Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider

Summary

Description

The B-21 Raider's development commenced in 2011 under the classified Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program. This initiative aimed to field a stealth intercontinental strategic bomber for the USAF, capable of delivering both conventional and thermonuclear weapons. In July 2014, the Air Force issued a request for proposal. Following a competitive process, Northrop Grumman was awarded the development contract in October 2015. This decision was subsequently upheld by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) after unsuccessful protests from Boeing and Lockheed Martin, with cost cited as a determining factor. The B-21 program, managed by the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, completed its critical design review in December 2018.

The aircraft is designed as a "fifth-generation global precision attack platform" featuring networked sensor-shoot capability. Northrop Grumman describes the B-21 as a "sixth-generation aircraft." Renderings released in January 2020 show flush, blended inlets and a two-wheel main landing gear design. The design incorporates a modular, open systems architecture intended to facilitate future upgrades. Internal operational systems are described as "extremely advanced compared to the B-2," with the B-21 possessing a slightly smaller size and longer range than its predecessor. Power is supplied by two Pratt & Whitney PW9000 non-afterburning turbofan engines. Assembly of the B-21 is conducted at United States Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, the same facility utilized for the B-2 bomber. The first B-21 aircraft was unveiled on December 2, 2022, followed by its first flight on November 10, 2023. By September 2024, three airworthy aircraft were involved in program testing.

The B-21 features a main weapons bay with a capacity of 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) for a variety of munitions. It is expected to be capable of carrying the AGM-181 Long Range Standoff (LRSO) missile for nuclear missions and is likely compatible with the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) family for conventional bombing roles.

The USAF intends for the B-21 to eventually replace the Rockwell B-1 Lancer and Northrop B-2 Spirit by 2040, and potentially the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. The planned fleet size is at least 100 aircraft. The Air Force is orienting B-21 operations toward the Indo-Pacific region, highlighting its anticipated role in a potential conflict with China. Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota has been selected as the initial operational and training base.

Main Variants:

• The text does not specify distinct variants, but mentions that the initial aircraft are test models intended for conversion to an operational configuration after testing.

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