond.

Skin probably latest metamaterial blend to absorb and convert a wide swath of EM to other stuff.

Electrified laminar flow to increase drag coefficient, lift and fuzzy up radar returns and also be a tuneable dielectric to thwart larger radar frequencies.

I think she' ll slip right through chinas defenses inculuding her more advanced layers that seem impregnable. Thats whats shes designed to do after all.

I envision her as less b52. Certainly not Bone roll either (my crazy self thinks they have something secret for that roll. Or at least im certain theres something flying thats perfect for that roll and looks like a giant fighter bomber hybrid) but a b2/f117 roll.

What i wanna dream about is whats escorting her and whats doing p-aea. Im sure she can do some of that adroitly enough but they gotta have a dedicated platform just for that im thinking.

a reply to: BASSPLYR

No way would they retire the EF-111 without a replacement. USAF even has their own growler squadron at Whidbey Island. Those crews aren't being kept fresh for the hell of it.

That 'family of systems' is alive and well.

a reply to: Northernhollow

They have their own Squadron because they don't have their own platforms to operate. Trust me, you give the 1991 leadership FAR too much credit. I won't even mention that SOBs name anymore I hate him so much.

a reply to: Zaphod58

They got something pretty flying up there that looks like a oversized fighter jet.

Well, this is my completely uninformed opinion. But, it is based on living my entire early life with my Skunk Dad. I think the F-117, B-2, and now the B-21 all have a place in our air defense and offense scenarios. However, if anyone in their right mind thinks that they are all we have up there, I have some ocean front property to sell you just outside of Rachel, NV.

a reply to: SonofaSkunk

Amen.

They're practically giving it away with the "family of systems" language. We've only met one of the in-laws (barely), and I'm most interested in her big-sister.

a reply to: SonofaSkunk

How much ?

originally posted by: BASSPLYR
a reply to: Zaphod58

They got something pretty flying up there that looks like a oversized fighter jet.

Hope it looks like the YF-23, cos that's one fine looking craft

TextGet ready to be disappointed again then.

I hope we will be it's a good sign , when will we see the roll ou of the "RAIDER" ?

a reply to: darksidius

Probably around summer of next year.