✈️ The B-21 Raider accelerated its output by 25%, but the target of 100 aircraft may not be enough.
✈️ B-21 Raider accelerated its output by 25%, but the target of 100 aircraft may not be enough.
The U.S. Air Force and Northrop Grumman reached an agreement to increase B-21 Raider stealth bomber capacity by an additional 25%, using the $4,500 million already approved by Congress, to accelerate deliveries without yet officially changing the target of "at least 100 aircraft."
💰 The average supply cost is set at about $692 million per machine in 2022 monetary value, covering the aircraft and some support items; it should therefore not be interpreted as the net price of the machine in the current year.
The project is currently at a low-rate initial production stage, or LRIP. The first five lots are planned to produce a total of 21 aircraft. This does not mean that all 21 have been completed, while the actual number of units and the annual production rate are limited.
📈 The issue that is being watched is whether 100 ships is enough, because the former U.S. Strategic Command leader supported 145 ships, while the INDOPACOM commander stated that it supported 200 ships for both nuclear deterrence missions and defense penetration attacks.
The Air Force confirms the B-21 is still on its first operational base entry route at Ellsworth Air Force Base in 2027, but increasing the number beyond 100 still goes through several more stages of budget and policy decisions.
Sources: U.S. Air Force · Reuters · Mitchell Institute
# deepkub # B21 Raider # USAirForce # Stealth plane # Military technology
