Meet the B-21

The Secretary of the Air Force has unveiled the first official rendering of the new B-21 bomber, to be built by Northrop Grumman at the Air Warfare Symposium. The aircraft currently doesn't have an official name. The aircraft is very similar to the B-2, which she said is because "The B-21 has been designed from the beginning based on a set of requirements that allows the use of existing and mature technology." No word on when the prototype would be rolled out or flown yet though.

a reply to: Zaphod58
Its areal deception for me to see this design ,its a B2 it look like there is no progress in design since the eighties. It have nothing to see with the Northrop Under wrap plane we saw in the Northrop super bowl video. I hope its just a rendering and no the Northrop real plane

As they are using mature technology, will it be more, or less expensive than the B2. Logic says the former, but experience suggests the latter.

B-2 cost c. $700 million each.

a reply to: paraphi

Less. In 2010 dollars, the B-21 will run around $550M per aircraft.

a reply to: darksidius

So according to that logic, very little has improved since the 1980s, since we still have cars that look similar, passenger aircraft that look similar, etc. If it doesn't look like something out of a sci-fi movie, it's a total POS, right?

I notice it looks nothing like Amarillo nor kansas. Guess those two are still a "mystery"

a reply to: Zaphod58


Ummm...I know this is just a rendering...There's a real forward change to the intakes that gives a much lower profile...It will be really interesting to see how they've changed the thrust outlet design...

Are there any renderings with views of that...?




YouSir

a reply to: darksidius


Tires have been around for over a hundred years. They are still round and black.
But they are not the same as they used to be.

a reply to: Zaphod58

I'm surprised.

no cranked kite design?

and that looks alot like this boeing model.

Can they at least add racing stripe on it to make it a little more exciting? Lockbo should release a rendering of theirs to show the public what they coulda had.

Wow. Seriously? I guess from now on the Air Force better be sure to only design aircraft that look like something out of a Sci Fi movie just to keep people happy. Jesus.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Do you think it's because we've reached an apex in terms of aerodynamics and we can't deviate too much from standard designs until we figure out anti-grav/magnetic levitation ?

How do these beasts achieve yaw without a seemingly visible rudder/tail ?

originally posted by: Discotech
a reply to: Zaphod58

Do you think it's because we've reached an apex in terms of aerodynamics and we can't deviate too much from standard designs until we figure out anti-grav/magnetic levitation ?

How do these beasts achieve yaw without a seemingly visible rudder/tail ?

I think it might be controlled by the engines. But exactly how they do that is still a military secret

a reply to: Zaphod58

Great now can our soldiers stop chasing the enemy on horseback and camels?

a reply to: Zaphod58

I think that everyone was expecting some sorta crank knife design.... This really make us question now what the birds were over Wichita ? all the articles I have read says this is just a rendering so who knows ?

a reply to: nelloh62

A case of one engine providing more thrust than the other ?

a reply to: BASSPLYR

yes they have, it,ll be a black stripe

originally posted by: Discotech
a reply to: nelloh62

A case of one engine providing more thrust than the other ?

To be honest, I am not the best qualified to answer that. If they can, Zaph or Bassplyr could explain it much better

a reply to: Discotech



Ummm...perhaps it's even simpler than that...Perhaps they use cooled ducted thrust to the outer wing trailing edge...if that's even feasible........NOT...in the know...merely speculating...

Edit to add...the wingtip trailing edge is angled...? degrees...which might help in such a scenario...


YouSir

From the AirForce Times article:

While there are no existing prototypes of the aircraft, the artist rendering unveiled Feb. 26 is based on the initial design concept, according to an Air Force statement.

No existing prototypes?? There was a flyoff right?