B-21 Raider: US wants 145 stealth bombers to ensure air supremacy

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B-21 Raider: US aims for 145 stealth bombers to ensure air supremacy
B-21 Raider: US aims for 145 stealth bombers to ensure air supremacy (X @usairforce)\

The B-21 Raider, the US Air Force’s new stealth bomber, promises to revolutionize air operations not only because of its advanced technology but mainly due to the number of aircraft that will enter service. While the current B-2 Spirit, with only 19 units, faces operational limitations due to its small fleet, the Pentagon plans to acquire at least 100 B-21s, possibly up to 145.

Major General Jason Armagost, commander of the Eighth Air Force, emphasized that the Raider’s real advantage will be its ability to form a massive “campaign force,” enabling simultaneous strikes on multiple fronts and greater strategic flexibility.

Beyond sixth-generation stealth, the B-21 will have extended range without refueling and advanced capabilities in electronic warfare, intelligence, and drone control. Although it carries less armament per mission than the B-2, its large-scale production and lower maintenance cost will ensure a more constant presence in operational theaters.

Operation Midnight Hammer, which mobilized one-third of the B-2 fleet in an attack on Iran, highlighted the risks of relying on few aircraft—a problem the B-21 is expected to solve.

With flight tests ongoing and production accelerating, the Raider is set to replace the B-2s and B-1s by the end of the decade, starting at Ellsworth Air Force Base. Armagost stressed that in a global conflict or nuclear attack scenario, the US needs a robust, autonomous fleet capable of operating even without communication networks.

The B-21 is not just a bomber but part of a long-range strike ecosystem that will include stealth missiles and future sixth-generation fighters, reinforcing American deterrence in an increasingly contested world.

Source: The War Zone | Photo: X @usairforce | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.

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