B-2 Replacement

[Goose489]

How is the B-21 going to replace the B-2?

[Mr_sukebe]

It’s bigger by 1

[Monarch]

Can you expand on your question? What do you mean by "how"?

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

On 12/23/2023 at 1:08 PM, Mr_sukebe said:

It’s bigger by 1

I think you'll find it's bigger by 20, actually.

Sources cited: me, I can count to 20 without taking off my shoes!

[sirrah]

On 12/31/2023 at 3:12 PM, MiG21bisFishbedL said:

I think you'll find it's bigger by 20, actually.

Sources cited: me, I can count to 20 without taking off my shoes!

And yet, it is actually smaller  

[Dragon1-1]

It'll hopefully be cheap enough so they can have more than 20 or so. That would compensate for its smaller size. Being a stealth bomber, raw payload isn't the objective, that's for B-52s and the like.

[MiG21bisFishbedL]

On 1/2/2024 at 5:31 AM, sirrah said:

And yet, it is actually smaller  

Well, it's space-age, innit?

It's like a TARDIS.

[Rick50]

On 12/23/2023 at 12:07 PM, Goose489 said:

How is the B-21 going to replace the B-2?

 

Well, last I  heard was the B-2 wasn't going to be retired by the B-21, but that it might soldier on alongside the Raider for a decade maybe. However... realities of budgets and maintenance headaches will probably change that.

 

Sure,  it's smaller in size and payload. But instead of buying just 21 Spirits,  the first order is for 100 Raiders, and the plan as it exists now, calls for 175 to  200 Raiders. 

There were/are several goals with the Raider: 

 

- much longer combat radius.  They are not giving much hints... just that it'll  be able to reach anywhere in the world. Also hints that could be considered a possible  adversary. Talk that if needed, could be operated from less capable airfields, such as found in the South Pacific... 

 

- much faster simpler and cheaper to maintain the stealth coatings/ surfaces. Operating costs are a big factor,  considering this takes a HUGE portion  of the USAF  budget for normal  planes, and the Spirit is very expensive to keep  running.

 

- a LOT more ELINT and EW features, collecting data about the enemy is a major focus, just as it is with the F-35. They are talking about sometimes sending Raider on a pure "spy plane" mission, implying not carrying bombs or weapons on occasion,  but to collect SAM site emissions, radio intercept and such. There was even speculation that there might be a dedicated purpose-built "spy" version.... but I suspect all of that capability will end up on all Raiders, just my opinion. Why? Because that's  how the  leading edge of air combat theory and development is evolving. See Reapers  and F-35's, among others

 

- it won't "JUST" be a "bomber". It'll be so adaptable to different kinds of missions, even ones not yet imagined. There is talk of arming it with long range air to air missiles.  Also HARM type weapons,  and possibly very capable EW to defend from S-400 SAM systems

 

- will allow for easy integration with UCAV's  like "Loyal Wingman" and other programs

 

- though  I've not seen this yet, but I'm sure someone at USAF will really  talk up  the benefits of artificial  intelligence into the Raider

 

- there is talk of making some or all of them "optionally manned". Meaning, you might not send it on a mission with a crew every time... you might keep the crew at home and fly it like Reaper pilot operators do from a container in Nevada. It's not clear if this capability will remain in the program

 

- data networking comms will be a major part of the Raider program, to communicate with distributed sensors, Loyal Wingmen, manned wingmen,  and assets in the kill chain that  might be on different continents

 

- the Spirit, after all this time, is still not anywhere near being obsolete. The Raider's capabilities and concepts are apparently  largely the result of successful  testing on Spirits the last 10 years. The Raider builds on the success and lessons learned by it's "Dad"