Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider

Summary

Description

The B-21 Raider is a strategic bomber being developed for the United States Air Force by Northrop Grumman as part of the Long Range Strike Bomber program (LRS-B). It is intended to be a highly advanced platform capable of performing a variety of missions including conventional and nuclear deterrence, surveillance, and precision strike. The B-21 is designed with stealth technology to allow it to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses and operate at the forefront of the USAF's bomber fleet, eventually replacing older bombers like the B-1 and B-2. The Raider's development reflects a shift towards next-generation stealth and sensor technologies to maintain the USAF's strategic advantage.

The development of the B-21 Raider is deeply enshrouded in secrecy due to its classification as a special access program. Conceptualized as part of the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program initiated by the U.S. Air Force in 2011, the B-21 is being developed to serve as a stealth intercontinental strategic bomber. The Air Force awarded Northrop Grumman the development contract in October 2015 after a competitive bidding process, which also saw proposals from Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

Managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, the B-21 Raider is intended to serve multiple roles beyond bombing – including intelligence collection, battle management, and as an interceptor aircraft. This aligns with the Air Force's vision for the B-21 to be a fifth-generation global precision attack platform featuring networked sensor-shoot capability. Northrop Grumman touts it as the world's first sixth-generation aircraft.

The critical design review of the B-21 was completed in December 2018, which is a significant milestone indicating that the Air Force approved the bomber's design and allowed the program to move forward to the manufacturing and testing phase. The released renderings in January 2020 showcased the aircraft's distinctive design features, such as flush and blended inlets and a two-wheel main landing gear, which suggest that the B-21 could be smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the B-2. The design of the cockpit windows is another unique aspect, intended to minimize radar cross-section by eliminating joints and seams.

The first flight of the B-21 Raider on November 10, 2023, allowed for close-up observations revealing several details about the aircraft's design. It appears to have a twin-engine configuration, with one secondary air intake door per nacelle, unlike the B-2's two. Retractable navigation lights, similar to the B-2, were identified, aiming to minimize radar cross-section. The aircraft features three sets of four air data probes, analogous to the B-2, to provide accurate flight data without compromising stealth. A thermal coating likely reduces infrared signatures, and intriguingly, there's potential for a second set of internal weapons bays, possibly for self-defense mechanisms or unmanned operations.

Technical specifications

Current operating countries

Country		Units
	United States	0 (+100)

Numbers in parentheses, e.g. '(+5)', indicate units ordered but not yet delivered.

All operators

United States

Photo of B-21 Raider