B-21 Raider: Next step, First flight!

The article says 20 million.
They probably just run out of coffee at Plant 42.

a reply to: mightmight

That's a lot of coffee. lol

Absolutely no idea if it's related, but an Air Force SAM flight just landed at Plant 42. Someone is visiting one of the programs there.

a reply to: mightmight

Or it might be long lead equipment needed for production. It's more where the money is being placed than the amount that is eyebrow raising.

SAM981 was joined by a C-40 at Plant 42, and one of them went in to Creech after.

SAM981 had CSAF Goldfein on board. He was getting an update on the B-21.

It looks like "The Sun" a UK Tabloid has picked up on the story of the B21 and posted an article only just a few hours ago.

Some take aways;

* Flies at 60,000 ft
* Can be piloted remotely - using AI to pick out targets and act as a "Data Hub" for other aircraft / systems
* First Flight due in 2022 - reportedly pushed back from a scheduled late 2021
* Frustrated Congressmen have been denied information about cost & abilities
* Construction began in 2019 at Palmdale

Most of this I know has been discussed here, just thought it was interesting that a UK Tabloid had also picked up on the story.

Source;
The Sun Article - Source

Just read the article...think they need to bump up the standard of the aviation writers...”minimum altitude of 60,000ft”...? “Angular B2”....and lots of other typos and poor grammar...still.it is the Sun we are on about.a reply to: pigsy2400

originally posted by: anzha
a reply to: mightmight

Or it might be long lead equipment needed for production. It's more where the money is being placed than the amount that is eyebrow raising.

Or there are small subs that are vulnerable due to the economic crises that you'd really prefer to keep afloat so you don't have to rebid components and suffer delays and headaches later. So you keep them afloat buying whatever that sub makes early and keeping the cash flowing.

Frustrated Congressmen have been denied information about cost & abilities

Wonder if thats probably due to the fact that not one of them could be trusted not to pass on the info to the dark world for cash...

a reply to: Blackfinger

It's bad enough America has to deal with its scientists and engineers pushing tech & information back to China, we don't need to add bought & paid politicians to get thrown into the mix.

a reply to: pigsy2400

FYI the Sun is one of the worst tabloids in the UK.

a reply to: Forensick

I am aware of this lol - I am brit...

I just found it interesting that a tabloid such as the sun ran with this story..

a reply to: Masisoar

This is why the technical people on classified projects are carefully monitored: things such as gambling problems and sexual hang-ups / secrets are especially dangerous for making people vulnerable to bribery and blackmail. But it is (relatively) easy to monitor these people. Monitoring elected officials is a very different issue legally speaking.

It is best politicians be given data as to costs and absolutely minimum as to technical capabilities: it's not a perfect solution, but the safest. And one thing which I have always advocated more focus on is internal auditors with TS-SCI/SAP clearances: sadly, there is often a great temptation for a bit of padding out for highly classified programs, so it is vital that you have highly trained and smart people watching over with a an electron microscope how the money is spent on black projects...

Hmmm...I guess by definition that rules out 99% of Congress and Senate...

a reply to: Borys

Not sure you are 100% correct, a bit of Hollywood in there.

People on special projects are not monitored like you suggest.

www.thedrive.com...

a reply to: anzha

That made me laugh.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Thought it would.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Maybe they're talking about the EMD bird?

www.defensenews.com...