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.
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?
Sweet. Looking forward to catching first glimpse of one.
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
What about surfaced to air guided missles?
Article says that the B-52H will fly into the 2040’s and maybe into the 2050’s. By then, the BUFF will be as ancient as the today’s DC-3’s that are still flying.
Are they going to use them to protect our borders?
One misconception about stealth technology is the belief that an aircraft has to be completely invisible to radar to be effective. This is a criticism often tossed at the F-35, because it isn’t as stealthy as the F-22. However, all that really matters is that an aircraft is stealthy enough, in the right frequency bands, that anti-aircraft fire control radars can’t lock on. It doesn’t matter if the enemy can see stealth aircraft if they can’t shoot at them.
Will it come in rainbow colors or just basic black?
One can bet Biden will make sure China and Russia get the blue prints, if they don’t already have them.
Old report - the later USAF release says they are still in production; all the armament, specifications and capability claims in PS are BS - as no one knows what they are or will be - its till classified.
See here:
Air Force Corrects Top Official’s Statement On B-21 Bomber Progress (**Updated**)
The first two examples of the advanced stealth bomber design are set to undergo ground testing before their planned first flight next year.
By Thomas Newdick June 9, 2021
Update: After this story was published, the Air Force corrected the remarks that Darlene Costello, the Air Force’s Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, had made at the hearing on June 8 regarding the status of the two B-21 Raider stealth bomber prototypes now under construction. Contrary to Costello’s earlier comments, the service says that the two aircraft remain “in production.”
We need these bad, to carry AIM-260 air to air missiles. China right now has us beat bad. Any victory currently would be pyhrric for the US. They have a 500 mi anti awacs missile and ability to overwhelm with cruise missiles and ballistic missiles. Only the F15 E and EX are somewhat capable agains such swarms, and only the tired few raptors can sneak against the their Awac missile.
Also the sniffing platforms need upgrades and we have too few of them. The B-21 could become a good sniffing platform helper able to avoid threats.
A cannon?
At these speeds and distances an anti aircraft cannon would need to be radar aimed. Same with aircraft guns.
Thermal is out too I believe.
Maybe we can get the Chinese to make ‘em for us cheaper.
Are they sporting a rainbow flag yet?