Early Retirement for B-1 and B-2

[Corsair1963]

And once B1and B2 are gone, and B-52 is deemed non viable anymore (~2040) you necessarily extend the B-21 production line and get a 100% B-21 B-fleet.

Nice.

Yes, my guess is once all of the B-1's and B-2's are replaced. The USAF will just continue production of the B-21 and start replacing the B-52's.....

[Dragon029]

This also assumes that there won't be parity between the 2018 bomber + 2037 bomber concept and the current LRS-B / B-21 and some future supersonic / hypersonic bomber around the middle of the century.

[wrightwing]

And once B1and B2 are gone, and B-52 is deemed non viable anymore (~2040) you necessarily extend the B-21 production line and get a 100% B-21 B-fleet.

Nice.

The B-21 isn't a heavy bomber, and won't be able to replace all 3 current aircraft. The B-52 has payload, flexibility, range, and low cost per flight hour, that will insure it remains relevant.

[Corsair1963]

And once B1and B2 are gone, and B-52 is deemed non viable anymore (~2040) you necessarily extend the B-21 production line and get a 100% B-21 B-fleet.

Nice.

The B-21 isn't a heavy bomber, and won't be able to replace all 3 current aircraft. The B-52 has payload, flexibility, range, and low cost per flight hour, that will insure it remains relevant.

Do we really need such heavy bombers anymore???

[wrightwing]

And once B1and B2 are gone, and B-52 is deemed non viable anymore (~2040) you necessarily extend the B-21 production line and get a 100% B-21 B-fleet.

Nice.

The B-21 isn't a heavy bomber, and won't be able to replace all 3 current aircraft. The B-52 has payload, flexibility, range, and low cost per flight hour, that will insure it remains relevant.

Do we really need such heavy bombers anymore???

Yes.

[botsing]

Do we really need such heavy bombers anymore???

Yes.

To me the doctrine of the B2.1 is the distribution of force over a wider area combined with integrated C4ISR.

So in essence a bomb/missile truck with lots of sensors, a long loiter time and stealth.

[popcorn]

Do we really need such heavy bombers anymore???

Yes.

To me the doctrine of the B2.1 is the distribution of force over a wider area combined with integrated C4ISR.

So in essence a bomb/missile truck with lots of sensors, a long loiter time and stealth.

AFAIK the B-21 aka LRSB is part of the Long Range Strike Family of Systems. to include other LRS like a new LRS missile and a LR penetrating multimission UAS. One way of keeping costs down on the new bomber was to partner it with a long-range UAS that could complement the B-21's capabilities eg. ISR, EW to more effectively deal with changing threat environments. So I see the B-21 operating within the networked battle space.

[count_to_10]

The B-21 isn’t going to be that much smaller than the B-2, and will probably have about the same range. If they go for half the B-2 payload in a single bomb bay, there won’t be anything the B-2 can do that two B-21s can’t.

[wrightwing]

To me the doctrine of the B2.1 is the distribution of force over a wider area combined with integrated C4ISR.

So in essence a bomb/missile truck with lots of sensors, a long loiter time and stealth.

We still need the ability to have long persistence, large payload, and low cost per flight hour, too.

[wrightwing]

The B-21 isn’t going to be that much smaller than the B-2, and will probably have about the same range. If they go for half the B-2 payload in a single bomb bay, there won’t be anything the B-2 can do that two B-21s can’t.

What's the CPFH for 2 B-21s vs 1 B-52, though? They each have their niche. The B-21 can penetrate. The B-52 can loiter, and shoot lots of missiles. In low intensity campaigns, being able to carry >70,000lbs of ordnance is very useful.

[rheonomic]

In low intensity campaigns, being able to carry >70,000lbs of ordnance is very useful.

This. The B-52 is basically the arsenal plane for uncontested airspace.

[sferrin]

And once B1and B2 are gone, and B-52 is deemed non viable anymore (~2040) you necessarily extend the B-21 production line and get a 100% B-21 B-fleet.

Nice.

The B-21 isn't a heavy bomber, and won't be able to replace all 3 current aircraft. The B-52 has payload, flexibility, range, and low cost per flight hour, that will insure it remains relevant.

Do we really need such heavy bombers anymore???

You planning on carrying this 5000 miles on an F-15?

[vilters]

No, not on F-15's.
But was the mother of all bombs not dropped from a C-130?

[wrightwing]

No, not on F-15's.
But was the mother of all bombs not dropped from a C-130?

The MOAB and the MOP are 2 completely different weapons.

[sferrin]

MOAB:

It makes a loud boom on the surface. MOP is 50% heavier and goes boom underground.