The B-21 Raider, the United States’ next-generation strategic bomber, has captivated defense analysts and aviation enthusiasts since its unveiling by aerospace titan Northrop Grumman in December 2022.

The Raider, developed to succeed the venerable B-2 Spirit and the B-1 Lancer, is a testament to technological prowess and military strategy, promising stealth capabilities so advanced that it may appear no larger than an insect on enemy radar.

With a lineage tracing back to the Doolittle Raid of World War II, the B-21 represents a generational leap in aircraft technology.

As with its predecessor, the B-2 Spirit, the Raider embraces the “flying wing” design; however, it is heralded for embedding decades of stealth advancements.

The Hudson Institute, in a recent paper, accentuated this point: “The Raider embodies decades of advances in stealth technologies, which are expected to have far outpaced advances in defensive systems.”

The Raider’s stealth is not just about evading radar; it provides operational flexibility.

According to the same paper, “The B‑21 can deliver large payloads accurately and in a timely manner to gain the initiative and halt an aggressive campaign against US troops or allies,” the authors added. “The B‑21 provides flexibility, both mission flexibility (it can be equipped with a variety of payloads) and operational flexibility (it can be operated from a range of bases and locations).”

The forthcoming bomber has sparked discussions on procurement scale, with the Hudson Institute advocating for more than the planned 100 units.

They suggest a starting point of doubling the original buy, while The Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments recommends a fleet capable of handling two major powers simultaneously, suggesting 288 Raiders.

A former national security official even said “a prominent former national security official projected the number to range from 300–400.”

Comparatively, the B-21 is not only a stealth marvel but also a more cost-effective asset than the B-2.

As per the insights from Mackenzie Eaglen, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, the B-21 boasts technological innovations that make its stealth coating easier and cheaper to maintain, potentially allowing for a broader range of basing options and quicker turnaround between missions.

“Adjusted for inflation,” she says, “the average procurement unit cost (APUC) of a single B‑2 was $1.38 billion, while the APUC of a B‑21 is an estimated $706 million, roughly half the price. But up-front purchase cost is only half the battle.”

The B-21’s first test flight occurred in Palmdale, CA, without much fanfare—a departure from the high-profile debut of the B-2 Spirit back in 1988.

This discretion may partly result from lessons learned; the B-2’s unveiling had unwanted spectators capturing its image from the sky. Now, the emphasis is on security and controlled release of information, even as the Raider is expected to enter service by 2030.

Relevant articles:
– The B-21 Raider’s Stealth Might Make It Look ‘As Small As an Insect’ on Radar, The National Interest
– B-2 Spirit Vs B-21 Raider: What’s Changed?, simpleflying.com
– A Paper Backing the B-21 Claims It’s Smaller Than an Insect to Radar, Forbes
– Northrop Grumman B-21A Raider (LRS-B), Secret Projects Forum