Air Force Wants A Bomber That Balances Cost With Capability

Gestart door jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter), 16/01/2013 | 11:53 uur

Sparkplug

Air Force releases new B-21 Raider artist rendering

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published July 06, 2021


Shown is a B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic. The rendering highlights the future stealth bomber with Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., as the backdrop. Designed to perform long range conventional and nuclear missions and to operate in tomorrow's high end threat environment, the B-21 will be a visible and flexible component of the nuclear triad. (U.S. Air Force graphic)

WASHINGTON (AFNS) --
The Air Force released a new B-21 Raider artist rendering graphic with an accompanying fact sheet today. As with past renderings, this rendering is an artist's interpretation of the B-21 design.

The new rendering highlights the future stealth bomber with Edwards Air Force Base, California, as the backdrop. The 420th Flight Test Squadron based at Edwards AFB will plan, test, analyze and report on all flight and ground testing of the B-21 Raider.

The B-21 program continues to execute the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and is focused on scaling the manufacturing infrastructure and capacity across the industrial supply base to prepare for low rate initial production. A critical design review conducted in 2018 concluded the aircraft has a mature and stable design.

Designed to perform long range conventional and nuclear missions and to operate in tomorrow's high end threat environment, the B-21 will be a visible and flexible component of the nuclear triad.

"Nuclear modernization is a top priority for the Department of Defense and the Air Force, and B-21 is key to that plan," said Randall Walden, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director. "The built-in feature of open systems architecture on the B-21 makes the bomber effective as the threat environment evolves. This aircraft design approach sets the nation on the right path to ensuring America's enduring airpower capability."

The Air Force plans to incrementally replace the B-1 Lancer and the B-2 Spirit bombers to form a two-bomber fleet of B-21s and modified B-52s. The B-21 program is on track to deliver B-21s to the first operational base, Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, in the mid-2020s.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2683003/air-force-releases-new-b-21-raider-artist-rendering/

Fact sheet.

https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/2682973/b-21-raider/
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.


Harald

U.S. Air Force, Lockheed Martin Further Efforts to Transform Airlifters into Potent Strike Weapon Platforms 

The U.S. Air Force Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) Office awarded Lockheed Martin a $25 million contract to support the next phase of the service's Palletized Munitions Experimentation Campaign.

The fourth phase includes a system-level demonstration in 2021 and continues to assess the potential to deliver large volumes of air-launched weapons via airlifters.

"Despite the Palletized Munitions program being relatively new, it's moving very quickly," said Scott Callaway, Lockheed Martin Advanced Strike Systems director. "The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) contracting and Strategic Development Planning and Experimentation (SDPE) offices, and Lockheed Martin teams established this new contract in a record time of 30 days, supporting faster prototyping and a shorter timeline to bring this advanced capability to the warfighter in the field."

Initial studies show that airlifters have the potential to deploy large quantities of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile Extended Range (JASSM-ER) missiles, providing a significant increase in long-range standoff scale and complementing traditional strike and bomber aircrafts. This innovative approach enables warfighters to launch offensive operations from a greater number of airfields and engage a larger number of near-peer adversarial targets.

The overall goal of the experimentation is to develop a modular system to deliver air-launched weapons, leveraging standard airdrop procedures and operations. The system will have the ability to be rolled on and off multiple types of aircraft, including the C-17 and C-130.

Phase I successfully accomplished five high-altitude airdrops from an MC-130J (manufactured by Lockheed Martin) and a C-17 earlier this year using simulated weapons. During this effort, the U.S. Air Force tested the suitability of launching JASSM-ERs from an airlifter. JASSM is a long-range, conventional, air-to-ground, precision standoff missile for the U.S. and allied forces designed to destroy high-value, well-defended, fixed and relocatable targets.

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/articles-view/release/3/214041/usaf-contracts-study-to-transform-airlifters-in-weapon-platforms.html

Sparkplug

US Air Force delays first B-21 flight

01 SEPTEMBER 2020

by Pat Host

The US Air Force (USAF) is now expecting the first flight of its Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider long range strike bomber (LRSB) to take place no earlier than 2022, slightly later than the late 2021 timeframe the service previously expected.

Major General Mark Weatherington, Eighth Air Force commander, said on 31 August that the USAF could also make the aircraft's initial operational capability (IOC) date earlier, depending if it accelerates deliveries. This does not mean the aircraft would be delivered earlier, he said, but instead would represent a steeper ramp-up. Matthew Donovan, former USAF undersecretary, said in January 2018 that the B-21's IOC was scheduled for the mid-2020s.

The Eighth Air Force is responsible for the service's bomber force and airborne nuclear command and control (C2) assets. The air force currently has 157 bombers: 61 Rockwell B-1B Lancers, 76 Boeing B-52H Stratofortresses, and 20 Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit strategic bombers.

The USAF is planning for a major revamp of its bomber force. It will modernise its B-52H fleet with new engines, radars, and communication systems, among others. The air force wants to start retiring its B-1Bs now while it will start retiring its fleet of B-2s once the B-21 comes online. The USAF proposed in its fiscal year (FY) 2021 budget request to reduce its bomber fleet from 157 aircraft to 140 by retiring 17 B-1Bs.

Already a Janes subscriber? Read the full article via the Client Login


Artist's rendering of a B-21 concept in a hangar at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. The USAF has delayed the first flight of its B-21 to no earlier than 2022 after previously targeting late 2021. (Northrop Grumman)

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/us-air-force-delays-first-b-21-flight
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

SecDef visits B-21 facilities in Florida

Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs / Published August 03, 2020

MELBOURNE, Fla (AFNS) --
Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper, visited the B-21 Raider design and development headquarters at Northrop Grumman, to witness the progress being made on the nation's most cutting edge dual-capable stealth bomber.

"Nuclear modernization is a department priority – especially in our efforts to implement the National Defense Strategy. We have made great strides in ensuring the strength and reliability of our nation's nuclear deterrent. The ability to strike any target, anywhere is the ultimate strategic deterrent and the B-21 Raider will bring that capability," Esper said.

"I am thoroughly impressed by the dedication and progress across the B-21 Raider team."

During the visit, engineers explained how the B-21 Raider uses digital engineering, prototyping and modern software development. The team also described to Esper how the B-21 Raider incorporates lessons from past programs to improve producibility and maintainability, which will enable more efficient production and sustainment. Furthermore, the use of open systems architectures preserves the ability to effectively adapt to future threats.

Gen. Timothy Ray, commander of Air Force Global Strike Command and Air Forces Strategic-Air, U.S. Strategic Command, joined Esper on the facility tour.

"We're excited to get the B-21 Raider to bases in the mid-2020s. The progress I saw today further adds to my confidence that the B-21 Raider will preserve our long range strike and penetrating bomber capability," Ray said.

Randy Walden, director of the Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and program executive officer for the B-21 Raider program, described the parallel efforts ongoing in Palmdale, California, and throughout the country to expand the production capacity across the supply base: "The first test aircraft is being built, and it's starting to look like an airplane. Suppliers from across the country are delivering parts that are coming together now. Aircraft programs will always have a few surprises early on, and we won't be any different, but overall the B-21 Raider is coming along nicely," Walden said.

https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2298433/secdef-visits-b-21-facilities-in-florida/
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

B-21 Images Show New Details of Secret Bomber

https://www.airforcemag.com/b-21-images-show-new-details-of-secret-bomber/


Artist rendering of a B-21 Raider concept in a hangar at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., one of the future bases to host the new airframe. Northrop Grumman courtesy photo via USAF.
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Huzaar1

"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

jurrien visser (JuVi op Twitter)

Citaat van: Huzaar1 op 05/12/2019 | 13:18 uur
Een van de onduidelijkste infographics die ik in m n leven heb gezien.


Om het nog duidelijk te maken. de getoonde render is wel of niet de afbeelding van een B-21 Bij de product presentatie weten we pas hoe het apparaat er uit gaat zien.

Sparkplug

Citaat van: Huzaar1 op 05/12/2019 | 13:18 uur
Een van de onduidelijkste infographics die ik in m n leven heb gezien.

Als niet ingewijde in luchtdingen... is het onduidelijk wat er nu aan de hand is. Welk type actueel is, wat moet ik met die artist impression? Waar is die van en welk toestel willen ze nu waar precies kwijt op welke basis?

Gaat de b21 vliegen naast de b2? Komt er een nieuwe op basis van die arist impression? Is de raider de nieuwe? Nogmaals wat doet die concept art daar dan?

De B-21 is kleiner dan de B-2 (zie spanwijdte) en heeft ook een kleinere wapenlast (60.000 lbs om 30.000 lbs). Verder laten ze de geannuleerde NGB zien. Dit is ter vergelijking met de B-2 en B-21.

Uiteindelijk wordt de B-2 door de B-21 vervangen.

Gewenste stationering B-21:
Gevecht operationeel: Dyess AFB, Ellsworth AFB en Whiteman AFB
Onderhoud: Tinker AFB
Ondersteuning: Hill AFB en Robbins AFB

Onderstaande een link met alle USAF/AFRes/ANG eenheden en bases wereldwijd.

https://www.af.mil/AF-Sites/srBaseList/A/#A
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Huzaar1

Een van de onduidelijkste infographics die ik in m n leven heb gezien.

Als niet ingewijde in luchtdingen... is het onduidelijk wat er nu aan de hand is. Welk type actueel is, wat moet ik met die artist impression? Waar is die van en welk toestel willen ze nu waar precies kwijt op welke basis?

Gaat de b21 vliegen naast de b2? Komt er een nieuwe op basis van die arist impression? Is de raider de nieuwe? Nogmaals wat doet die concept art daar dan?
"Going to war without France is like going deer hunting without your accordion" US secmindef - Jed Babbin"

Sparkplug

The Raider Takes Shape

https://www.airforcemag.com/article/the-raider-takes-shape/

Klik voor vergroting

Comparing Stealth Bombers. Graphic: Dash Parham/staff; Illustration: Mike Tsukamoto/staff
A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.

Sparkplug

A fighter without a gun . . . is like an airplane without a wing.

-- Brigadier General Robin Olds, USAF.