| Role | Strategic bomber | ||
| Status : | in development | ||
| Manufacturer: | Northrop Grumman | ||
| Primary users : | United States Air Force | ||
The Northrop Grumman B-21 is a planned strategic bomber currently under development by Northrop Grumman for the United States Air Force as part of the Long Range Strike Bomber program (LRS-B). The aircraft will be able to carry heavy payloads including thermonuclear weapons and it will benefit from the latest stealth technologies available.
In July 2014 the United States Air Force issued a request for proposal for the development of a new stealth bomber with initial operating capability in the mid 2020s. The plan is to acquire a minimum of 100 LRS-B at an estimated cost of $550 million each but according to the head of US Air Force Global Strike Command they could envision having 175-200 bombers in service.
Table of contents
Development
The contract for the development of the B-21 was awarded to Northrop Grumman in October 2015. A few months later, in early 2016 at the Air Warfare Symposium)) the aircraft was formally designated as B-21 signifying the aircraft as the 21st century's first bomber aircraft. In March 2016 the United States Air Force announced several tier-one suppliers, including Pratt & Whitney, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems.
Background
Production
Design
Technology
Operational Service
Competitors
Deliveries
Accidents
Specifications
Further reading
Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit
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