Forget the B-21 Raider: NextRS Could Be a Real Mach 5 Hypersonic Bomber

Key Points – The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is reportedly working on a hypersonic bomber concept called the Next Generation Responsive Strike (NextRS) program, envisioned as a successor to the B-21 Raider.

-This multi-mission stealth aircraft aims to fly at over Mach 5, powered by an advanced turbine-based combined cycle engine.

-Its high speed and maneuverability would enable it to penetrate sophisticated air defenses for strike and ISR missions.

-While the program is highly classified, it is expected to have a prototype designed by the end of the 2020s and a first flight in the early 2030s, potentially with an unmanned option and the ability to act as a “drone mothership.”

NextRS Bomber Could Change Everything 

The B-21 Raider has many defense analysts excited about its stealth, range, and power. The bomber will be produced regularly in the coming years and is currently in flight-testing mode.

Some generals and observers believe that at least 100 or as many as 200 B-21s could be built.

But the futuristic Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is again looking many years ahead and has its next-generation bomber that will improve the B-21.

NextRS Bomber: MACH 5 Hot Rod Could Bomb Them to the Stone Age

DARPA is working on a hypersonic bomber concept and hopes to build a prototype soon. It’s called the Next Generation Responsive Strike (NextRS) program.

This multi-mission stealth warbird can take on ground strike roles and deliver intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance data to the warfighter.

This NextRS- at least it is hoped –  can fly at speeds over MACH 5.

Could It Be an NGAD Bomber?

The secretive think tank envisions the NextRS airplane as the next step after the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) fighter, which is slowly winding its way through the Air Force acquisition process as the new F-47 from Boeing.

Powerful Engine Powers the Ultra-high Speed

The main asset of NextRS that is most interesting is the engine.

With its turbine-based combined cycle engine, this propulsion plant will have an estimated thrust range of 30,000 to 38,000 pounds. Since it is traveling at MACH 5 or higher, the airplane will have high levels of survivability and maneuverability that will enable it to avoid air defenses.

This airplane would be perfect for a shock and awe bombing and cruise missile attack to blind enemy radar and command and control centers in the opening days of warfare.

DARPA is working with the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) for the prototype of NextRS. Both entities want to have the design piece squared away by the end of the 2020s.

This will evolve as an ultra-high-speed strike machine that could see additional research and development by 2030 and first flight by the early 2030s.

NextRS: NASA May Make It Able to Hit Near Space Altitude

The NextRS is considered a “Y” plane that should be headed to the engineering and manufacturing development phase if all goes according to plan with DARPA and AFRL.

Interestingly, NASA may have a role in this research work, which leads one to wonder if NextRS can become a near space bomber that could use long-range air-to-air missiles or lasers to take out satellites. This could mean that NextRS could have a dual role with the Air Force and Space Force.

The Aerospace Projects Office at DARPA is leading the efforts with NextRS, and this is a “black” program that resembles a Skunk Works classified concept, so many details are under wraps.

The Aerospace Projects Office does not even appear on the DARPA website.

Why Not Just Launch MACH 5 Missiles?

One question that came up on a thread on X about NextRS is why this NextRS bomber is needed when the Air Force could just launch hypersonic missiles instead.

Defense analyst Alex Hollings replied on X, “An air-breathing hypersonic missile means building a scramjet propulsion system and rocket booster for every single target, just to embed the guidance system and scramjet in the foundation of their house. You only need to build a bomber’s engines, guidance once.”

The key part of NextRS is its re-usability. However, questions remain about the futuristic bomber. Will it be manned or unmanned? There will likely be an unmanned option to go along with live pilots who could use the NextRS as a drone mothership that can control remotely piloted or autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This could help with recon duties and targeting and allow the CCA drones to launch their missiles and bombs.

The next question is price for NextRS. The B-21 Raider bomber is a whopping $780 million per unit. That gives you an idea of the amount of money involved. With research and development costs, the NextRS will need an expensive budget line item for many years.

This may be the project’s undoing. Some are questioning the need for NGAD, and it would be challenging to envision the NextRS coming to fruition without the NGAD coming first.

However, DARPA has a different budgeting structure than other airplane acquisition programs and the Aerospace Projects Office gets its line item that would likely be apart from the other Air Force acquisition programs. This budgetary item would stand alone from NGAD/F-47 and the Collaborative Combat Aircraft projects.

The NextRS program is exciting, especially if the bomber can fly at MACH 5 or more incredible speed. The engine would be topnotch and could be placed on the NGAD someday which could lengthen the life of that airplane should it be produced in numbers.

The DARPA budget can keep the NextRS running for the next few years until the program matures. However, watchdogs overseeing futuristic airplanes could perceive the NextRS as aspirational but unnecessary.

This question of resources and money could be the undoing of NextRS despite its compelling advantages.

About the Author: Dr. Brent M. Eastwood

Brent M. Eastwood, PhD, is the author of Don’t Turn Your Back On the World: a Conservative Foreign Policy and Humans, Machines, and Data: Future Trends in Warfare plus two other books. Brent was the founder and CEO of a tech firm that predicted world events using artificial intelligence. He served as a legislative fellow for U.S. Senator Tim Scott and advised the senator on defense and foreign policy issues. He has taught at American University, George Washington University, and George Mason University. Brent is a former U.S. Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.