Posted on 06/02/2024 9:38:28 AM PDT by Chode
While the push for next generation fighters probably wins more public and internet attention, the drive to field new bomber aircraft with sixth generation features is also pushing the limits of what aircraft designers can accomplish.
And with the first flights of the B-21 Raider now documented, it may also be a race far closer to the finish line.
In this episode I look at the three main members of the strategic bomber club, their next generation bomber programs, and ask both what these systems might mean, and why they seem likely to serve alongside much older, legacy platforms.
Modern technology most of which derives from the silicon chip has already made naval surface combatants, armored land vehicles and helicopters over a battlefield obsolete death coffins. The warriors in future wars will be nerds sitting behind a video console.
I wonder if all the billions spent on stealth strategic bombers like the B-21 is just an exercise in futility, given what one would cost, will it ever be used in anything except a nuclear war based on the fear of getting it shot down.
The H-20 looks stealthy on the outside, but is more Chinese junk on the inside.
China’s Air Force Fails to Copy B21: New ‘H-20’ Stealth Bomber Isn’t Stealthy, Mocked by US Military
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNvXv2fIixM
*
.
The question is, is it good enough to get the job done?
The US military has enjoyed a generation of pure and absolute military superiority with technologies such as stealth, anti satellite weapons, awesome real time ISR and C3, night vision and thermal optics and a host of other technologies.
Now, everyone has these capabilities to some degree or another and China may actually have leap frogged us in some.
With a more modern design, the cost of a fleet of new B-21s will be offset in part by the retirement of older aircraft that are expensive to maintain and operate. In addition, the B-21 will impose potentially disabling costs and uncertainties on adversaries.
For example, consider if you are a Chinese military planner working on how to take Taiwan. Even if China is able to defeat or fend off the US Navy, US bombers like the B-21 could suddenly appear in the skies near Taiwan and use stand off missiles and glide bombs to attack Chinese naval vessels and ground formations.
As expensive as the B-21 is, it is cheap compared to the cost of even a conventional war with China or Russia. And the B-21 and the rest of the US military are very, very cheap if they deter war with them.
The question is, is it good enough to get the job done?
—
By the time the thing becomes operational, it will not even be up to B-1, let alone B-2. It has no range - so what job would you assign it, other than propaganda/museum piece?
I assume that they wish to use it for precision strikes on leadership and high value targets against less than near peer regional opponents.
Perhaps also as bomb trucks for precision / high speed missiles.
This video is over an hour long. Just so you know.
they ALL are... so set your browser speed to 1.75x
Did you bother watching the video I posted?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.