LRS-B... The B-21
6. Open Architecture.To meet the evolving threat environment, the B-21 has been designed from day one for rapid upgradeability. Unlike earlier generation aircraft, the B-21 will not undergo block upgrades. New technology, capabilities and weapons will be seamlessly incorporated through agile software upgrades and built-in hardware flexibility. This will ensure the B-21 Raider can continuously meet the evolving threat head on for decades to come.
Salute!.
Sure looks smaller to me than the B-2.
I worked on the B-2 loadout for JDAM and that thing has two humongous bays - imagine 80 MK-82 dumb bombs or 16 JDAM's/alcm's on the rotary launchers.
I suspect less conventional/dumb bombs so more room for gas.
Gums sends...
Sure looks smaller to me than the B-2.
I worked on the B-2 loadout for JDAM and that thing has two humongous bays - imagine 80 MK-82 dumb bombs or 16 JDAM's/alcm's on the rotary launchers.
I suspect less conventional/dumb bombs so more room for gas.
Gums sends...
Does it have a Lavazza machine?
What I'm hearing is smaller, but longer range than the B-2. Those two things don't normally go together, but perhaps this is the exception...
Ecce Homo! Loquitur...
Do we think the airframe that was rolled out was a mock up or genuine?
….This B-21, number 001 and designated T1 for the first flight test aircraft, is one of six Raiders in various stages of construction at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. More will follow, though Jones would not say when construction on the seventh B-21 will likely begin.
The first B-21 has undergone ground tests in recent months, as well as final assembly and application of coatings and paint before its debut.
Its next major step will be its first flight to Edwards Air Force Base in California, expected to occur sometime in 2023. Northrop Grumman has said the date of that first flight will be based on the results of future additional ground tests. Those tests will include powering the Raider’s systems on and off, running its engines, performing taxiing test runs, and other integration tests.
Once the Raider is at Edwards, the Air Force will conduct further flight tests.
This first bomber is a production representative aircraft, essentially identical to the production aircraft that will eventually be produced by Northrop Grumman.
Jones said this differs from most new aircraft programs, which usually have their first flight conducted by a nonproduction-representative aircraft, leading to longer testing periods. He said using a production representative aircraft for the B-21′s flight tests is meant to speed up the process….
A quick Google reckons the USAF want at least 100 of them , “manned or unmanned”.
I assume the aircraft will be the same flightdeck-wise, or will it?
Can anyone enlighten me?
I assume the aircraft will be the same flightdeck-wise, or will it?
Can anyone enlighten me?
Unmanned has been scrapped, as to numbers officially still unknown, they would need 120 to replace the B1 and B2 1 for 1
Not quite - although they initially built 100 B-1s, quite a few B-1s are permanently out of service (and have been for decades) and a few were lost in accidents. Current fleet is only 61 aircraft (and operationally available numbers are pretty bad).
B-1 never enjoyed the priority of the priority of the B-2 for support, so maintenance was deferred, and parts were harder to get. Plus, given the number of wars it's participated in with very rough missions including grouind support, the fleet is just wearing out. I believe the authorized fleet is down to 45 aircraft, with four more in reclaimable storage.
Most of the informed opinions state that it is smaller than the B-2 with a smaller payload, but probably maintains the range. The two wheel MLG Liffy 1M points out tends to support the lower weight position.