The B-21 is the next evolution of the U.S. Air Force strategic bomber fleet and the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft. Learn what you need to know about Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider here: https://t.co/TLrKQcuFiH #riseoftheraider #b21raider pic.twitter.com/WpGR9HrQZK

Northrop Grumman  (@northropgrumman) November 10, 2023

https://www.northropgrumman.com/what-we-do/air/B-21-Need-To-Know

Benefitting from more than three decades of strike and stealth technology innovation, the B-21 is the next evolution of the U.S. Air Force strategic bomber fleet and the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft to reach the skies.

When it comes to delivering America’s resolve, the Raider will provide the Air Force with long range, high survivability and mission payload flexibility. The B-21 will penetrate the toughest defenses for precision strikes anywhere in the world. Here is what you need to know about Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider as it continues flight test.

   Sixth Generation. The B-21 Raider is setting standards for sixth-generation technology. On the outside, next-gen stealth and advancements in low observable processes will make the aircraft easier and less costly to maintain than prior systems. Inside, the B-21’s open architecture will enable rapid upgradability from inclusion of new weapons to software upgrades thanks to advanced networking capabilities and successful cloud environment migration. With these innovations, the B-21 is designed to meet evolving threats for decades to come.

   Partnership Approach. The B-21 Raider program is reimagining traditional acquisition processes. Through active contract management, Northrop Grumman and the Air Force have worked in a partnership focused on shared success over the long term. The teams’ focus on transparency is evident in the industry-first data sharing agreement that provides the end user with access to valuable data, including the B-21 digital twin.

   Backbone of the Fleet. The B-21 Raider forms the backbone of the future for U.S. air power. The B-21 will deliver a new era of capability and flexibility through advanced integration of data, sensors and weapons. Capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear payloads, the B-21 will be one of the most effective aircraft in the sky, with the ability to use a broad mix of stand-off and direct attack munitions.

   Production Focus. A key strategy of the program was to build a production representative first test aircraft. Rather than a prototype, the B-21 test aircraft is equipped with mission systems and was built by the same manufacturing technicians using the same processes and tooling for production aircraft. The body of knowledge and experience gleaned in the development process supports a smooth transition into production on the path to delivering operational capability.

   A Digital Aircraft. Northrop Grumman uses agile software development and digital engineering tools to mitigate production risk and enable modern sustainment practices for the B-21 program. Ground testing demonstrated the efficacy of digital modeling with results that outperformed industry standards, paving the way for next-gen platforms and systems.

   Advanced Manufacturing. By embracing the benefits of advanced manufacturing, Northrop Grumman invested in a digital ecosystem for the B-21 throughout the aircraft’s lifecycle. From training and augmented reality tools allowing technicians to visualize tasks and solve problems before ever touching the plane, to easing integration of supplier parts on the aircraft, these advancements have reduced risk, supported efficiency and cultivated expertise throughout the manufacturing workforce.

   A National Team. Since contract award in 2015, Northrop Grumman has assembled a nationwide team to design, test and build the world’s most advanced strike aircraft. The B-21 team includes more than 8,000 personnel from Northrop Grumman, industry partners and the Air Force, with more than 400 suppliers across 40 states. The partnership approach extends to the flight test campaign. Initially stood up in 2019, the B-21 Combined Test Force is comprised of Northrop Grumman and Air Force personnel working together to conduct flight test operations prior to aircraft delivery.

   Sustainment at the Forefront. Sustainment was a program priority throughout the B-21 program’s design phase. In addition to driving efficiency over the long term, this approach yields more near-term benefits and sets the B-21 further along on tech data, materiel readiness and training which will benefit the user community upon fielding.

   Global Reach. The B-21 Raider is pivotal to supporting our nation’s strategic deterrence strategy. In addition to its advanced long-range precision strike capabilities that will afford Combatant Commanders the ability to hold any target, anywhere in the world at risk, it is designed as the lead component of a larger family of systems that will deliver intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, electronic attack and multi-domain networking capabilities. In a dynamic global security environment, the B-21 will provide the flexibility and deterrence critical to the security of the U.S. and our allies.

   Continuing the Legacy. The B-21 Raider is named in honor of the Doolittle Raid of World War II when 80 airmen, led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, and 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers set off on a mission that changed the course of the war. The raid was a catalyst to a multitude of future progress in U.S. air superiority and serves as the inspiration behind the Raider name and the pioneering, innovative spirit instilled across the workforce bringing the B-21 to life.

They made some downright confusing decisions on the B-2 though.

I wonder if the flew it over Skunkworks.

Dammit... Day late and a dollar short, story of my life!  

Hope they tested it by bombing some Russians and/or Houthis.

No, you have to buy from someone else

Is the b-21 smaller then the b-2?

yes

According to this infograph, yes.
Found here- https://www.airandspaceforces.com/article/the-raider-takes-shape/

So, the first B-21 is named Cerberus, the three-headed dog that guards the gates of the Underworld to prevent the dead from leaving. Let’s guess the next one (must be Greek mythology creature - probably - like Chimera, Medusa, Hydra, Minotaur, Scylla, etc) pic.twitter.com/s1Rfop1e3s

The Aviationist  (@TheAviationist) November 10, 2023

30 years ago?

When MDD was killing it and Boeing was just trying to learn how to snort the DC drug money.

Completely different scene now.

Perhaps.  Hopefully they've realized that they should use actual downlocks rather than springs.

The plane almost looks like an alien space craft in some photos, and in other pics it is freaking gorgeous. What a beautiful plane. I hope they build at least 50 of them for the next generation of B61-13. It's pretty obvious there is a strong faction in world politics who would like the USA to go away by death so this should remind the other side we are humble, compassionate people who wish nor want to do harm, but if you make me..............  are you really sure you mean it cause............ We will survive.

good quality video + B-2 takeoff

B21 only has one giant M on the wing back. B2 has a smaller M surrounded by an even more giant M on the wing back. B2 has more and bigger M&M's.

No, you will provide me with stealth bombers, nukes, pallets of cash, and a big-tittied Latina. Thats the deal.

B2 has sawtooth trailing edges.

Loiter for hours.

Was it something Northrop was doing or was it some combination of DoD requirements and Boeing fuckery piled on? I'm not as familiar with Northrop's Aeronautics Systems group. Most of my experience with/for them is in the Defense and Space Systems sectors.

Just avoid getting water in the sensors (actually they know how to fix issue now).

With a bomb bay full of hate and discontent!

Extension cord.

Why would we do this?

A billion $ wing mod plus 1 (or 2) year schedule hit.

Swedish Bikini Team Part 2: Wicked Weasel Boogaloo

They knew how to fix it then.  The GACS troops would use the pitot heat to boil off the water in the sensors when they would grow an error.  It wasn’t in the flight manual (or he maintenance manual either for that matter).

Right, one of the primary missions of the B-2 was to penetrate Soviet airspace undetected and roam around hunting for & killing the road mobile ICBM's.  Problem still exists today and so much more.

I was simply pointing out the easiest visual differentiator.

We're allies now, and you're the Arsenal of Freedom.

That means nukes and Latinas for us.

Whoever pushes the refutrash out first wins. Obviously you can keep any properly assimilated immigrants who know about midsummer

We’ll let you play in the NATO Nuclear Planning Group but as much as I love the Grippen it isn’t dual capable.

And be careful what you wish for.  We’ll ship a couple million Latinos.

You can have some B21's, but you must agree to making lots of sophisticated naval mines that will fit the B21 bomb racks and provide them in trade. Prefer you name them Berserker Class Naval Mine.

i feel like their definition of gen 6 is unclear and not much of a jump over current gen 5 tech.  just slightly better and maybe cheaper to maintain.  it's hot marketing words more than capability at this point

I believe gen 6 requires optionally manned as well as control of other aircraft.

In regards to the second point, that's been left vague. Do they mean drones? Or do they mean SUTER? Whoops sorry your missile "malfunctioned"

Things are so crazy right now I wouldn't rule out the possibility that we see export sales of the B-21. I think the Japanese have shown interest and to be honest they are about the only country on the planet I might trust to properly maintain stealth coatings.

Australia is leasing Virginia Class submarines. Is anything on a B-21 as classified as the reactor core on one of those?

At the least we are probably going to see these things forward deployed to Guam and England. If the balloon goes up they will likely be escorted into battle by foreign F-35s.

That B-21

Possible the changed they core as well.

One of the coolest things about the Ford class is the massive power upgrade it got. I think it's double or triple the power of a Nimitz. I could see us giving the Aussies an old version. "You can have an LA class core, we're done with them now."

Hearing things like that I would not be surprised if the F-35C winds up being retired sooner than most people expect.

It looks like that because he took a picture of an lcd screen. Its pixalation.

It might be in relation to stealth technology rather than general post WW2 bomber design?