Anyone know how many they plan on building? 100 it seems, answered my own question.Good to hear that the B-21 has now started Low Rate Production. Roll on Full Rate Production.
Anyone know how many they plan on building? 100 it seems, answered my own question.
Probably a couple years from now. Gotta get the plane through the whole flight test scheme including weapons quals, then build enough planes for the training squadron, then enough for the first operational squadron to have some.Any estimates on IOC?
Scary to think that's 36-48 months away from now...I’ve seen 2027 floated around before. LRIP rate with drive the timing to some degree.
And remember when there would be 100 B-2s built? Yeah, right.It's far too soon to guess what the final production numbers will be. We don't buy them all at once, after all. The program of record is 100 or so, but those numbers are always subject to change.
There are definitely Air Force leaders hoping for more, eventually. The first challenge will be to deliver the first couple of batches on time and budget. Then it becomes possible to credibly ask for more.
132. (And 244 B-1As and 750 F-22s. . .) On the other hand there were only going to be 650 F-16s and 729 F-15s but then we hadn't all gathered around the tree to sing Kumbaya yet.And remember when there would be 100 B-2s built? Yeah, right.
Wish (fantasize) the B-21 could be the B-47 of our time - lots of them....
Enjoy the Day! Mark
Aside from numbers that's basically what it is.I too want to see the B-21 being the modern equivalent of the B-47, we can only dream.
So how many B-21s would enter an active Bomber Wing? Considering the fact that they will have to spread them out to training and testing squadrons?
The B-2 force is only twenty aircraft, with two of those damaged and potentially never returning to service. That still constitutes a wing, though I think it has fewer machines than a typical B-1 or B-52 wing by wide margin. But certainly twenty aircraft, including the four EMDs currently under construction, would likely create an initial capability.
I wouldn't. There are things that are easier to ask once the capability is proven.I would think that the Air Force leaders that are wanting more B-21s should say so and be more vocal about it.
And remember when there would be 100 B-2s built? Yeah, right.
It's interesting that the B-21 has already flown a number of flights from the EAFB CTF but there are no images or videos of these flights subsequent to the first flight. I know any images or videos would make to onto this site or on YouTube.
I'm guessing 8 ish per squadron, maybe 10 if the T&E squadron is less than a combat squadron. And typically 3 squadrons per wing.So how many B-21s would enter an active Bomber Wing? Considering the fact that they will have to spread them out to training and testing squadrons?
It's looking like China is preparing to have the ability to invade Taiwan by 2027, coincidentally. Is the B-21 IOC date chosen to align with this? Or did China chose 2027 in order to sneak in a war before the B-21 program fully spools up and negate their present advantages?
A senior Pentagon official has revealed that the United States Air Force (USAF) has officially commenced the production of the B-21 Raider, marking a significant milestone. This development follows the successful maiden flight of the stealth bomber a little over two months ago, highlighting the U.S. Air Force's accelerated production strategy for this aircraft.
Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment William LaPlante said in a statement,“Production of the B-21 ‘Raider’ stealth bomber is moving forward. This past fall, based on the results of ground and flight tests and the team’s mature plans for manufacturing, I gave the go-ahead to begin producing B-21s at a low rate,”
He added, “One of the key attributes of this program has been designing for production from the start — and at scale — to provide a credible deterrent to adversaries. If you don’t produce and field to warfighters at scale, the capability doesn’t really matter”
Additional information regarding the contract award value and delivery dates is not currently accessible. I
n this video, Defense Updates how B-21 Raider entering production gives a massive edge to the U.S. military ?
The US Air Force and Northrop Grumman have now confirmed that the B-21 Raider has entered low-rate initial production just two months or so after the platform's first test flight. And what may be even crazier... the program appears to be on budget. Let's talk about what this means for the Raider program, and how we got here.
First plane off the line always has a lot more labor than they expected. Just the nature of the beast.Northrop Grumman Eats $1.56 Billion Loss On First B-21 Bomber Lots | Air & Space Forces Magazine
Northrop Grumman will take a $1.56 billion charge on the first five lots of B-21 bombers, saying the overages are due to inflation and labor.www.airandspaceforces.com