Robert Besser
07 Dec 2022, 05:35 GMT+10
PALMDALE, California: Northrop Grumman has unveiled its new B-21 "Raider" jet, the first in a new fleet of long-range stealth nuclear bombers for the U.S. Air Force.
A ceremony was held at the company's Plant 42 to offer the public its first look at the new bomber.
By using long-range and mid-air refueling techniques, the B-21, which has a similar "flying wing" shape as its predecessor, the B-2, will be able to deliver both conventional and nuclear weapons around the world.
The Air Force plans to buy at least 100 of the aircraft, which cost some $550 million each in 2010 dollars, or about $750 million in today's inflation-adjusted dollars, to replace the B-1 and B-2 bombers.
In 2015, Northrop overcame competition from Boeing Co and Lockheed Martin Corp, to win the contract to build the bomber.
According to Northrop, the B-21 is a sixth generation aircraft, and it can connect to other aircraft and easily deploy future weapons.
In an interview with Reuters, Doug Young of Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems said the B-21 also features more durable, stealth-enabling low observable surface material, which will require less maintenance and minimize operations costs and down-time.
More than 8,000 employees from Northrop Grumman, industry partners and the US Air Force are currently working on the project.
Get a daily dose of Memphis Sun news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Memphis Sun.
More InformationWASHINGTON D.C.: In a letter to lawmakers last week, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said it had put in ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The Biden administration has stopped issuing export licenses to US companies seeking to ship most items to China's ...
Nearly a year in, the war in Ukraine has cost tens of thousands of lives and brought the world to ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that limits the ability of US Energy Secretary Jennifer ...
BOSTON, Massachusetts: Russian businessman Vladislav Klyushin, who has ties to the Kremlin, has been accused of making tens of millions ...
TOKYO, Japan: In light of a tense security environment following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Moscow's growing military cooperation with ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: As part of a wider policy drive to increase competition in consumer markets, President Joe Biden has announced ...
OSLO, Norway: Ending a three-year run of profits as stock and bond prices were hit by rising inflation and Russia's ...
NEW YORK, New York - Strong economic data failed to stem profit-taking on the major U.S. bourses on Friday, while ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: The US has again asked Mexico to investigate claims that workers at an auto parts facility of American ...
WASHINGTON D.C.: Tesla confirmed this week that the US Justice Department has requested documents related to its Full Self-Driving and ...
TOKYO, Japan: Toyota has announced that it sold 10.5 million vehicles in 2022, maintaining its position as the world's top-selling ...