B-21 Raider

B-21 Raider
U.S. Air Force artist rendering of B-21 Raider
Role	Strategic bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Northrop Grumman
Status	In development
Primary user	United States Air Force
Unit cost	US$550 million (2010)

The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is a heavy bomber under development by Northrop Grumman. As part of the Long Range Strike Bomber program (LRS-B), it is to be a very long-range, stealth strategic bomber for the United States Air Force capable of delivering conventional or thermonuclear weapons.

The bomber is expected to enter combat service by 2025. It will complement existing B-1 Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress bomber fleets in U.S. service and eventually replace these bombers.

A request for proposal to develop the aircraft was issued in July 2014. The Air Force initial plans are to acquire a minimum of 80–100 LRS-B aircraft at a cost of $550 million per unit (2010) and envisions some 175 to 200 to be in service eventually. A development contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman in October 2015. A media report states that the bomber could also be used as an intelligence gatherer, battle manager, and interceptor aircraft.

At the 2016 Air Warfare Symposium, the LRS-B was formally designated B-21 signifying the aircraft as the 21st century's first bomber. Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James stated that the B-21 is a fifth-generation global precision attack platform that will give the US networked sensor-shoot capability, thus holding targets at risk. The head of the U.S. Air Force Global Strike Command expects that 100 B-21 bombers will be the minimum ordered and envisions some 175–200 bombers in service. Two internal USAF studies suggest that Air Force could increase its B-21 buy from between 80 and 100 to as many as 145 aircraftInitial operating capability is expected to be reached by 2030.