Indeed - specific words from DSR:So Australia did look at B-21 but they decided to purchase long range air to surface instead.
Australia Held Talks About Buying B-21 Raider Stealth Bombers
The Australian government looked at the B-21 Raider before deciding to buy new air-launched standoff missiles for its existing fighter jets.www.thedrive.com
The Review has undertaken detailed discussions in Australia and the United States in relation to the B-21 Raider as a potential capability option for Australia. In light of our strategic circumstances and the approach to Defence strategy and capability development outlined in this Review, we do not consider the B-21 to be a suitable option for consideration for acquisition.
Purchasing B-21s would incur the economic wrath of China, I don't think it's off the table though.
Indeed it has, when I visited in 2012 got to talk with a European CEO who mentioned the size of work force had started to decline. Over the last decade it’s only gotten worse.Purchasing B-21s would incur the economic wrath of China, I don't think it's off the table though.
Any state that is in the position of being economically threatened by the PRC would be advised to change that dynamic.
Personally, I believe the PRC has been over reporting their population for a decade and their population drop is much higher than reported. If true, they will face extreme challenges with population aging and collapse over the next 20 years. Not a good economy to count on.
In the months following the reveal of Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider in December, several publications affiliated with the Chinese Communist Party or its People’s Liberation Army published articles saying the U.S. cannot afford enough of the bombers to make a difference in a possible conflict with China.
The Liberation Army News writers predicted the B-21 program would not achieve economies of scale, due to its “astonishing” total cost—and therefore it would be difficult to achieve any “strategic effect.”
An article published in the military weekly section of China Youth Daily said the U.S. Air Force may not have the budget to afford many B-21s and would ultimately “walk in the trail of the B-2.”
A third publication, Chinese National Defense News, wrote that the B-21’s stealth capabilities are not advanced enough to infiltrate modern radar systems and the U.S. Air Force would not be able to afford enough of them.
The main difference between the late 80s, when the B-2 was introduced to the public around the same time THE main geopolitical rival was on it's last legs, and a generation later, is that the Second Cold War is only brewing up. This is akin the USSR in the early 60s hoping to see the B-52 becoming a total failure. See how that panned out. And, unlike the XB-70, the Raider is not intended to be a Super Duper, Uber expensive Mach 3 bomber, which the (thankfully) cancelled NGB would've been analogue of.A fourth publication did differ from the other three in taking a more cautious position. The science and technology section of Chinese National Defense News tends to eschew “political messages in order to introduce foreign technological advances,”
Yup, then they backtrack you, or your bitcoin, and drop 4 hellfire with sword blades, and it’s steak tartare.That‘s mitigated to a large degree by a combat departure where you crank it into a turning climb over the base. So long as the base perimeter is secure it’s a bit harder to use manpads during this vulnerable phase of flight.
How aggressive of a climb do you think the B-21 could execute?
What would stop a swarm of UAVs from loitering just outside the runway perimeter and distributing clouds of chaff to target its intakes?
Cheap and unconventional.
there are only 18 operational B-2 Spirit bombers currently in service 20 in total. (to be fair it will take ten million dollars to repair the one that crashed and more to fully restore the other)
That’s an interesting line of logic, considering the cost isn’t that great. Basically you can have a B-21 for a half dozen F-35s. Certainly the initial goal of 100 is quite achievable.
You are also forgetting the Tupolev PAK-DA Josh_TN. First flight according to recent reports won’t take place until mid decade at the earliest with first deliveries in the 2030 time period.
there are only 18 operational B-2 Spirit bombers currently in service 20 in total. (to be fair it will take ten million dollars to repair the one that crashed and more to fully restore the other)
That’s an interesting line of logic, considering the cost isn’t that great. Basically you can have a B-21 for a half dozen F-35s. Certainly the initial goal of 100 is quite achievable.
seems to me that 100 units of this US cratermaker is absolutely absurd.
if they actually produce that many i would be surprised.
Northrop Grumman has the manpower and the customers then i'm sure its possible.
how did they make this so cost effective? i'm quite curious...
Understandable.there are only 18 operational B-2 Spirit bombers currently in service 20 in total. (to be fair it will take ten million dollars to repair the one that crashed and more to fully restore the other)
That’s an interesting line of logic, considering the cost isn’t that great. Basically you can have a B-21 for a half dozen F-35s. Certainly the initial goal of 100 is quite achievable.
seems to me that 100 units of this US cratermaker is absolutely absurd.
if they actually produce that many i would be surprised.
Northrop Grumman has the manpower and the customers then i'm sure its possible.
how did they make this so cost effective? i'm quite curious...
B-2 production was cancelled after the cold war ended because it was felt a nuclear only stealth bomber wasn't needed. There was nothing preventing the US from making more other than the fact that it seemed superfluous at the time. There are already six different B-21 airframes in production including I believe four EMD aircraft. If those end up entering service as fully capable machines, as was the case with the B-2 aircraft, then we're already 20% of the way to the twenty aircraft B-2 fleet right there. LRIP contracts I believe have already been signed; a hundred aircraft is probably the production floor of the B-21 program not the upper limit.
For NGC to make it cost effective:there are only 18 operational B-2 Spirit bombers currently in service 20 in total. (to be fair it will take ten million dollars to repair the one that crashed and more to fully restore the other)
That’s an interesting line of logic, considering the cost isn’t that great. Basically you can have a B-21 for a half dozen F-35s. Certainly the initial goal of 100 is quite achievable.
seems to me that 100 units of this US cratermaker is absolutely absurd.
if they actually produce that many i would be surprised.
Northrop Grumman has the manpower and the customers then i'm sure its possible.
how did they make this so cost effective? i'm quite curious...
5. Significant black budget funding for NGB, LRSB, etc.For NGC to make it cost effective:there are only 18 operational B-2 Spirit bombers currently in service 20 in total. (to be fair it will take ten million dollars to repair the one that crashed and more to fully restore the other)
That’s an interesting line of logic, considering the cost isn’t that great. Basically you can have a B-21 for a half dozen F-35s. Certainly the initial goal of 100 is quite achievable.
seems to me that 100 units of this US cratermaker is absolutely absurd.
if they actually produce that many i would be surprised.
Northrop Grumman has the manpower and the customers then i'm sure its possible.
how did they make this so cost effective? i'm quite curious...
1. NGC has no active prime teammate (i.e. Boeing), only a single prime, NGC. Boeing was a pain in the butt when I was on B-2.
2. B-2 lessons learned of course, there are no perfect programs.
3. Having Scaled Composites onboard from the start along their expertise with composites and other non-metallic materials.
4. Working closely with their USAF customer, that is how you get things done properly.
7. Have all technology used in the aircraft around level 6 to minimize R&D and program risk.
A lot of the materials and structure design of the B-21 is strongly based on that of the B-2, suitably updated... it is almost like the B-21 is an improved B-2 in those areas, so R&D costs and manufacturing plant upgrades were much less than for the "start from almost 0" B-2.
there are only 18 operational B-2 Spirit bombers currently in service 20 in total. (to be fair it will take ten million dollars to repair the one that crashed and more to fully restore the other)
seems to me that 100 units of this US cratermaker is absolutely absurd.
if they actually produce that many i would be surprised.
Northrop Grumman has the manpower and the customers then i'm sure its possible.
how did they make this so cost effective? i'm quite curious...
Kendall: Ratio of Fighters to Bombers May Shift Toward Bombers in the Future
The Air Force may favor bombers over fighters in the future, due to the need for longer range, Secretary Frank Kendall told Congress.www.airandspaceforces.com
TBH, this may be too expensive for the USAF but I would sure like to see a significant B-21 fleet flying deterrence as soon as possible. Eight per year isn't going to cut it. And if there is Pacific war, you must plan production for attrition and that requires planned yoy production increases.
Virginia-class is another great example of cost and build time reduction through production efficiencies btw.
I am assuming that's partially the reason why the United States isn't engaging in a strong build up to meet China's stated political/military objectives.
How sad is it that we consider not letting our enemy setup shop next to a military base as newsworthy?U.S. Shields B-21 Bomber Bases From China Or Other Foreign Encroachments
By protecting key B-21 Raider strategic bomber infrastructures, the U.S. is starting to get real in addressing modern foreign intelligence threats on U.S. soil. Here's what America is doing:www.forbes.com
ISTR when OSI raided a trailer just outside of the base chocked full of electronic surveillance gear back in the days I was based at ED. Also, guys on sensitive programs got warned about if they were hit on by women “hotter” than would normally talk to them that they were more likely than not honey traps… The only difference is that it makes national news now.How sad is it that we consider not letting our enemy setup shop next to a military base as newsworthy?U.S. Shields B-21 Bomber Bases From China Or Other Foreign Encroachments
By protecting key B-21 Raider strategic bomber infrastructures, the U.S. is starting to get real in addressing modern foreign intelligence threats on U.S. soil. Here's what America is doing:www.forbes.com
At least we made them WORK back then. They couldn't just roll in and buy land around the base and set up shop.ISTR when OSI raided a trailer just outside of the base chocked full of electronic surveillance gear back in the days I was based at ED. Also, guys on sensitive programs got warned about if they were hit on by women “hotter” than would normally talk to them that they were more likely than not honey traps… The only difference is that it makes national news now.How sad is it that we consider not letting our enemy setup shop next to a military base as newsworthy?U.S. Shields B-21 Bomber Bases From China Or Other Foreign Encroachments
By protecting key B-21 Raider strategic bomber infrastructures, the U.S. is starting to get real in addressing modern foreign intelligence threats on U.S. soil. Here's what America is doing:www.forbes.com
They should be recruiting more ugly bastards like myself. I'd know something was up if any women hit on me.ISTR when OSI raided a trailer just outside of the base chocked full of electronic surveillance gear back in the days I was based at ED. Also, guys on sensitive programs got warned about if they were hit on by women “hotter” than would normally talk to them that they were more likely than not honey traps… The only difference is that it makes national news now.
LOL, the flight suit tended to be a chick magnet so I wouldn’t knowThey should be recruiting more ugly bastards like myself. I'd know something was up if any women hit on me.ISTR when OSI raided a trailer just outside of the base chocked full of electronic surveillance gear back in the days I was based at ED. Also, guys on sensitive programs got warned about if they were hit on by women “hotter” than would normally talk to them that they were more likely than not honey traps… The only difference is that it makes national news now.
They should be recruiting more ugly bastards like myself. I'd know something was up if any women hit on me.
Since the B-21 won't have the same sort of low altitude requirements that drove some of the modifications to the B-2 airframe what does that mean in terms of flight characteristics down low? I know digital flight control systems can work wonders but will it be a bit of a pig until it gets to altitude?
They should be recruiting more ugly bastards like myself. I'd know something was up if any women hit on me.ISTR when OSI raided a trailer just outside of the base chocked full of electronic surveillance gear back in the days I was based at ED. Also, guys on sensitive programs got warned about if they were hit on by women “hotter” than would normally talk to them that they were more likely than not honey traps… The only difference is that it makes national news now.