Meet Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider, America’s New Heavy Bomber
The Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider is an upcoming heavy bomber for the United States Air Force bomber fleet which is still under development. This new bomber is designed as a part of the Long-Range Strike Bomber program and will be able to deliver thermonuclear weapons. Even if there is no confirmed releasing date, this new bomber is planned to join services with B-1 Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52 Stratofortress by 2026-2027 and later will replace these bombers.
So where does the name “Raider” comes from? There is a little story behind it. The name comes from the term “Doolittle Raiders” The Doolittle Raiders are famous for conducting surprising attacks against the Japanese on April 18, 1942, during WWII. At the 2016 Air Force Association’s Air, Space, and Cyber Conference, then-Secretary of the Air Force Deborah Lee James named the B-21 as “Raider” alongside Lt. Col. Dick Cole. Lt. Col. Dick Cole was the last surviving airman from well known “Doolittle Raid”
According to United States Air Force, they are planning to purchase at least 100 Raiders. The US Airforce has identified Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota; Dyess AFB, Texas; and Whiteman AFB, Missouri as airforce bases where the B-21 can be operated. The company Northrop Grumman is the pioneer company in building, sustaining, and modernizing a long-range stealthy aircraft B-52 Spirit. With the kind of experience the company has, B-21 Raider will be a very successful project.
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