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2021-08-01

New B-21 Raider Artist Rendering Released

Unveiling new, important details about the much-anticipated plane, the U.S. Air Force has released a new B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic with an accompanying fact sheet.

The rendering highlights the future stealth bomber with Edwards Air Force Base, California, as the backdrop.

Designed to perform long range conventional and nuclear missions and to operate in tomorrow’s high end threat environment, the B-21 will be a visible and flexible component of the nuclear triad.

The 420th Flight Test Squadron based at Edwards AFB will plan, test, analyse and report on all flight and ground testing of the B-21 Raider.

The B-21 programme continues to execute the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and is focused on scaling the manufacturing infrastructure and capacity across the industrial supply base to prepare for low rate initial production.

A critical review conducted in 2018 concluded the aircraft has a mature and stable design.

Randall Walden, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director, explained: “Nuclear modernisation is a top priority for the Department of Defense and the Air Force, and B-21 is key to that plan. The built-in feature of open systems architecture on the B-21 makes the bomber effective as the threat environment evolves. This aircraft design approach sets the nation on the right path to ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability.”

Strike Stealth Bomber

The B-21 will form the backbone of the future Air Force bomber force consisting of B-21s and B-52s. The B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability.

The B-21 Raider will be a component of a larger family of systems for conventional Long Range Strike, including Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance, electronic attack, communication and other capabilities. It will be nuclear capable and designed to accommodate manned or unmanned operations. It will also be able to employ a broad mix of stand-off and direct-attack munitions.

The B-Raider is being designed with open systems architecture to reduce integration risk and enable competition for future modernisation efforts to allow for the aircraft to evolve as the threat environment changes.

Background

The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office leads the development of the B-21 Raider under the direction of the Under Secretary of Defence for Acquisition and Sustainment and the Secretary of the Air Force.

The Air Force awarded the B-21 Engineering and Manufacturing Development contract to Northrop Grumman on October 27th, 2015. Northrop Grumman’s partners on the B-21 programme include Pratt & Whitney, Janicki Industries, Collins Aerospace, GKN Aerospace, BAE Systems and Spirit Aerosystems.

In 2018, the programme conducted the weapon systems Critical Design Review, a comprehensive programme-wide evaluation of design maturity, stability and risk.

In 2019, the Air Force completed the Strategic Basing Process announcing Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri; and Dyess Air Force Base, Texas are the preferred locations for B-21 main operating bases.

After completing the Environmental Impact Statement process as obligatory by the National Environmental Policy Act and other regulatory processes, in 2021, the Air Force named Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota as the first B-21 main operating base and location of the Formal Training Unit.

The Air Force Test Center at Edwards Air Force Base, California will host the B-21 Combined Test Force and the Air Force Sustainment Center at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma is the site for depot planning.

The B-21 Raider is named in honour of the historic Doolittle Raiders, U.S. Army Air Force men who are known for their surprise attack against Japan during World War II on April 18, 1942, which forced the Japanese to recall combat forces for home defence, and boosted morale among Americans and U.S. allies abroad.

The designation B-21 recognises the Raider as the first bomber of the 21st century.

The Air Force plans to incrementally replace the B-1 Lancer and the B-2 Spirit bombers to form a two-bomber fleet of B-21s and modified B-52s.

General Characteristics

Primary Function: Nuclear-capable, penetrating strike stealth bomber.

Lead Command: Air Force Global Strike Command

Inventory: Minimum of 100 aircraft

Average Unit Procurement Cost*: US$550 million (base year 2010 dollars) /US$639 million (base year 2019 dollars)

*Former Secretary of Defence Robert Gates directed B-21 Average Procurement Unit Cost as a key performance parameter as the best means to control costs.

Munitions: Nuclear and conventional

Operational: Mid-2020s

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