US Air Force Assistant Secretary Andrew Hunter has revealed that America’s latest stealth bomber will make its debut in about 2 months.
Northrop Grumman manufacturers also confirm that the B-21 Raider will enter service later this year.
The assistant secretary did not provide further details on the upcoming event, including whether it will be open to the public in any way. Such was the case with the debut of the only stealth bomber to date, the B-2 Spirit, in 1988.
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However, a statement from Northrop Grumman makes it clear that the public will certainly see images of the new stealth bomber.
“The B-21 Raider is a sixth generation aircraft. It is optimized for operations in highly contested environments,” said Tom Jones, corporate vice president and president of Northrop Grumman.
The United States is currently assembling the sixth of their still secret machine. However, it is known that the project has been in development since 2015 and the first flight is scheduled for 2023.
The US Air Force plans to have 150 units of the new stealth bomber. The mission of the B-21 Raider is very ambitious, because the aircraft should replace all American bombers: Rockwell B-1 Lancer, Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and Boeing B-52 Stratofortress.
According to data from 2021, the price of a B-21 Raider aircraft is approximately $ 550 million.
As for the features of the bomber, it will have a very slim profile, the typical stealth straight lines and the black finish, as well as two engines.
Its stealth capabilities will be much better than those of the B-2 and the aircraft will be able to penetrate deep into enemy territory without being detected by enemy radars.
It is speculated that it will be able to carry 30 tons of weapons. The B-2 can carry 22,700 kilograms. Nuclear weapons will be part of its main arsenal.
The fact that the B-21 Raider is described as a sixth generation aircraft suggests that it should be capable of unmanned missions.
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