Northrop Grumman B-21 unveiling

[Dawes]

For those of you that predicted that the B-21 would look like a somewhat smaller B-2, looks like you called it. At around $700 million per airplane I hope it does magical things.

[Ivanhoe]

No doubt the Raider is a good airplane from an ordnance kg-km sort of performance metric. That said, I am kinda disappointed that it is so boring-looking.

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

I think it looks cute, in a Roswell saucer kinda way. Im more upset about the name. Something aggressive like Atomizer or Masticator would be welcome. Heck, just call it Megafortress and be done with it.

[Olof Larsson]

1 hour ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

I think it looks cute, in a Roswell saucer kinda way. Im more upset about the name. Something aggressive like Atomizer or Masticator would be welcome. Heck, just call it Megafortress and be done with it.

Valkyrie was the best name for a bomber so far. Abaddon would also be a good name for a bomber, and Clíodhna (the queen of the banshees) for those that can pronounce it.

[Mike1158]

3 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

I think it looks cute, in a Roswell saucer kinda way. Im more upset about the name. Something aggressive like Atomizer or Masticator would be welcome. Heck, just call it Megafortress and be done with it.

Metafortress might be a bit more currant,  pardon the pun.

[Stuart Galbraith]

1 hour ago, Mike1158 said:

Metafortress might be a bit more currant,  pardon the pun.

3 hours ago, Olof Larsson said:

Valkyrie was the best name for a bomber so far. Abaddon would also be a good name for a bomber, and Clíodhna (the queen of the banshees) for those that can pronounce it.

I was thinking something vaguely folkloric without sounding naff or going over the top. Wraith would fit the bill nicely.

Still we should perhaps be grateful they arent naming it after a politician, as the US Navy seems obsessed with doing.

[Ivanhoe]

Sincew we have a Space Force modeled on Star Trek, to some extent...

The B-21 Disruptor

 

[Dawes]

I've always liked this other Raider:

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

 

[bfng3569]

On 12/3/2022 at 9:51 AM, Ivanhoe said:

No doubt the Raider is a good airplane from an ordnance kg-km sort of performance metric. That said, I am kinda disappointed that it is so boring-looking.

 

boring is in the eye of the beholder......

[Josh]

Most everyone I've talked to online anywhere assumed it would be a B-2 shape but somewhat smaller that accurately followed the pre rollout renderings. No surprises.

The big surprise at this point is being more or less on time and budget.

[Dawes]

So...another ten years to work out all the issues?

[Josh]

4 hours ago, Dawes said:

So...another ten years to work out all the issues?

Supposedly no on this one. The example produced is supposed to be as close to production as any initial prototype yet built to hear NG say it. So far it is on time and budget, with five more EMD machines under construction behind this one. I think IOC is thought to be 2027-2028.

[bfng3569]

22 hours ago, Josh said:

Most everyone I've talked to online anywhere assumed it would be a B-2 shape but somewhat smaller that accurately followed the pre rollout renderings. No surprises.

The big surprise at this point is being more or less on time and budget.

 supposedly it more closely resembles the 'shape' that lost out to the B-2 final design due to the lack of the whole low level penetration requirement.

Hopefully some pics come soon.....

[Josh]

The major change is supposedly adopting a single tail as opposed to the tripple saw tooth arrangement on the B-2 (we haven't seen pictures to prove that yet). The B-2's tail was changed to support low altitude operations should high altitude stealth fail. The single tail should be more aerodynamically efficient at high altitude, but the main change seems to be more manufacturing techniques and structures. Computer modeling was used to the extreme and whatever structure/coating technology was used made the exterior of the aircraft look smooth as a baby's ass. The single boggie wheels indicate a lot of weight savings from composites, and I'm guess the avionics are particularly advanced as well. Most of the secret sauce isn't in the basic layout of the aircraft but in the internals and minor efficiencies of every surface, in particular the way air is fed to the sunken intakes.

[Stuart Galbraith]

So this was interesting...

 

[bfng3569]

4 hours ago, Josh said:

The major change is supposedly adopting a single tail as opposed to the tripple saw tooth arrangement on the B-2 (we haven't seen pictures to prove that yet). The B-2's tail was changed to support low altitude operations should high altitude stealth fail. The single tail should be more aerodynamically efficient at high altitude, but the main change seems to be more manufacturing techniques and structures. Computer modeling was used to the extreme and whatever structure/coating technology was used made the exterior of the aircraft look smooth as a baby's ass. The single boggie wheels indicate a lot of weight savings from composites, and I'm guess the avionics are particularly advanced as well. Most of the secret sauce isn't in the basic layout of the aircraft but in the internals and minor efficiencies of every surface, in particular the way air is fed to the sunken intakes.

cant wait to see more pics/info..... eventually...!

this older article from the war zone does a pretty decent job of comparing (or so it seems) externally the older original B-2 and the B-21.  whether it truly is accurate i guess remains to be seen

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/14919/the-b-21s-three-decade-old-shape-hints-at-new-high-altitude-capabilities

 

 

[Argus]

3 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

So this was interesting...

 

Yeah but at $700m a pop - I'm going to guess our part will be acting as a base/host for them.

[Dawes]

The B-21's range would be a useful capability for Australia, but I can't see them even entertaining the idea of obtaining some due to the budget-busting cost.

[17thfabn]

On 12/3/2022 at 9:51 AM, Ivanhoe said:

No doubt the Raider is a good airplane from an ordnance kg-km sort of performance metric. That said, I am kinda disappointed that it is so boring-looking.

 A case of form follows function. 

[Stuart Galbraith]

8 hours ago, Argus said:

Yeah but at $700m a pop - I'm going to guess our part will be acting as a base/host for them.

But think how good they would look painted Green and Brown with black undersides. Think of the anoraks here!

 

[Ivanhoe]

10 hours ago, 17thfabn said:

 A case of form follows function. 

Yeah, its kinda like B-17 vs B-24.

 

[Mike1158]

I believe we should have a bakers dozen, Something has to replace the Lancaster.  Beside which it would look great as a garden gnome for number ten.

 

Seriously though, WE had an input with it?  Apart from specifying how big a hanger we have left on the one large A/C base we have now I cannot see where.  Did BaE have an input?  Possibly.

[shep854]

A thoughtful discussion: