What is the B-21 Raider? Air Force will unveil the 'world’s first sixth-generation aircraft' this week
WASHINGTON: The world will get its first look at a bomber that Northrop Grumman, the B-21 Raider's builder, and the U.S. Air Force considered a generational advance in aircraft technology and development on December 2. Dough Young, sector vice president and general manager at Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems, said in a press release.
According to the New York Post, Dough Young said, "The B-21 is the most advanced military aircraft ever built and is a product of pioneering innovation and technological excellence. The Raider showcases the dedication and skills of the thousands of people working every day to deliver this aircraft."
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What is the B-21 Raider?
The B-21 will be sufficiently advanced to qualify as a sixth-generation aircraft, according to Tom Jones, head of Northrop Grumman's Aeronautics Systems unit, as per a statement in an interview with Defense News on November 22. This will be the Air Force's first new bomber in over three decades. The technology employed in the B-21′s testing and the Air Force's decision to undertake flying tests with a production-representative aircraft rather than an experimental model could pave the way for faster, less dangerous aircraft acquisitions in the future, according to Jones. The bomber was designed to conduct long-range bombing and nuclear missions while utilizing cutting-edge stealth technologies.
Six bombers are currently being manufactured at Palmdale at the cost of almost $2 billion per aircraft. They are slated to take to the skies in 2023. The Air Force and Northrop began working on the bomber in 2015 after the latter was awarded the contract to design and manufacture the aircraft. According to Daily Mail, the cutting-edge aircraft was given the Doolittle Raiders' name, a group of B-21 bomber crewmen renowned for their bravery and audacity during WWII.
In 2015, Northrop was given a contract to design and manufacture the world's most advanced strike aircraft. According to Northrop's website, the plane is intended for long-range conventional and nuclear operations. Northrop Grumman Corp is a company that designs and manufactures innovative aviation systems. While, Aeronautics Systems designs, develop, manufactures, integrates, sustains, and modernizes advanced management systems, weapons systems and aircraft, and mission systems. Northrop Grumman has revealed on Twitter, "On Dec. 2, we’ll unveil the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft. Stay tuned for your first look at the B-21 Raider."
On Dec. 2, we’ll unveil the world’s first sixth-generation aircraft. Stay tuned for your first look at the B-21 Raider. https://t.co/y5TJ8wOkY8 pic.twitter.com/SEWbsmVZR3
— Northrop Grumman (@northropgrumman) October 20, 2022
The unveiling on Friday is only open to those who have received an invitation. Jones also noted that the development project employed over 8,000 people from 40 different states. Generations of aircraft serve as a representation of the many aviation technology stages. The fifth generation is composed of technology that was common in the 1990s and the early 21st century, and it comprises the most advanced airplanes in the world up until the B-21, as per reports.
