B-21 Raider: America’s 6th-Generation Stealth Bomber
The B-21 Raider is Northrop Grumman’s full-spectrum stealth strategic bomber with a 9,600 km range and nuclear compatibility. Unveiled at Palmdale in November 2023, it is scheduled to reach initial operational capability at Ellsworth AFB in 2027.
The Most Secret Aircraft Program in History
The B-21 emerged from the Long Range Strike Bomber program initiated in 2011 and kept classified for a decade. Northrop Grumman won the contract in 2015. The name “Raider” honors the Doolittle Tokyo Raid crew of 1942.
Stealth and Network-Centric Architecture
Full-spectrum RAM coating and flying-wing geometry challenge detection even at L and VHF radar bands. Real-time data sharing with allied aircraft and unmanned platforms makes the B-21 both a strike platform and an airborne intelligence node.
Weapons Payload
The internal weapons bay carries approximately 22,700 kg: B61-12/13 nuclear gravity bombs, AGM-181A LRSO cruise missile, AGM-158B JASSM-ER, and high-capacity conventional bombs.
Teknik Özellikler
| Özellik | Değer |
|---|---|
| Type | 6th-gen stealth strategic bomber |
| Configuration | Flying wing |
| Range | ~9,600 km |
| Max Speed | ~Mach 0.9 |
| Payload | ~22,700 kg |
| Stealth | Full-spectrum RAM + internal weapons bay |
| First Flight | 10 Nov 2023 |
| Target Fleet | 145–200 aircraft |
Kullanıcı Ülkeler
| Ülke | Detay |
|---|---|
| United States | Sole operator; export prohibited |
Türk Muadili
Turkey has no strategic bomber in development. The TUSAŞ KAAN is a fighter; it is not designed for strategic deep-strike missions. The B-21 indirectly shapes China’s H-20 and Russia’s PAK-DA programs.
