Air Force unveils initial B-21 long range bomber design
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}(U.S. Air Force graphic)
The U.S. Air Force has unveiled the first concept image of its futuristic B-21 long range bomber, which will be built by Northrop Grumman.
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James revealed the artist’s rendering at the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Fla., Friday. There are no existing prototypes of the aircraft, so the artist’s rendering is based on its initial design concept.
JUST IN from #AWS16: @SecAF23 releases first rendering of #LRSB, the new B-21 pic.twitter.com/85fCCY0TTR
— Air Force Assoc. (@AirForceAssoc) February 26, 2016
Known as the Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) until now, the designation B-21 recognizes the aircraft as the military’s first bomber of the 21st century, according to the Air Force.
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James said the B-21 will let the Air Force launch from the continental U.S. and deliver airstrikes on any location in the world. The Air Force Secretary also acknowledged the B-21’s resemblance to the current B-2 stealth bomber, which is also made by Northrop Grumman. “The B-21 has been designed from the beginning based on a set of requirements that allows the use of existing and mature technology,” she said.
Introducing the 1st rendering of the #B21! Until now we've known it as the LRS-B. pic.twitter.com/Vfmnk337F1
— Deborah Lee James (@SecAF23) February 26, 2016
The B-21 program recently entered the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase, with the Air Force planning to introduce the aircraft in mid-2020s.
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James also announced that the Air Force will be taking suggestions from Airmen to help decide the name of the bomber.
“This aircraft represents the future for our Airmen, and [their] voice is important to this process,” James said. “The Airman who submits the selected name will help me announce it at the [Air Force Association] conference this fall.”
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