The First Two B-21 Bombers Are Nearly Complete—and the Air Force Already Wants More of 'Em

Popular Mechanics via Yahoo ^ | June 10th, 2021 | Kyle Mizokami

[Mariner]

While I generally don't like the term, a fleet of these will be a game changer.

Intercontinental stealth, lighter than any in the current fleet (60,000 lb payload, all internal) with the sophisticated sensors and electronics of the F-35. Probably more so.

Able to launch hypersonics and control drones.

While not invisible, you have to get eyes on it to shoot at it with cannon.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

B1, B2, ... B21.

What happened to B3 through B20?

Or did they just meld B2 and B1 to get B21? Shouldn’t it be the BB21 to properly do the meld?

[BenLurkin]

Sweet. Looking forward to catching first glimpse of one.

[Spktyr]

Depends on what it looks like on infrared.

This is a B-2 on infrared. If a VVLA on the ground can find the hole in the air a stealth aircraft looks like (and they can) and it vectors a fighter with look-down-shoot-down IRST (standard issue on many non-US fighters) close enough, this is what they see, and this can be done from further away than you can see it with the naked eye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3c6pa_vPE_k

[A Navy Vet]

"While not invisible, you have to get eyes on it to shoot at it with cannon."

What about surfaced to air guided missles?

[Spktyr]

The logic they used was that this will become ‘the US bomber for the 21st century’ hence B-21. :rolleyes:

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Then, by the time it is done, they’ll have to rename it the B22.

[Spktyr]

Strategic stealth isn’t a thing any more (’nobody can see me’) but tactical stealth still is (’good luck getting a missile lock’) and it’s why it’s still worth doing.

Something like this would be localized to vector fighters on, but the current state of the art is not such that radar guided SAMs would be able to get a lock unless some highly unlikely circumstances happen. However, if fighters with IRST and IR missiles show up, it is likely that they can get a lock and fire on it - the question is at what range, and IRST/seekerheads get better and better every year.

[cuban leaf]

What happened to B3 through B20

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None of those are valid Bingo numbers.

[Mariner]

“What about surfaced to air guided missles? “

They use either HF radar or IR for targeting.

They can get close...then fly away.

[CodeJockey]

I like the original better, although the new model is way more technologically advanced.

[Spktyr]

Air to air is another matter - and if they’re controlling drones, even on spread spectrum radar, they’re going to be broadcasting/radiating. Which means a modern HARM type will do for it quite nicely.

[Mariner]

Sophisticated stealth does not negate the ability to use classic tactics like low approaches and surprise.

[Texas resident]

Won’t be long and they will get around to the B-34.

[MIA_eccl1212]

B4 was already deployed...

[Mariner]

AI limits control signals to milliseconds of instruction.

[BenLurkin]

Was at a local tire place about 20 years ago when a B-2 came banking over us at low altitude. It was beautiful.

[cuban leaf]

B4 was already deployed...

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BINGO!

[VTenigma]

That’s no doubt. The Biden cabal probably have given the chi-coms the plans already.