Here's a New Image of the Secret B-21 Raider Bomber. Let's Analyze It.

[Dial H For Hero]

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a36957374/b-21-raider-bomber-new-images/



The U.S. Air Force just dropped a new image of its top-secret B-21 Raider bomber. While the second official artist rendering doesn’t show a complete view of the bomber, the image does reveal important new details about the hotly anticipated plane, including how it’s markedly different from the older B-2 Spirit.

The new Northrop Grumman illustration, seen above, depicts the B-21 taking off from Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. Northrop is the prime contractor for the Raider, and also built the Spirit, the U.S.’s first bat-winged stealth bomber.

This new image complements the first official B-21 image below, which the Air Force released in 2016:



That image depicted the plane from above, showing off the recessed air intakes and simplified trailing edge. (The B-2’s “sawtooth” trailing edge was originally going to look more like the B-21’s until a redesign added the serration-like surfaces.)

[Effete Snob]

1. Are these the ones that Doofus thinks are invisible?

They should have taken him to a couple of empty hangars to show him.

[Dial H For Hero]

2. That was the F-35. These haven't yet been built.

[Effete Snob]

6. Not built yet? Nonsense!

I just bought several of them and the nice man parked them outside:



Not built yet... heh... waddya take me for?

[Bucky]

10. 😆 Hahaha!!!

Bra-veau!!

[MLAA]

11. Hahahahaha, good! But whoever parked them must have been drinking!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

14. LOL.

Well played, well played.

[Blues Heron]

3. How much does that thing cost?

[Dial H For Hero]

4. If 100 or so are built, about $550 million per unit. If, as the Air Force wants, 200 are built, the

per unit cost would presumably drop somewhat.

[Effete Snob]

7. What about shipping?

[Blues Heron]

9. always cheaper in bulk lol!

Thanks

[Dial H For Hero]

12. Economy of scale.

[machoneman]

5. Unless it can be flown remotely ala' the current crop of unmaned but armed drones.......

it's a total waste of taxpayer money.

Future bombers should be unmanned, small in size (stealthier than this monster) able to carry nukes and/or a wide array of anti-SAM missiles. Like the old B-52 attack plan, small groups of unarmed BUFFS (for those who know...) would act as radar killers by carrying mucho electronic gear designed to baffle or even shut down SAM sites. Today, even small drones can precede the nuc or bomb carrying larger drones, both unmanned, to the targets,

Problem is, generals as we all know fight the last war. New wars will require a total re-think especially when it comes to ship-killing missiles sinking out precious nuc aircraft carriers and the Air Force still relying heavily on manned fighters and bombers. The new thinking should downsize carriers and use converted (cheap) tankers or cargo ships with rudimentary decks meant for one-way trip drones (cheap, easy to build, sent out in swarms like the WWII Japanese kamikazes if you like). Launch, fight and then dive into enemy defenses. As for the Air Force, giving up on manned fighters and bombers, even now some remotely controlled, would save American lives yet still perform well in combat.

Ah, but if this all occurred, the major staff and personnel changes to both forces would cut billions each year. Besides, with now reduced personnel, we'd have way too many top brass and colonels, majors, lieutenants and the like. Loss of power and prestige will prevent any NEW THINK on the war machines we should invest in.

[Dial H For Hero]

13. As I understand it, it can.

[Brother Buzz]

8. Speaking of wicked cool airplanes, where's the mythical Aurora everyone has been whispering about?

Hell, even the Ufologists have cool fuzzy photos of it, and it's mysterious signature exhaust trail. For that matter, where's the fabled SR-72?