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General Info

Northrop Grumman
B-21 Raider

General information
Type Stealth strategic bomber
National origin United States
Manufacturer Northrop Grumman
Status Low rate initial production[1]
Primary user United States Air Force
Number built 3
History
First flight 10 November 2023 (16 months ago)
Initiated 2011
Predecessors Northrop B-2 Spirit

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History Northrop Grumman
Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider
First flight 10 November 2023 (16 months ago)

The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is an American strategic bomber in development for the United States Air Force (USAF) by Northrop Grumman. Part of the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program, it is to be a stealth intercontinental strategic bomber that can deliver conventional and thermonuclear weapons. Named "Raider" in honor of the Doolittle Raiders of World War II, the B-21 is meant to replace the Rockwell B-1 Lancer and Northrop B-2 Spirit by 2040, and possibly the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress after that. The Air Force began planning for the B-21 in 2011 and awarded the major development contract in 2015, aiming to have it in service "in the mid-2020s". By 2021, that date had slipped to 2027.

Design and development

The B-21 in this 2016 artist's rendering was a notably darker gray than the actual plane rolled out in 2022.

The classified Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) program began in 2011, to create a stealth intercontinental strategic bomber for the USAF, able to deliver conventional and thermonuclear weapons. The Air Force issued a request for proposal to develop an LRS-B aircraft in July 2014. A development contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman in October 2015. Boeing and Lockheed Martin, who submitted losing bids for the project, filed bid protests; in October 2016, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) rejected the challenges and sustained the USAF's decision to award the LRS-B contract to Northrop Grumman. The GAO report revealed that cost was the deciding factor in selecting Northrop Grumman over the Boeing-Lockheed Martin team

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Photo Gallery
Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider
First flight 10 November 2023 (16 months ago)

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Lockheed/Martin Stealth Aircraft

Northrop Grumman Aircraft
Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider
First flight 10 November 2023 (16 months ago)

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Program Cost

In December 2022, the cost of a B-21 aircraft was estimated to be $700 million; at the time, Air Force officials estimated that they would spend at least $203 billion over 30 years to develop, purchase, and operate a fleet of 100 B-21s.)

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General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 54 ft (16 m)
  • Wingspan: 132 ft (40 m)
  • Empty weight: 70,000 lb (31,751 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 180,000 lb (81,647 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney PW9000 non-afterburning turbofans, 27,000 lbf (120 kN) thrust each
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Performance

  • Maximum speed: Mach 0.8+
  • Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)
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Armament

  • Hardpoints: 1 × main weapons bay with a capacity of 20,000 lb (9,100 kg) weapon load
  • Missiles: AGM-181 LRSO
  • Bombs: JDAM family of munitions
Special Links Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider

Links to Youtube & Others

American reconnaissance satellites first spotted the advanced Soviet Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter prototypes in 1978, which caused concern in the U.S. Both Soviet models were expected to reduce the maneuverability advantage of contemporary US fighter aircraft.

Northrop GrummanB-21 Raider

"The new aircraft is expected to strike targets anywhere across a continent in less than an hour."

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Youtube Link

Bedankt voor het kijken! Sorry het geluid is een beetje slecht in deze video. Op dit moment proberen te bezuinigen op mijn kosten en ben ik moeten verhuizen naar een nieuw appartement met slechte akoestiek.

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Aircrafttotal : Stealth Aircraft

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