B-21 Raider Thread

jetblast16 · by **jetblast16** » 20 Sep 2019, 00:31

To B[-21] or not to B[e]

While speaking at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Donovan remarked on the Air Force’s B-21 program noting, “the development of the B-21 Raider is on schedule and the first test aircraft is under production at the same production facility in Palmdale, California, as its predecessor, the B-2. The first flight of the Raider will take it from Palmdale to Edwards AFB, where the legacy of excellence will continue with the reactivation of the 420th Flight Test Squadron.”

Source: https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display ... locations/

zerion · by **zerion** » 25 Oct 2019, 17:52

B-21 First Flight In 2021 Not Likely

WASHINGTON: Will the B-21 bomber make its first flight in December 2021, as the Air Force Vice-Chief announced last month? “I wouldn’t bet on that date,” Randall Walden, director of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office (AFRCO).

While the end-of-’21 first flight suggested by Gen. Stephen Wilson is the “earliest” possible date, Walden told an Air Force Association audience this morning, the B-21 is unlikely to fly so soon...

Overall, he said the program is making good progress. It completed its design review last year, and the first test vehicle is now in production at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale facility in California.

“I won’t go into a lot of detail about how far along we are, but suffice it to say we are working the production line,” he said, although he did note that the line was producing “big parts.”

“We’re getting ready to ty to accept that first airplane coming out,” Walden said.

Walden reiterated the Air Force’s current plan to build “a minimum of a hundred” B-21s. “The production line should be able to handle that easily,” he said, adding that, “based on the timing, if we wanted to ramp up or build more, we could go do that depending on what the nation needs.”

As Breaking D readers know, the Air Force has been signaling that more B-21s are likely. Air Force Global Strike Commander Gen. Timothy Ray last month made a point of citing a study showing a need for 225 bombers in total — 50 more than the current plan that would see a force comprised of 100 B-21s and 75 B-52s.

https://breakingdefense.com/2019/10/b-2 ... -unlikely/

element1loop · by **element1loop** » 26 Oct 2019, 03:10

Beat me.

Air Force Leader Shares Details on B-21 Bomber

10/24/2019

By Mandy Mayfield nationaldefensemagazine.org

Concept Art: Nothrop Grumman

The Air Force’s secretive B-21 Raider bomber effort is making progress as prime contractor Northrop Grumman builds the program’s first test jet at its Palmdale, California, facility, said one official Oct. 24.

“Today we do have an airplane in there that would be our test jet number one,” said Randall Walden, director and program executive officer for the Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office, which is spearheading the program. “I won't go into a lot of detail [on] how far along we are, but suffice it to say, ... we're working the production line literally today.” Walden noted that “big parts” are currently being manufactured at the facility, but did not disclose which specific components are being built.

... The earliest flight date could take place in December 2021. However, he said he would not bet on it. ...

... The Air Force plans to hold a public event next year to roll out the B-21 prior to its first flight, Walden said. In hopes of keeping the bomber on its current schedule trajectory, the service is focused on maintaining the aircraft's major design plans, Walden said.

“Requirements is probably the number one thing — if you don't have stable requirements, that's going to drive a lot of” delays, he said. “In fact, the chief of staff of the Air Force is the only guy who changes the requirements on the model.”

The Air Force plans to purchase at least 100 new stealth bombers, which will be capable of carrying nuclear or conventional weapons. Earlier this year, Gen. Stephen “Seve” Wilson, the Air Force’s vice chief of staff, said a critical design review for the program was conducted earlier this year and the service was working on software integration.

— Additional reporting by Connie Lee

https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org ... b21-bomber

wolfpak · by **wolfpak** » 09 Dec 2019, 04:09

Latest from the Air Force Association's magazine:

https://www.airforcemag.com/article/the ... kes-shape/

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 09 Dec 2019, 08:38

wolfpak wrote:Latest from the Air Force Association's magazine:

https://www.airforcemag.com/article/the ... kes-shape/

My guess is initial models of the B-21 would use the current F135 from Pratt & Whitney. Yet, I have a hard time believing they wouldn't incorporate one of the "Adaptive Cycle Engines" (XA100 or XA101) for the production version.

:2c:

madrat · by **madrat** » 09 Dec 2019, 14:43

The wing sweep of the artistic representations doesn't suggest adaptive engine technology is a good fit.

wolfpak · by **wolfpak** » 09 Dec 2019, 17:02

What's interesting is the shape of the Lockheed NGB. It has a fuselage and what seem to be butterfly tails.

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 10 Dec 2019, 01:15

madrat wrote:The wing sweep of the artistic representations doesn't suggest adaptive engine technology is a good fit.

Why is that as the ACE Engines are suppose to be more efficient. In addition to being more powerful....

madrat · by **madrat** » 10 Dec 2019, 14:28

ACE is not best of all worlds. ACE is Jack of all Trades, Master of None solution. You can already push the transonic boundaries with ultra-efficient engine technology.

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 11 Dec 2019, 02:51

madrat wrote:ACE is not best of all worlds. ACE is Jack of all Trades, Master of None solution. You can already push the transonic boundaries with ultra-efficient engine technology.

marsavian · by **marsavian** » 01 Feb 2020, 19:24

New B-21 “Raider” Stealth Bomber Renderings The Air Force Has Just Released

https://theaviationist.com/2020/01/31/l ... -released/

disconnectedradical · by **disconnectedradical** » 01 Feb 2020, 23:23

Looks to be quite a bit smaller than B-2.

nn8734 · by **nn8734** » 02 Feb 2020, 00:17

Looks like it could be a scaled-up, manned version of the RQ180.

Another article:
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/3 ... renderings

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 04 Feb 2020, 14:25

Quite a contrast in how we/the US vs. Russia is approaching bomber modernization. We're working on a subsonic flying wing type of future bomber, whereas they're building an up-rated TU-160 (first example recently flew). Yes, they're supposedly working on PAK-DA/full up stealth bomber but quite honestly, they can't even get their "5th gen" fighter working, so fat chance I'd say of PAK-DA seeing the light of day.

The Chinese though, they have something similar to the B-21 in development. Unlike the Russians, they can probably afford/make a go of it. They appear to be hard at work stealing (oops, I mean developing) it...

https://sofrep.com/fightersweep/chinas- ... n-testing/

usafr · by **usafr** » 04 Feb 2020, 21:27

Looks like there are only two main landing gear wheels/tires per side and not the 4 wheel/tire MLG like on the B-2.

With a pair of 30,000 lbs thrust non after burning P&W F135 engines that would indicate a MGTOW of ~ 210 to 240,000 lbs.

B-2 MGTOW = ~340,000 lbs.