U.S. Air Force Unveils First Picture Of Next-Gen Long-Range Strike Bomber, The B-21
The U.S. Air Force revealed the first image of its new state-of-the-art stealth bomber, the B-21, today – not a photo but an artistic rendering of the high-tech, next gen stealth bomber. Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James unveiled the image today, which is based on a concept the Air Force has been working on for years, a combination of new and old – a stealth bomber that can make use of older systems currently in use alongside brand-new high-tech (likely classified) bells and whistles.
“The B-21 has been designed from the beginning based on a set of requirements that allows the use of existing and mature technology,” Air Force Secretary Deborah James said to a packed audience at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida.
It makes sense, says CNN, that the B-21 shares a distinct similarity with the iconic B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, first unveiled to the public in 1997. The Air Force’s B-2 bombers paved the way for ultra-high tech stealth aircraft, and due in part to its unusual shape, fueled UFO rumors in and around top secret Air Force testing facilities as far back as 1989, when the B-2 was first tested in remote areas of the American Southwest.
The B-21 capitalizes on the success and iconic design of the B-2, which the Air Force says is not only intentional, but a big part of its strategy going forward. With an increased emphasis on drone warfare, piloted aircraft need to be adaptable, high-tech and most importantly: cost-effective. The B-2 spirit, when it was first unveiled by the U.S. Air Force in 1997, was controversial due to the immense cost per aircraft, and the very expensive research and development.
BREAKING! @SecAF23 unveils official rendering of B-21 @defense_news @AirForceAssoc #AWS16 https://t.co/R5EZpLbUf5 pic.twitter.com/FQxIo28C7D
— Lara Seligman (@laraseligman) February 26, 2016
The B-2 is slated to remain in service until 2058, so the B-21 will be integrated into existing stealth bomber wings by taking over the strategic role the B-2 currently plays in the U.S. Air Force. That is, the role of long-range strike bomber, a stealth attack aircraft capable of delivering conventional and nuclear warheads to any target anywhere in the world. The original B-2 has an unfueled range of 6,000 miles, and while the specs of the B-21 are still shrouded in secrecy, the Air Force has suggested that the new aircraft will have a much longer range.
The B-21 remains as yet unnamed, previously known only by its designation LRS-B – Long-Range Strike Bomber), but the Air Force has some plans to give it a name worthy of the futuristic 21st century stealth bomber.
“The aircraft represents the future for our Airmen, and their voice is important to this process. The airman who submits the selected name will help me announce it at the Air Force Association conference this fall,” said Air Force Secretary Deborah James.
The B-21 remains only a concept, without any production models in existence (that the Air Force will admit anyhow), but when it goes into production the Air Force will be giving the contract to Northrup Grumman. The Air Force remains secretive about the specifics of the new bomber, but at the Air Force Air Warfare Symposium, Secretary James introduced a few as-yet unknown facts about the bomber.
The B-21 is scheduled to join the U.S. Air Force around 2020, completely phasing out older bombers like the B-52 and B-1, and eventually replacing the aging B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, upon which the B-21 is based. Northrup Grumman, the manufacturer of the original B-2 Spirit, was heavily involved in the design of the new aircraft and will be producing hundreds of the new B-21 for the U.S. Air Force, reports Fox News.
[Image via US Air Force Graphic]
