All Things Stealth

[Stuart Galbraith]

What was old is young again...

 

[Josh]

24 minutes ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

What was old is young again...

 

I hope whatever the USAF develops for its CCA program can be rocket launched/parachute recovered. It seems to me being runway independent is a necessity with the PRC as an opponent.

[Stuart Galbraith]

It would be useful as hell on Taiwan.

My personal wish would be that someone develops something like this, but with a Pegasus engine in it.

[bojan]

Really interesting exhaust of those buster rockets, first reddish N2O4, then changes to dark black with a lot of free carbon, but second one is probably just fuel inhibitor burning.

Edited July 6, 2023 by bojan

[bfng3569]

On 1/4/2023 at 6:08 PM, Josh said:

The more interesting thing for me in the short term is whether there is a relationship between APG-85 and B-21. NG makes both. It would not be much of a stretch for NG to mount 3-4 APG-85 arrays, or at least an array derived from the same transmit/receive modules, such that there was 360 degree coverage. This would solve a major problem of survivable front line AEW against peer competitors. It wouldn't have the range and power of a dedicated platform but with a GaN AESA, it should have rather excellent performance for an airborne fighter radar. It would also give B-21 numerous ISR related modes (SAR, MTI, ISAR, etc) in any direction regardless of orientation. That would be really useful for situations where you don't want one of your four most reflective angles to face a threat emitter. It would also grant wrap around ECM in the frequency range of the radar. If you used most of the same parts for the APG-85, the hardware for such would be cheap since those are going to be stamped out by the hundreds, even thousands, compared to hardware that was unique to the B-21.

was thinking about this comment about the radar on the B-21 when i wAs reading this article on the Warzone...

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/how-ngad-will-sense-communicate-and-jam-could-be-revolutionary

Now for the wild card. It's possible to create 'conformal load-bearing antenna structures' (CLASs) that are both arrays and integral parts of an airframe itself, and not just for simpler applications, but also highly complex ones. This would represent a further leap in multi-role sensor capability and aircraft performance for NGAD. In fact, it would unlock exciting new design and sensor performance possibilities that could be a core component of the shadowy program.

 

apparently the image above is conformal load bearing antenna structure from 13 years ago

https://news.northropgrumman.com/news/releases/northrop-grumman-s-load-bearing-antennas-offer-airborne-surveillance-systems-a-better-look-at-ground-targets

Edited August 11, 2023 by bfng3569

[Cajer]

It'll be curious how size vs weird antenna shaping vs transmit through RAM attenuation/increased RCS due to no RAM in that region plays off against each other

[Stuart Galbraith]

Good for Japan.

[futon]

I guess UK and Italy are thinking of it as a way to secure greater production numbers to reduce cost per plane. But including KSA sounds like a headache. I thought at one point Sweden might have been included.

[Stuart Galbraith]

Probably lots of bribery among politicians involved. And lets not forget, some 40 years ago there was a BAE bribery scandal involving an arms deal with Saudi Arabia. In Britain, nothing changes very much. I guess its up to Japan to teach us some good habits.

[Sardaukar]

Bribery scandal among politicians involved in arms deals...I am shocked!!

Edited August 12, 2023 by Sardaukar

[Stuart Galbraith]

Iirc, it involved the Prime Ministers son, who later was involved in a mercenary plot in Sierra Leone. Some people never learn lessons.

[Cajer]

Having the Saudis involved also means all of the technical data is gonna get leaked or sold to China.

[Josh]

22 minutes ago, Cajer said:

Having the Saudis involved also means all of the technical data is gonna get leaked or sold to China.

Or Pakistan, which is probably as good as sending it to China.

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[Josh]

1 hour ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

 

Saw this on another forum. Two things stand out to me: B-21 has conventional flaps, not an exotic control mechanism. Not surprising considering that only fully developed off the shelf tech was used in this project, but first confirmation we have. Second: there are three flaps on the wing aligned with each other, but the fourth all the way to the right is at a different angle and must be tail mounted, and must be very close the exhaust nozzle where ever it is mounted.

[bfng3569]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/b-21-raider-seen-like-never-before-in-new-images

 

 

[DB]

17 hours ago, Josh said:

Saw this on another forum. Two things stand out to me: B-21 has conventional flaps, not an exotic control mechanism. Not surprising considering that only fully developed off the shelf tech was used in this project, but first confirmation we have. Second: there are three flaps on the wing aligned with each other, but the fourth all the way to the right is at a different angle and must be tail mounted, and must be very close the exhaust nozzle where ever it is mounted.

Are you sure that the "fourth flap" isn't simply the most inboard one on the opposite trailing edge? 

Edit: Uh, never mind, a later picture makes it clear that it's not.

Edited September 13, 2023 by DB

[Josh]

Bill Sweetman returns to summarize the known or most likely B-21 attributes:

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/b-21-raider-designed-low-risk

https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/interactive-graphic-design-features-likely-b-21-raider

Edited October 11, 2023 by Josh

[bfng3569]

B-21 stats taxi tests...

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/b-21-raider-has-begun-taxi-tests

[Stuart Galbraith]

[Stuart Galbraith]

'Igor, its alive!'

 

[Josh]

Well I guess that’s end of the B-21/H-20/PAK-DA race, not that I think anyone thought the B-21 was going to lose for the last few years. It’s a bit late but on budget, which is pretty astounding for any US aircraft program (let alone an intercontinental bomber).
 

It looks like the configuration of the bomb bays is a central large one and two outboard secondary bays.

[bfng3569]

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/b-21-raider-has-flown-for-the-first-time

 

 

video below at X

Edited November 11, 2023 by bfng3569

[Corinthian]

They really should have posted a video of a lone trailing fighter and then title the video "First successful stealth flight of the B-21 Raider." People would then comment "Where's the bomber?" and NG should answer "Yes."

[Stuart Galbraith]