Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider (LRS-B)

[Sundog]

Number 2 airframe is under construction as first Flight is next year..

Second B-21 Under Construction as Bomber Moves Toward First Flight - Air Force Magazine

Production of a second B-21 stealth bomber is underway in Palmdale, Calif., while the first Raider is expected to roll out in early 2022.

www.airforcemag.com

Good news concerning the second B-21 prototype, I take it that the first prototype is flying next year is due to Covid again?

No, Covid didn't really slow it down. It's due to the unexpected issues that showed up like the problems with the inlets. The December date was always a"if everything goes perfectly" date.

 

[flateric]

No, Covid didn't really slow it down.

COVID-19 News: Coronavirus Impacting B-21 Bomber Program

COVID-19 News: Coronavirus Impacting B-21 Bomber Program

www.nationaldefensemagazine.org

 

[Sundog]

COVID-19 News: Coronavirus Impacting B-21 Bomber Program

COVID-19 News: Coronavirus Impacting B-21 Bomber Program

www.nationaldefensemagazine.org

OK, I must have been thinking about the Spirit Aero article where they said Covid didn't slow them down because they moved people from the 737Max line to the B-21 line. Having said that, it still wasn't going to meet the Dec. 21 first flight date, also due to technical issues.

 

[Grey Havoc]

Watch the skies in 2022 for the first B-21 bomber flight

Construction of the second B-21 is underway.

www.defensenews.com

 

[bring_it_on]

Why Was The U.S. Air Force B-21 First Flight Delayed? | Aviation Week Network

Ask the Editors: USAF pushed the Northrop Grumman B-21 bomber’s first flight from December 2021 to mid-2022. What does that mean?

aviationweek.com

 

[rooster]

Sounds like article number 001 will see active duty if they are saying it will essentially be a production intent vehicle. Good for the USAF they need that aircraft operational ASAP.

 

[NeilChapman]

Sounds like article number 001 will see active duty if they are saying it will essentially be a production intent vehicle. Good for the USAF they need that aircraft operational ASAP.

It says quite a bit about their design and production planning.

 

[TomcatViP]

Do not forget how sciences demonstrator airframe were rumored having been flown at the time the contract surfaced.

 

[marauder2048]

Why Was The U.S. Air Force B-21 First Flight Delayed? | Aviation Week Network

Ask the Editors: USAF pushed the Northrop Grumman B-21 bomber’s first flight from December 2021 to mid-2022. What does that mean?

aviationweek.com

At no point in that article is the alleged 'reader' question actually addressed.

 

[jsport]

The B-21 Raider Bomber Combined Test Force Has A Ridiculously Sinister Shakespearean Motto

The team tasked with turning the world's most advanced and sinister aircraft into a reliable weapon of war has one ominous but relevant motto.

www.thedrive.com

 

[bring_it_on]

The Raider Comes Out of the Black - Air Force Magazine

The B-21 is progressing to roll out and first flight, as the Air Force wrestles with how many to buy.

www.airforcemag.com

 

[TomcatViP]

Really interesting.
The graphics from above link (notice the distributed propulsion exhausts on the inner trailing edges as envisioned early on):

 

[Flyaway]

I see they are still being cagey about its power plant. Is the F135 used in it likely to be substantially different to the one in the F-35?

 

[TomcatViP]

@Flyaway : Well there is no afterburner and inlets look quite massive even for an artist rendering.

 

[flateric]

Really interesting.
The graphics from above link (notice the distributed propulsion exhausts on the inner trailing edges as envisioned early on):

Really not interesting. They should hire other artist. This one even didn't understand how inlets do look like on Raider or made some research to find B-21 planform image at official site.

 

[TomcatViP]

I think inlets are in fact somewhat masked/simplified as is the drawing in general.

"interesting" referred also to the content of the news report.

 

[bobbymike]

Why Nothing May Stop the B-21 Raider Stealth Bomber - 19FortyFive

The B-21 is a heavy stealth strategic bomber that has its roots in the Long Range Strike Bomber program (LRS-B), an early to mid-2010s procurement program for a long-range, nuclear-capable strike bomber.

www.19fortyfive.com

 

[flateric]

Article about nothing new with a stupid header and press-release copy-paste contents