On Friday, the US Air Force will unveil its latest B-21 Raider stealth bomber in Palmdale, California. Built by Northrop Grumman, this bomber was named after the “brave spirit” of the aviators who flew over Doolittle during World War II.
Northrop Grumman said in a press release that the sixth-generation aircraft is designed to help the Air Force “break through the world’s most powerful defense network against precision strikes.” The six bombers are currently in “various stages of final assembly” in California, according to a press release.
Friday’s event is all the more significant as it is the first American bomber to be unveiled in 30 years since the introduction of the B-2 Spirit in 1988. up to 21. purchased
The launch of the new bomber comes amid rising tensions between the US, China and Russia. A few days ago, the US Department of Defense released its annual report showing that China has doubled its nuclear warheads in less time than the US expected.
The report says that by 2035, China could have about 1,500 nuclear warheads. The B-21 was designed with this competition in mind. According to Northrop Grumman’s description of the new bomber’s capabilities, the B-21 will allow the United States to penetrate enemy air defenses and engage targets “around the world” while the enemy “continues to invest and develop advanced weapons.”
Northrop Grumman said Friday was “the first day the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft will be unveiled to the public,” but aviators and aircraft enthusiasts will have to wait until next year to see the aircraft.
Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek stressed that the first flight of the B-21 is expected in 2023, but the timing of the first flight “will be based on data and events, not date.” The Air Force has previously said that a new nuclear-powered stealth bomber capable of carrying both nuclear and conventional weapons, part of the Air Force’s Global Strike Command, will be “the backbone of the Air Force of the future.” for future upgrades. force forward.
The service designates Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota as the home of the B-21 and the location of the aircraft training program. When prices were fixed in 2010, each aircraft cost about $550 million. Stepanek said the inflation-adjusted cost for the year was $692 million per aircraft, including training equipment, support equipment and other parts of the bomber. The Air Force plans to purchase at least 100 stealth bombers.
The B-21 has been designed with long-term sustainability and maintenance in mind, Northrop Grumman said in a press release. It is also designed to be quickly updated should future threats require it. This process can often be delayed due to bureaucracy and scheduling delays for old aircraft and military equipment. According to Northrop Grumman, the bomber will not undergo a “block upgrade”, in which parts of the system will be updated regularly. Instead, the company says that “software updates seamlessly integrate new technologies, features, and weapons.”
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