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The US Air Force will reveal its latest and most sophisticated stealth bomber this week. Although little is known about its full capacity so far, the manufacturer says the B-21 Raider is loaded with features more advanced than the F-35.
The US Air Force and Northrop Grumman will reveal the new and highly sophisticated stealth plane, the B-21 Raider, in Palmdale, California, on Friday.
Dough Young, vice president, and general manager of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems stated in a news release that the B-21 Raider is military aircraft that holds the most high-tech features ever developed and the result of "pioneering innovation and technological excellence. "
He added that the B-21 Raider is a testament to the hard work and expertise of thousands of individuals who put in long hours every day to complete the military plane, according to a Fox News report.
In 2015, Northrop was given a contract to create the most cutting-edge USA Stealth Bomber ever.
Innovative stealth technologies and cutting-edge production methods went into making the B-21. The sixth-generation aircraft is "designed for missions in highly contested environments," according to Northrop Corporate President Tom Jones.
Northrop says the new USA Stealth Bomber can fly vast distances for both conventional and nuclear missions.
How Much Does the B-21 Raider Cost?
Creating, buying, and operating 100 planes is predicted to cost $203 billion, or around $2 billion each.
Six planes are now being built at the Palmdale facility, and the first B-21 Raider is expected to take to the air in 2023, pending the outcome of ground tests.
The US Air Force announced on October 20 that the B-21 will be unveiled on December 2 at Northrop Grumman's Palmdale, California production plant.
Space.com reported that US Air Force Chief of Staff General Charles Q. Brown, Jr. stated that the debut of the B-21 Raider would be "historic" for the service and the country.
Tune in at https://t.co/2oH1DUryaJ, Friday, Dec. 2 at 8 p.m. EST for the unveiling of our newest bomber - the B-21 Raider!
The B-21 is designed to operate in tomorrow’s high-end threat environment & will play a critical role in ensuring America’s enduring airpower capability.— U.S. Air Force (@usairforce) November 29, 2022
Neither the B-21's full capabilities nor its exact makeup is entirely disclosed. According to a USAF fact sheet, which is the best source of information available at the moment, the B-21 will be able to carry and deploy both conventional and nuclear bombs, and it will be capable of crewed and uncrewed flight.
The stealth bomber is also believed to be able to engage in electronic warfare, such as jamming or spoofing radar and communications systems, and be equipped with an "open systems architecture" that will enable it to be modified with extra features in the future, making it more advanced than the F-35.
Full Details on the New Stealth Bomber Still Being Kept Secret
Although the USAF anticipates the maiden flight of the B-21 Raider to occur in 2023, military leaders have not yet announced concrete target dates.
The company manufactured the USA Stealth Bomber considerably more quickly than previous military development projects because it employed digital engineering and sophisticated manufacturing techniques.
Unlike other military programs that are kept secret, the B-21's existence is publicly recognized. Leading members of the US Air Force have revealed bits and pieces of knowledge about the jet throughout the years. But other than a few neutral conceptual pictures, not much is known about it, as per a Defense One story.
Furthermore, while the public will see the first plane on Friday, few should anticipate learning anything more. The US Air Force is preventing other countries like China, Russia, and others from copying the B-21 design or developing techniques to shoot it down, so it kept a large portion of the project secret.
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