PALMDALE – The U.S. Air Force’s first new, long-range strike bomber since 1988 was unveiled Friday, Dec. 2, in Palmdale.
While the B-21 Raider isn’t expected to be operational and introduced into service for several more years, the Air Force called Friday’s ceremonial unveiling at Northrop Grumman’s production facilities “a significant milestone in the Air Force’s effort to modernize combat capabilities.”
The B-21 is designed to be a more capable and adaptable, state-of-the- art aircraft that will gradually replace aging B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit bombers now in service, according to the Air Force. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin called the B-21 “a testament to America’s enduring advantages in ingenuity and innovation” and “proof of the department’s long-term commitment to building advanced capabilities that will fortify America’s ability to deter aggression, today and into the future.” The B-21″is deterrence the American way,” Austin said at the ceremony.
“This isn’t just another airplane,” Austin said. “It’s not just another acquisition. It’s the embodiment of America’s determination to defend the republic that we all love. It’s a testament to our strategy of deterrence with the capabilities to back it up, every time and everywhere.”
The B-21 will be “the backbone of our bomber fleet,” Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown Jr. said before the unveiling. Air Force officials envision a fleet of at least 100 aircraft with an average procurement unit cost requirement of $692 million in 2022 dollars. The specific plane unveiled Friday is one of six under production. Each is considered a test aircraft, but each is being built on the same production line, using the same tools, processes, and technicians who will build production aircraft, an approach the Air Force said has enabled production engineers and technicians to capture lessons learned and apply them directly to follow-on aircraft, driving home a focus on repeatability, producibility and quality.
The B-21 Raider is named in honor of the Doolittle Raids of World War II when 80 men, led by Lt. Col. James “Jimmy” Doolittle, and 16 B-25 Mitchell medium bombers set off on a bombing mission of Japan in 1942. The designation B-21 recognizes the Raider as the first bomber of the 21st century.
The B-21 is billed by its manufacturer, Northrop Grumman Corp., as “the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft.”
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Iconoclast says
$750 million a plane, but, wait, they will be used with aging B52 bombers. Meanwhile, our border is open, inflation is killing people, lazy people are not working, and we have an individual with obvious diminished capacity in the White House. Is this a great country or what?
Ralph says
Another Sub-sonic Fiberglass POS from Northrop
M Garcia says
Air Force beats Navy 66% of the time.
I guess they’re just better, smarter, faster.
Prredator says
I know an M. Garcia.
He’s a local congressman.
He’s a cowardly capon whose lips are planted on Trump’s tail section.
Vietnam Vet says
NOT ONE jet aircraft was downed by enemy fire in the entire Afghanistan/Iraq debacle.
Why?
Because they were fighting against an enemy whose primary weapons were toyota pickup trucks with machine guns mounted in their truck beds.
There were MANY helicopters shot down. THAT was dangerous duty. Dozens of helo pilots/crew lost their lives, so helo pilots/crew are ‘heroic’
But Mike G was subjected to zero danger. None. Nil. Zilch.
He did recon, maybe a bombing run or two with JDAMs, from a long way away, and with little to no hazard to him or his aircraft.
The greatest hazard he faced was from the commissary every night, or maybe if her muffed a carrier landing.
So, I wish his supporters would shut the F up about hism
Tim Scott says
Schedule a rematch for after the carrier landings.
Lisa Craft says
On the cynical side, a nice little cold war, 80’s style would be good for the local aerospace economy.
ACE says
IF IT’S A DRONE..?
WHY DOES IT HAVE WINDOWS..?
***
Ameila. Lindbergh says
Drones like to see out too, y’know.
But, lose the peanuts. Allergies.
John says
Is the saying goes , all politicians should serve two terms, one in office ,one in jail.
Treasury Secretary says
That should be on our money like “In God We Trust”.
Neppy Taism says
That saying should be on the wall in the Lancaster city council chamber instead of In God We Trust. Most of what Rex does shows little in relation to God, especially his treatment of those who don’t agree with him and the homeless. Never mind all the insider deals that have gone on.
Worker says
After watching this, I felt proud and protected. When Rex rolled out his $10 million dollar taxpayer funded LEAPS aka Eye in the Sky I threw up in my mouth. Listening to him bloviate on how it would lower crime and protect us made me ill. All it did was provide flying lessons for the son of the sheriff captain and put money in Visco’s pocket.
KC says
Rex is a typical attorney turned politician but they keep re-electing him ♀️
William says
Like they say, “All politics is loco.”
The Mayor of Stomptown says
It offers no protection from the enemies within
William says
There’s very little crime at a thousand feet where the LEAPS flies. So, there’s that.
Only in Lancaster says
When LEAPS does fly it is a crime in the sense that it was a no bid contract to one of Rex’s political allies. It did nothing to protect us or lower crime as it was billed. It’s only real benefit was providing flying lessons to the sheriff captain’s kid. Only in Lancaster. Only in Lancaster indeed.
Don Treadonme says
That’s the aircraft they let us know about.
Imagine what they have tucked away, for a ‘rainy day’.
John says
China is flying stealth drones over the United States daily. Commercial airline pilots are reporting them as UAP’s.
Tim Scott says
LOL…to what end? Are their stealth drones checking up on you to see if you are watching porn?
Red Baron says
Lancaster was flying the not so stealth Eye in the Sky over Lancaster daily. Other than it almost being shot down for crossing into restricted airspace, no one reported it doing anything other than giving flying lessons for the sheriff captain’s kid and making bank for Frank.
Tim Scott says
Northrop certainly put on a dramatic event. The flyovers during the national anthem were awesome! Speeches were a little dry, but…well, they were speeches so that was to be expected.