SMART BOMBS: MILITARY, DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY
B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber: Can It Be Built Affordably?
ByPhilip HandlemanPublished23 hours ago
B-21The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony December 2, 2022 in..Palmdale, Calif. Designed to operate in tomorrow's high-end threat environment, the B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring America's enduring airpower capability. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Editor’s Note: This is another part of a multi-part series looking at the new B-21 Raider stealth bomber by renowned expert Philip Handleman. You can find all parts of the series here.
While we don’t know exactly how much the B-21 will cost or how many will be built, then-U.S. Air Force acquisition chief William LaPlante in 2015 pegged the strategic bomber’s unit cost at $515 million in 2010 dollars, predicated on an aggregate buy of 100 bombers. Northrop Grumman prepared for a production rate of 15 a year, or an average of a little over one bomber per month, as a means to keep government budget-cutters at bay and production chugging along uninterrupted for a sustained period. If Northrop Grumman produces the new bombers at that rate, it would take just short of seven years to complete a total of 100.
https://www.19fortyfive.com/2023/03/b-21-raider-stealth-bomber-can-it-be-built-affordably/
