Topline
The latest stealth bomber commissioned by the U.S. Air Force and built by government contractor Northrop Grumman took a highly anticipated test flight in California Friday morning, multiple outlets reported, giving Americans the first look at what will be a collection of nuclear-capable aircraft estimated to cost roughly $750 million apiece.
The B-21 Raider is unveiled during a ceremony at Northrop Grumman’s Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, … [+]
Key Facts
The B-21 Raider, a futuristic-looking plane that is the first new American bomber plane in more than three decades, is meant to be the “backbone” of the bomber program going forward, according to the Air Force.
The bomber will be able to carry both conventional and nuclear weapons, has mid-air refueling capabilities, can connect to other aircraft and features a stealth-enabling surface material meant to be lower maintenance than that of its predecessor, the B-2, Reuters reported.
The Air Force is expected to build 100 of the aircraft, some with pilots and some without, which will combine with Boeing’s B-52 strategic bombers to replace the existing fleet of B-1 and B-2 bombers.
Development of the B-21 Raider has been largely shrouded in secrecy and its exact price has been kept classified, but the aircraft are projected to cost about $750 million each, Reuters reported.
At that price, the B-21 Raider joins the F-35 joint strike fighter, F-22 raptor and Eurofighter Typhoon as the most expensive U.S. military planes ever commissioned.
The F-35 joint strike fighter from Lockheed Martin is the most expensive weapons system in U.S. history—a single aircraft is estimated to cost between $150 million and $200 million and the entire F-35 program is on track to cost $1.7 trillion to buy, operate and sustain over its lifetime, according to the Government Accountability Office.
Lockheed Martin’s F-22 Raptor tactical fighter cost $125 million per plane, Airbus’s Eurofighter Typhoon is said to cost roughly $120 million and the Boeing F-15EX, a strike fighter, is estimated to cost about $80 million per plane.
Big Number
$215.1 billion dollars. That’s the FY24 budget request of the U.S. Air Force, a $9.3 billion or 4.5% increase over FY23.
Key Background
he Air Force chose Northrop Grumman for the B-21 engineering and manufacturing development contract in 2015. The company beat out a field that included Boeing and Lockheed Martin for the commission. Air Force bases in South Dakota, Missouri and Texas were chosen as the preferred locations for B-21 operations in 2019 and the aircraft was publicly unveiled in December 2022. The B-21 Raider is named after the Doolittle Raiders, a group of men who led a 1942 air raid on Japan during World War II. The Air Force credits the operation with forcing the Japanese to recall combat forces for defense at home and says it “boosted morale among Americans and U.S. allies abroad.” The number 21 was given to the aircraft because it is the first new bomber of the 21st century.
Further Reading
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2023/11/10/750-million-stealth-bomber-just-took-its-first-test-flight-here-how-it-compares-to-the-militarys-other-pricey-equipment/