B-21 in the skies over California

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spafk@reddit

I just saw it in Honolulu! Shot straight up and was gone.

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ProjectJSC@reddit (OP)

Are you sure it was the B-21. As far as I know it has been at Edward's AFB for testing. Maybe you saw a B-2?

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spafk@reddit

It was bright white...I'm not a plane person even though my dad's a pilot 😆 It moved it a way I'd never seen before and started looking online for something that matched.

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ProjectJSC@reddit (OP)

Maybe an RQ-180? Which honestly would still be an amazing catch

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Difficult_View_166@reddit

bro this is such an amazing photo good job

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404_Not_Found______@reddit

Is it really a b21? Looks like a B-2 to me but I could be wrong

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ProjectJSC@reddit (OP)

It's not a B-2. The B-2 is bigger with three points at the back as opposed to the B-21 with its singular point

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Historical_Nature348@reddit

Looks like a B-2

The rear of the B-2 comes to three points. On the B-21 there's only one.

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Icy_Energy_3430@reddit

If a B-21 was flying a real mission would it have fighter escorts or would they compromise its stealth?

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Your question has already been answered, but I will add: given how insane the B-21s avionics will be, and the fact that the US is now producing air to air missiles with ranges of 150+ miles (Aim-174), not only will the B-21 always fly unescorted, the DOD is considering it as an anti-air platform.

The idea is that in combat, the Raiders range means it can operate from the US to anywhere in the world (B-2 crews famously did 25-30 hour missions into Afghanistan and Iraq). A B-21 Raider could probably carry 12-16 long range AA missiles, plus a drone or two to mark targets for it.

This is being thought of in case of a conventional war with China. While their 5th generation stealth fighters look the look, they are nowhere near as stealthy as what the US can field. A B-21 will probably be invisible on both long and short frequency radars.

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HortenWho229@reddit

Is the onboard radar powerful enough or is it using a datalink?

I don’t see a lot of space for a radar in the b21

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Techhead7890@reddit

Radars don't have to be huge AWACS ones. They steer the beam like a microwave oven so it doesn't need to rotate around. Many fit into the nosecone of the jet, or next to the cockpit in general like the B2's: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/APQ-181

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syringistic@reddit

I'm sure it will be. Remember that Northrop pitched it not only as a bomber, but also as a spy plane.

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RogersFieldO05@reddit

A B-21 Raider could probably carry 12-16 long range AA missiles, plus a drone or two to mark targets for it.

Hmm, I remember the old B-1R concept, and nothing ever came of it. I'm not sure if the AF is going to waste a resource like the B-21 when they've got that next-gen "penetrating counter air" in the works, unless they absolutely have to in the near future.

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syringistic@reddit

Also, keep in mind the NGAD program is at a standstill right now. It's much more likely the Navys FAXX will be flying sooner, but that still won't happen until early 2030s. Whereas the B-21 has been doing flight testing for as long as a year already.

No clue on when the F-22 upgrades will be done.

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syringistic@reddit

I think they'll probably develop it to a point where they have a full design ready to be rapidly produced. All they really need is software and a rotary launcher. If I were a betting man, I'd say the software will be fully written, and the launcher so simple that it can be built in just a few months.

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Hailfire9@reddit

B-21 would likely go in without cover, but also likely after F-35s and/or F-22 would to a preliminary sweep -- provided the target would be in effective range of the smaller craft.

If stealth isn't a requirement, they wouldn't send the B-21 in the first place.

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ImReverse_Giraffe@reddit

The B21 is it's own escort. It has air to air radar and targeting systems.

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viperfan7@reddit

That honestly really surprises me

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APG322@reddit

It should because this guy is talking out of his rear

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viperfan7@reddit

Cite your sources

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APG322@reddit

There’s nothing to cite for either argument. That’s my point

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viperfan7@reddit

So far the only point you've made is you don't do any research before opening your mouth

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APG322@reddit

Okay Mr. Rude

There has been zero information disclosed about onboard sensors for the B-21. The user above is stating, as a matter of fact, that it has an A2A radar. Given what we know already about the aircraft (which is nothing), it is false to assume and make such claims.

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viperfan7@reddit

The only one here being rude is you.

Quit with the passive aggressive childish bullshit. And stop making false claims.

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APG322@reddit

What false claim have I made?

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masteroffdesaster@reddit

it really shouldn't given the B-21 has to be able to direct drones

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APG322@reddit

Source?

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syringistic@reddit

Range is a huge issue - as I understand the B-21 will do a whooping 7000 miles on a single tank. And F-22 will only do 1800 miles, but I'm not taking into account what the new upgrade with stealth fuel tanks will change.

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Desert_Aficionado@reddit

I now understand why they named it after Doolittle raid.

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syringistic@reddit

Yeah, it has the same range as the B-2, though much lower estimated capacity. But with how accurate bombs have gotten since the B-2 first started flying, I think it doesn't matter.

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SevenandForty@reddit

It's also a heck of a lot cheaper to buy (and hopefully operate) too, so they can probably buy multiple for the price of one and get more flexibility

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syringistic@reddit

It's still gonna be 700+M USad per unit. B-2s were so expensive because the DOD is stupid and decided to only built around 20. If they stuck to building around 100 or whatever their initial production run was gonna be, I'm pretty sure costs would drop significantly.

It's like the F-35. Sure overall program cost is insane, but we just built the 1000th one lol and are gonna keep going, especially with more allied countries showing interest. As of right now, Romania and Morocco have officially announced they want them too.

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Rattle_Can@reddit

Morocco has the money?

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syringistic@reddit

It's nominal GDP is 140B so not really. They probably just asked for one squadron with a payment plan lol.

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Far_Dragonfruit_1829@reddit

Hey!

Who do I call about ordering one or two. Just to commute in, you understand.

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ImReverse_Giraffe@reddit

It can be it's own escort. It has air to air radar and targeting systems.

The Air Force is debating canceling the NGAD program and funneling that money into the B21 as an air superiority aircraft.

IIRC, it can carry the Navy's new AIM174 internally.

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sevgonlernassau@reddit

It’s not an escort, it’s a chase plane since B-21 is still in test phase.

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SirEnricoFermi@reddit

They may be accompanied by electronic-countermeasures aircraft dependent upon target. In the Bosnian war, F-117 flights were almost always accompanied by EA-6 Prowlers.

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JFlyer81@reddit

In the USAF's use of the B-2 it's usually flown unescorted iirc. I'll also note that in a modern combat environment an escort would be sweeping multiple tens of miles ahead of the bomber rather than sitting just off the wingtip, even in a non-stealth scenario.

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WubWubMiller@reddit

Maybe yes, maybe no. We also have stealth fighters that can fly escort.

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nlovato@reddit

Nice catch!

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ProjectJSC@reddit (OP)

Thank you!

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TheWholeFred@reddit

Great pic!

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ProjectJSC@reddit (OP)

Thank you!

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w0rlds@reddit

Wait... The B-21s and F-16s are spraying chemtrails too!?

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Far_Dragonfruit_1829@reddit

What do you think "multirole" REALLY means, eh?

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w0rlds@reddit

Haha

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Chemical_Claim3069@reddit

Why is that diamond tail surprisingly sexy

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ClassicDragon@reddit

The smoothness of the under body :drool:

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raidriar889@reddit

Look at that subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it.

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Rattle_Can@reddit

That's "Bone". And the lettering is something called "Silian Rail".

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novwhisky@reddit

It’s very cool Bateman, but that’s nothing.

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Old-Car-9962@reddit

I do the same for Airbus APUs 🤤

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Butterscotch1664@reddit

Now let's see Paul Allen's stealth bomber.

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SpaceBoJangles@reddit

Smoothness.

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Old-Car-9962@reddit

Omg yes

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feckoffimdoingmebest@reddit

And the rockets red glare!

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NoBuzzKill@reddit

I know zip about avionics here : is the propulsion located in the curved rear end of the body or the squared off wings? And are their flaps on the wings or some other method for altitude? It looks so clean and gives the impression of being flat with no clear visible engine bulges. How many crew?

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gwoates@reddit

Engines are in the centre fuselage section, and there are flaps and ailerons on the wings. Two crew. The Warzone is a good place to read about anything military related. They have more pictures and analysis on their site.

https://www.twz.com/air/first-aerial-view-of-b-21-raider-offers-new-insights

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