Key Points and Summary – The new B-21 Raider is designed to be a worthy successor to the iconic B-2 Spirit by addressing its predecessor’s key weaknesses.
-First, it’s built for easier maintainability, solving the B-2’s “hangar queen” reputation with ruggedized coatings that don’t require special hangars.
-Second, its open-system architecture allows for rapid and continuous software and hardware upgrades.
-Finally, it features more advanced, “all-aspect” stealth that reduces not only radar but also infrared, acoustic, and electronic signatures, making it far more survivable on the modern battlefield.
Meet the Tech That Makes the B-21 Raider A Worthy B-2 Successor
Few aircraft are as instantly recognizable as the B-2 Spirit. Its sleek, black design and radar-evading profile made the United States’ first stealth strategic bomber the face of its Air Force in the post-Cold War era, having struck targets in Kosovo to Afghanistan – and more recently, in Iran.
More than two decades after its debut, the B-2 became a focus for international media during Operation Midnight Hammer, when U.S. forces used it to strike fortified Iranian nuclear facilities.
But despite its ongoing successes, the B-2 will soon be replaced. The Air Force plans to retire the Spirit in the early 2030s and replace it with its successor: the B-21 Raider.
Developed by Northrop Grumman, the same company behind the B-2, America’s next stealth bomber, is designed to be cheaper and easier to maintain, easier to field, and more adaptable.
And unlike the Spirit – of which only 21 were ever built – the Air Force intends to purchase at least 100 Raiders, with some projections running as high as 145 or even 200. The first aircraft are slated to begin entering service in the mid-2020s, with full operational capacity also expected before 2030.
What Makes the B-21 Special?
The biggest upgrades that make the B-21 a worthy successor to the iconic B-2 can be separated into three main categories: maintainability, open-system architecture, and stealth.
On the maintenance front, the B-21 solves problems that earned its predecessor the nickname “hangar queen” – a reference to the aircraft’s extensive maintenance requirements. For every hour airborne, the B-2 may require as much as 51 hours of upkeep and maintenance. The bomber must also be stored in specialized, climate-controlled hangars designed to protect its delicate stealth coatings.
The B-21, however, was designed with reducing maintenance requirements in mind. It features ruggedized coatings, modular panels, and easy-access doors that allow mechanics to perform maintenance and repair work more rapidly.
No special hangars are required to protect its coating, too – a key part of what makes it easier to field the Raider in much larger numbers.
On digital and avionics systems, the Raider is fitted with more advanced open-architecture, allowing it to be more easily integrated into future weapons, sensors, and network technology. The B-21’s systems are open-architecture and software-focused, meaning the Air Force can more easily plug in new sensors, weapons, and electronic warfare tools throughout the lifespan of the aircraft – with no need to build an entirely new or upgraded platform.
The B-21 also builds on what made the B-2 truly special: its stealth capabilities.
While the B-2 features a classic flying-wing design that focused on radar stealth, its design came at the expense of other signatures.
The B-21 solves this problem, integrating new coating and design technologies that reduce infrared, acoustic, and electronic detection signatures – a necessary upgrade as adversaries build more advanced air defense systems.
Featuring narrower, flush air intakes and a smaller wing form, the B-21 delivers improved stealth while also reducing the overall size and cost of each aircraft.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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