US "stealth killer" aircraft takes off for the first time

B-21 bomber (Photo: US Air Force).

The B-21 Raider conducted its first test flight on November 10, an event that marked the weapon's move closer to becoming America's next nuclear-capable stealth bomber.

The B-21 took off in Palmdale, California, where it is being tested and developed by defense contractor Northrop Grumman.

The B-21 Raider is expected to replace the B-2s currently in service with the US military. Although it shares many similarities with its predecessor, the B-21 is considered a significant upgrade.

"The B-21 Raider is in flight testing," said Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek.

The test is a critical step in the effort to provide the aircraft with a long-range, survivable strike capability to deter strategic attacks on the United States and its allies and partners, Stefanek said.

The B-21 Raider is a subsonic stealth bomber. With an integrated wing and fuselage design and modern stealth coating, the B-21 Raider is said to be able to evade the most modern warning radars today.

In addition, aerodynamic designs also enhance the B-21 Raider's breakthrough capabilities and survivability on the battlefield.

Northrop Grumman revealed that there are currently 6 B-21 Raiders in production. The US Air Force is expected to order about 100 of these modern stealth bombers. The price of each B-21 is up to 692 million, making it one of the most expensive aircraft in the world.

The B-21 Raider is the first new US bomber in more than 30 years, and almost every aspect of the program is shrouded in secrecy. Both Northrop Grumman and the US Air Force have worked hard to protect details of the program to prevent adversaries from getting information about the weapon.

The US claims the "stealth killer" B-21 will have significant advances over the modern bombers that Washington currently owns, emphasizing that "even the most advanced air defense systems will struggle to detect the B-21 in the sky".

The US also emphasized that the B-21 is built with an open structure, allowing the integration of "new weapons that have not even been invented yet".

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/may-bay-sat-thu-tang-hinh-cua-my-lan-dau-cat-canh-20231111090547971.htm