Security News > 2022 > December > US Air Force reveals B-21 Raider stealth bomber that'll fly the unfriendly skies

In Palmdale, California on Friday, Northrop Grumman CEO Kathy Warden revealed a US Air Force warplane that had only been shown in artist renderings and is supposed to be seldom seen, the B-21 Raider.

"With this aircraft, we're delivering the next generation of stealth technology designed for the US Air Force to meet its most complex missions."

"The B-21 Raider is the first strategic bomber in more than three decades," said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

"The B-21 will form the backbone of the bomber force in both conventional and nuclear roles for the decades to come, providing an unmatched ability to penetrate future air defenses and support joint military operations using long-range strike capabilities, large and mixed payloads, and survivability," said General Timothy M. Ray, Commander, Air Force Global Strike Command, in prepared testimony [PDF] before a Senate subcommittee last year.

The Air Force is expected to spend $203 billion to develop, buy, and operate 100 B-21s over 30 years.

The defense contractor also says it has a data access agreement with the Air Force to operate a B-21 "Digital twin," a cloud-based diagnostic model to help with plane testing and maintenance.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2022/12/03/us_air_force_reveals_b21/