B-21 – How Many New Stealth Bombers Will The Air Force Get?ByBrent M. EastwoodPublished6 hours ago
The U.S. Air Force bomber fleet, while the best on Earth today, is clearly getting old, as the B-52, B-1B, and B-2 bombers are not exactly new platforms. That means the B-21 Raider program must fill the gap. But exactly how many new bombers will the Air Force buy, knowing stealth tech makes these planes very expensive? Will the Air Force really acquire 140 or more new B-21 Raider bombers as some have claimed they want or need? In previous years, the Air Force has maintained that it wanted to purchase around one hundred new stealth bombers. The threat environment is always changing, and air war planners want an agile airframe to answer the call. This versatility is a selling point for the B-21 as the force ponders future warfare needs. The Biden administration is proposing to spend more money on the new bomber which shows that the Pentagon has confidence in the program.
New Budget Proposal Has More Funding for the B-21
The latest defense budget proposal would have the Department of Defense appropriating $3.25 billion for the B-21 in FY23. That’s compared to FY22 when the Air Force received $2.87 billion – a $320 million increase.
The U.S. Bomber Fleet Is Aging
The B-52, B-1, and B-2 are getting older and require substantial upgrades each year. Even the B-2, whose flying wing design can still turn heads in wonder, is over 30-years old. The B-2 is going through a sensor refit called the New Defensive Management System that has been scaled back to focus on the cockpit with modern displays and graphics. The Air Force is also retiring the B-1B Lancer bomber with 17 taken out of service.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2022/05/b-21-how-many-new-stealth-bombers-will-the-air-force-get/
