Key Points – The B-21 Raider, the US Air Force’s upcoming sixth-generation stealth bomber, is designed to be a Day One asset capable of deeply penetrating sophisticated enemy air defenses, particularly China’s.
-Its advanced stealth, global reach, and versatile payload—including B61-12 nuclear bombs, JASSM cruise missiles, JDAMs, and potentially hypersonic weapons—make it a formidable instrument for both conventional and nuclear deterrence.
-The B-21 is also envisioned to conduct ISR and electronic warfare missions, and to act as a “drone quarterback” controlling Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
-With at least 100 units planned, the Raider aims to ensure US strategic dominance.
The B-21 Could Punish China In an East Asian Military Duel
A recent Chinese study that conducted a simulation on a US nuclear attack on the Mainland revealed that the Middle Kingdom should be most afraid of the B-52 Stratofortress. But there should be another report about the new B-21 Raider. This stealth bomber could penetrate deeply into the country, evade air defenses, drop precision-guided munitions, fire nuclear-tipped missiles or bombs, or even launch hypersonic weapons at China.
Hurting the Enemy On the First Day of Conflict
The sixth-generation B-21 would play a huge role in any US attack against China. The bomber could be a Day One asset in a conflict and, when flying with the F-35 or F-22, could conduct an initial mission to take out enemy surface-to-air missile systems, radar, and command and control facilities.
Nuclear Capabilities Create More Deterrence Against China
The B-21 could potentially use air-to-surface anti-ship missiles to destroy aircraft carriers and other ships (if that capability for the Raider is possible someday). The Raider is also nuclear-capable and could drop the refurbished B61-12 nuclear device on Chinese military targets and cities. This makes the bomber a significant leg of the US nuclear triad and a robust instrument of deterrence.
Russia Is in the Cross Hairs
East Asia is not the only region of concern. The B-21 could also be a factor in any attack on Russia. The US Air Force hopes this stealth bomber could sneak past Russian S-400 and S-500 SAMs with little difficulty. Then, it could remove numerous high-value targets inside Russian borders, such as air bases, by destroying runways and other attacks against nuclear infrastructure.
Punishing North Korea
Don’t forget North Korea. The B-21 would need to be deployed from Guam or Australia, and it could answer Kim Jong Un’s attack against South Korea if that contingency arose. This could consist of a tactical nuclear weapon or conventional bombing of the North’s nuclear missile sites. This would be an attack after Day One of a war on the peninsula.
The B-21 could also lead to a bombardment of Iran. The Raider could fly with Israeli F-35I Adirs and attack more nuclear infrastructure in a surprise strike against Tehran.
The Raider has many different tactics, operations, and mission profiles. It can fly deep into contested air space to destroy enemy air defenses. After the main effort is complete, it could also be used in reserve on Day Two or Day Three of war for follow-on strikes.
China Will Be the Number One Adversary for the B-21
However, deterring China is the biggest mission for the B-21. Air Force generals have many options for the B-21, and it could leave its home base at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota for a mass attack in East Asia. The B-21 could lead the initial mission in tandem with Tomahawk cruise missile strikes from American submarines. F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet bombing runs would follow this after the B-21 neutralizes Chinese air defenses.
On Days Two and Three, the B-21 can conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions and use its electronic warfare suite to make Chinese counter-strikes less effective.
Could It Be a Drone Quarterback?
The B-21 could also be instrumental in overseeing drone strikes with the new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). This unmanned system could also be used for targeting and ISR. CCAs can be outfitted with missiles and can conduct bomb damage assessments for follow-up strikes on Chinese military and civilian targets.
Weapons for the B-21 feature the JASSM (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles). These are precision-guided cruise missiles based on next-generation technology. JASSMs have 1,000-pound armor-piercing warheads. The newer JASSM-ER has an extended range. The JDAMs are Joint Direct Attack Munitions that use GPS and internal navigation for precision guidance. AARGMs are medium-range air-to-ground missiles employed for “Suppression and/or Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses.”
China will have its hands full with the B-21, and Northrop Grumman will build at least 100 of them in the first production run, which may increase to 50 to 100 additional airplanes in the coming decade.
These are enough bombers to make a mass attack on the Chinese eastern seaboard where a large percentage of Chinese citizens live. But look for the B-21 to focus more on military targets such as nuclear sites and air defenses. The airplane could also be effective against naval shipping someday.
China is most worried about a B-21 nuclear attack, though. The B-21 could lead a flight with B-2s and B-52s, an overwhelming tactical strike that could freeze Chinese forces.
In a conventional war between China and Taiwan, the B-21 could fly over amphibious operations and eliminate Chinese landing craft and barges to remove tanks and armored personnel vehicles from the battlefield. China is not ready for the United States to intervene in this manner, and the B-21 will give the Commander-in-Chief more military options to thwart an amphibious invasion if the president decides to go that route.
Now you can see why the Air Force, the Pentagon, and leaders on Capitol Hill and the White House want as many B-21s as possible. They give the United States many effective options against China and other countries. The B-21 can lead an attack on Day One or hang back on Day Two or Three for electronic warfare missions. It is nuclear capable of deterring China. It can control a flight of drones for better targeting, ISR, and bomb damage assessment. This gives US battle planners many diverse missions to devise, which is just what the Air Force wants with the sixth-generation bomber.
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 US 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 US Army Infantry officer. He can be followed on X @BMEastwood.
The B-21 Raider Is a Powerhouse
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