Northrop Grumman B-21

B-21
U.S. Air Force Artist Rendering
Role Strategic bomber
National origin United States
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
Status In development
Primary user United States Air Force
Unit cost
US$550 million (2010)

The Northrop Grumman B-21 is a bomber aircraft under development by Northrop Grumman. As part of the Long Range Strike Bomber program (LRS-B), it is to be a long-range strategic bomber for the United States Air Force,[1] intended to be a heavy-payload stealth aircraft capable of carrying thermonuclear weapons.[2] A request for proposal to develop the aircraft was issued in July 2014. The Air Force plans to purchase 80–100 LRS-B aircraft at a cost of $550 million each (2010 dollars).[3] A development contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman in October 2015. A media report states that the bomber could also be used as an intelligence gatherer, battle manager, and interceptor aircraft.[4]

At the 2016 Air Warfare Symposium, the LRS-B was formally designated B-21 signifying the aircraft as the 21st century's first bomber.[5] Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James stated that the B-21 is a fifth-generation global precision attack platform that will give the US networked sensor-shoot capability, thus holding targets at risk.[6] The head of the US Air Force Global Strike Command expects that 100 B-21 bombers is the minimum ordered and envisions some 175-200 bombers in service.[7] Initial operating capability is expected to be reached in the mid-2020s.[5]

In March 2016, the USAF announced several tier-one suppliers for the program, including Pratt & Whitney, Spirit AeroSystems, and BAE Systems.[8]

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program manager Chris Bogdan has said that the commonality of the B-21's engines should reduce the cost of the Pratt & Whitney F135.[9] The B-21 will be designed from the start with an open systems architecture.[10]

In April 2016, it was reported that the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) expected the required number to increase to a minimum of 100 B-21s.[11]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

  1. ↑ Ed Gulick (12 July 2014). "AF moves forward with future bomber". af.mil. United States Air Force.
  2. ↑ Melody Petersen (7 February 2015). "New stealth bomber contract likely to be boon for Antelope Valley".
  3. ↑ Amy Hillis (2015-11-06). "LRSB: (Yet Another) Tale of Two Protests". Aviation Week. Retrieved 2016-02-27.
  4. ↑ Weisgerber, Marcus (2015-09-13). "Here Are A Few Things the New Air Force Bomber Will Do Besides Drop Bombs". Defense One. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  5. 1 2 "Air Force reveals B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber". Af.mil. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  6. ↑ "USAF reveals Northrop's B-21 long-range strike bomber". Flightglobal.com. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  7. ↑ "USAF Global Strike chief seeks beefed-up bomber force". Flightglobal.com. 2016-02-26. Retrieved 2016-03-02.
  8. ↑ "USAF names seven top-tier Northrop B-21 suppliers > Flightglobal > Article Display". Flightglobal.com. 2016-03-08. Retrieved 2016-03-09.
  9. ↑ Shalal, Andrea (10 March 2016). "U.S. F-35 chief expects savings after Pratt's B-21 bomber win". www.reuters.com (Thomson Reuters). Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  10. ↑ Shalal, Andrea (23 March 2016). "Pentagon to move ahead with $3 billion F-35 upgrade program in 2018". www.reuters.com (Reuters). Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  11. ↑ Drew, James (20 April 2016). "USAF basing revised bomber count on 'minimum' of 100 B-21s". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 26 April 2016.

External links

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