Bomber B-21 Raider. Air Force hopes and funding problems
According to the current plans of the Pentagon, by the middle of the next decade a promising long-range bomber B-21 Raider, developed by Northrop Grumman, should fly into the air. Creating a new machine for the air force is associated with certain problems of a technical, financial and organizational nature. As it became known in recent weeks, actual problems may prevent the desired results. In particular, it was about the possible tightening of work and exit from the established schedule.
Recall that in 2014, the US military launched a new development program for a promising long-range bomber under the designation Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B). In October of next year, the company Northrop Grumman became the winner of the preliminary projects competition. Despite criticism from competitors, it was she who received the order to design a new car. A few months later the bomber received the official designation B-21 and the additional name Raider.
To date, the lead developer and the Pentagon have identified a list of subcontractors, and also began full-fledged design work. Over the next few years, it is expected to complete the pilot design stage of the project and begin preparing the serial construction of aircraft. It was at this stage that the B-21 project had some problems directly related to the general negative situation in the highest echelons of American power.
On January 18, Northrop Grumman B-21’s development theme was touched upon by US Deputy Secretary of the Air Force Matt Donovan. At that time, there were fierce disputes in Congress about the further financing of a number of defense programs. Among other things, it was proposed to reduce allocations for some projects, one of which could be a program for developing a new long-range bomber. According to M. Donovan, this could lead to inhibition of design work.
Also, the Congress could not decide on a decision on further financing of state bodies, which could lead to a temporary suspension of their work. Under these conditions, the leadership of the Air Force was worried that lawmakers could propose a new reduction in military spending that could harm the progress of promising projects. Along with other new developments, the B-21 aircraft could have been cut.
M. Donovan noted that the long-term cost reduction at the moment is capable of hitting the research and development stages of the B-21 Raider project. The costs of new projects can be reduced to the level of the 2010 of the fiscal year, in which case the application for the current 2018 will be only partially satisfied. All of this can have critical consequences in the context of various programs and projects, including LRS-B.
Press representatives asked M. Donovan about the future prospects of the B-21 bomber. They are interested in when new aircraft will be able to achieve initial operational readiness, if funding problems persist. The deputy minister replied that the impossibility of saving the required expenses for the project will really affect the timing of its implementation. However, he did not give specific data and specify when the troops will be able to master the new technology.
Meanwhile, the Air Force leadership is working on creating a new draft of its budget for the 2019 fiscal year. The budget request was to be submitted in mid-February. M. Donovan did not specify the details of the draft, but noted some features of its development. According to him, the draft defense budget for the next year was drawn up in parallel with the work on the National Security Strategy. In accordance with the latter, the United States should have certain advantages over Russia and China. The new draft military budget takes into account these requirements.
The Deputy Minister of the Air Force did not indicate the exact numbers or disclose other details, but touched on the theme of the B-21 / LRS-B program. According to him, the project promising long-range bomber will certainly receive increased funding. However, it was not specified how the allocations will increase.
Already after Matt Donovan’s speech, it became clear that the Congress was still unable to arrive at the necessary decisions in time. Already on January 20 - on the second day after the statements of the Deputy Minister of the Air Force - the work of the state bodies was suspended for two days. Lack of money should have a negative impact on the work of many structures, as well as have an undesirable impact on a number of projects. However, the following official mention of the B-21 Raider project was not so pessimistic.
A few days ago, the military and political leadership of the United States published a new Nuclear Policy Review. This document indicated the peculiarities of the current situation and the challenges facing the US nuclear forces. In addition, its authors have indicated some plans for the further development of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, as well as their carriers. One of the sections of the review was devoted to the air component of the nuclear triad, including the promising project.
The Nuclear Policy Review recalled that, to date, the US has launched a program to build and deploy the next-generation B-21 Raider bomber. The goal of this program is to strengthen the grouping of strategic bombers, with the subsequent replacement of the existing equipment of this class. Similar processes will be launched in the mid-twenties.
There are no other references to the B-21 project in the Nuclear Policy Review. Nevertheless, this document contains some information about promising tactical and strategic weapons that can be used with the new aircraft. The authors of the document recalled some existing and prospective projects aviation weapons of destruction equipped with nuclear warheads. At the same time, as indicated, some of these products can be used by other carriers, including those from the category of tactical aviation.
Strategic and tactical bombers will be able to use the free-falling bombs B83-1 and B61-11 to hit some targets. Pentagon intends to keep it weapon in the arsenals over the next few years. They will remain in service, at least until such time as the promising B61-12 munition equipped with guidance systems shows all its capabilities. The entry of this bomb into service is scheduled for 2020 year.
The Survey recalls that in the early eighties, the US strategic bombers became carriers of new air-based cruise missiles, but by now the latter have lost their full potential. To maintain the required percussion capabilities of the B-52H aircraft, a long-range Long-Range Stand-Off long-range cruise missile (LRSO) is being developed. In the future, it can enter the nomenclature of weapons of the new B-21 bomber. The presence of such ammunition will ensure the preservation of the required capabilities for the breakthrough of a complex anti-aircraft defense system of a potential enemy.
To date, the Pentagon and the company Northrop Grumman have managed to reveal some details of the promising project B-21 Raider. According to the approved plans, the new aircraft should become a kind of development of the ideas embodied in the B-2 project. The project is based on the concept of a subsonic subtle aircraft built according to the “flying wing” scheme and capable of carrying missile or bomb armaments. One of the main tasks of such a bomber will be a hidden exit to the area of launching rockets or dropping bombs in order to destroy the main enemy air defense targets. Leaving the enemy without a significant part of the defense systems, the B-21 Raider bombers will allow tactical aircraft to begin their work.
According to various data and estimates, the promising B-21 will be smaller and lighter than the existing B-2. The wingspan may not exceed 35-40 m, and the normal take-off weight will be within 100 tons. The aircraft will receive turbojet engines from Pratt & Whitney. With the help of such a power plant, he will be able to fly at subsonic speed and show high values of the flight range and combat radius. There is no exact information about the vehicle's combat load.
In accordance with the 2015 contract of the year, which determined the conditions for creating a new aircraft, the total cost of the entire development and construction program was to reach 80 billions of dollars. As often happens with bold projects, already in the course of project work, the need to increase funding was identified. Last November, Congress approved a new program cost - 97 billion. Most of this money will go to the production of mass-produced aircraft.
According to current plans, which, however, can be adjusted for economic and organizational reasons, the first prototype of a new type will have to take off no earlier than the beginning of the next decade. The next few years will go to the test and refinement of the machine, after which the company Northrop Grumman will be able to begin mass production of equipment for supply to the air force.
The approved schedule requires the transfer of serial B-21 to the troops at the end of the first half of the twenties. No later than 2025, these machines will have to reach the stage of initial operational readiness. Subsequently, the air force will put a few dozen production machines, the development of which will continue for a long time, until the late thirties or early forties.
The number of required LRS-B / B-21 bombers for several years remained a topic of controversy at all levels. One of the tasks of these machines will be at least a partial replacement of existing types of aircraft. In addition, the Pentagon wants to increase the qualitative and quantitative potential of long-range aviation. As a result, the ability to purchase a significant number of new bombers, up to 130-140 units, was called at different periods.
By now, such plans have been revised and have become noticeably more modest, but still look impressive. Starting in the mid-twenties, the United States Air Force wants to get at least a hundred new aircraft. In the future, the possibility of the appearance of a new order for several dozen machines is not excluded. Nevertheless, a similar contract - if it is signed - will appear only in the distant future.
Numerous statements by officials and various documents clearly show that the military and political leadership of the United States are well aware of the need for the LRS-B program and its result in the form of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bomber. The design of this aircraft has already been launched, and in the foreseeable future it will lead to the desired results. At the same time, disagreements in certain circles and the lack of consensus on the distribution of budget money can lead to known problems.
A few weeks ago, the Deputy Minister of the Air Force pointed out that the current disputes over the financing of state structures are capable of hitting the B-21 project and shifting the timing of the appearance of its real results. The January budget problems were solved in a few days, and this may be cause for optimism. However, the specific situation in Washington may lead to new situations like this, and disagreements among lawmakers will only worsen the situation. Obviously, the Pentagon will be able to bring the project B-21 Raider to the desired final, but when this happens and what will be the final cost of the entire program - it remains only to guess. Too many problems can be in the way of a major, but complex and expensive project.
Based on:
https://defensenews.com/
http://janes.com/
http://globalsecurity.org/
http://armyrecognition.com/
https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/02/2001872877/-1/-1/1/EXECUTIVE-SUMMARY.PDF
Recall that in 2014, the US military launched a new development program for a promising long-range bomber under the designation Long-Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B). In October of next year, the company Northrop Grumman became the winner of the preliminary projects competition. Despite criticism from competitors, it was she who received the order to design a new car. A few months later the bomber received the official designation B-21 and the additional name Raider.
To date, the lead developer and the Pentagon have identified a list of subcontractors, and also began full-fledged design work. Over the next few years, it is expected to complete the pilot design stage of the project and begin preparing the serial construction of aircraft. It was at this stage that the B-21 project had some problems directly related to the general negative situation in the highest echelons of American power.
On January 18, Northrop Grumman B-21’s development theme was touched upon by US Deputy Secretary of the Air Force Matt Donovan. At that time, there were fierce disputes in Congress about the further financing of a number of defense programs. Among other things, it was proposed to reduce allocations for some projects, one of which could be a program for developing a new long-range bomber. According to M. Donovan, this could lead to inhibition of design work.
Also, the Congress could not decide on a decision on further financing of state bodies, which could lead to a temporary suspension of their work. Under these conditions, the leadership of the Air Force was worried that lawmakers could propose a new reduction in military spending that could harm the progress of promising projects. Along with other new developments, the B-21 aircraft could have been cut.
M. Donovan noted that the long-term cost reduction at the moment is capable of hitting the research and development stages of the B-21 Raider project. The costs of new projects can be reduced to the level of the 2010 of the fiscal year, in which case the application for the current 2018 will be only partially satisfied. All of this can have critical consequences in the context of various programs and projects, including LRS-B.
Press representatives asked M. Donovan about the future prospects of the B-21 bomber. They are interested in when new aircraft will be able to achieve initial operational readiness, if funding problems persist. The deputy minister replied that the impossibility of saving the required expenses for the project will really affect the timing of its implementation. However, he did not give specific data and specify when the troops will be able to master the new technology.
Meanwhile, the Air Force leadership is working on creating a new draft of its budget for the 2019 fiscal year. The budget request was to be submitted in mid-February. M. Donovan did not specify the details of the draft, but noted some features of its development. According to him, the draft defense budget for the next year was drawn up in parallel with the work on the National Security Strategy. In accordance with the latter, the United States should have certain advantages over Russia and China. The new draft military budget takes into account these requirements.
The Deputy Minister of the Air Force did not indicate the exact numbers or disclose other details, but touched on the theme of the B-21 / LRS-B program. According to him, the project promising long-range bomber will certainly receive increased funding. However, it was not specified how the allocations will increase.
Already after Matt Donovan’s speech, it became clear that the Congress was still unable to arrive at the necessary decisions in time. Already on January 20 - on the second day after the statements of the Deputy Minister of the Air Force - the work of the state bodies was suspended for two days. Lack of money should have a negative impact on the work of many structures, as well as have an undesirable impact on a number of projects. However, the following official mention of the B-21 Raider project was not so pessimistic.
A few days ago, the military and political leadership of the United States published a new Nuclear Policy Review. This document indicated the peculiarities of the current situation and the challenges facing the US nuclear forces. In addition, its authors have indicated some plans for the further development of strategic and tactical nuclear weapons, as well as their carriers. One of the sections of the review was devoted to the air component of the nuclear triad, including the promising project.
The Nuclear Policy Review recalled that, to date, the US has launched a program to build and deploy the next-generation B-21 Raider bomber. The goal of this program is to strengthen the grouping of strategic bombers, with the subsequent replacement of the existing equipment of this class. Similar processes will be launched in the mid-twenties.
There are no other references to the B-21 project in the Nuclear Policy Review. Nevertheless, this document contains some information about promising tactical and strategic weapons that can be used with the new aircraft. The authors of the document recalled some existing and prospective projects aviation weapons of destruction equipped with nuclear warheads. At the same time, as indicated, some of these products can be used by other carriers, including those from the category of tactical aviation.
Strategic and tactical bombers will be able to use the free-falling bombs B83-1 and B61-11 to hit some targets. Pentagon intends to keep it weapon in the arsenals over the next few years. They will remain in service, at least until such time as the promising B61-12 munition equipped with guidance systems shows all its capabilities. The entry of this bomb into service is scheduled for 2020 year.
The Survey recalls that in the early eighties, the US strategic bombers became carriers of new air-based cruise missiles, but by now the latter have lost their full potential. To maintain the required percussion capabilities of the B-52H aircraft, a long-range Long-Range Stand-Off long-range cruise missile (LRSO) is being developed. In the future, it can enter the nomenclature of weapons of the new B-21 bomber. The presence of such ammunition will ensure the preservation of the required capabilities for the breakthrough of a complex anti-aircraft defense system of a potential enemy.
To date, the Pentagon and the company Northrop Grumman have managed to reveal some details of the promising project B-21 Raider. According to the approved plans, the new aircraft should become a kind of development of the ideas embodied in the B-2 project. The project is based on the concept of a subsonic subtle aircraft built according to the “flying wing” scheme and capable of carrying missile or bomb armaments. One of the main tasks of such a bomber will be a hidden exit to the area of launching rockets or dropping bombs in order to destroy the main enemy air defense targets. Leaving the enemy without a significant part of the defense systems, the B-21 Raider bombers will allow tactical aircraft to begin their work.
According to various data and estimates, the promising B-21 will be smaller and lighter than the existing B-2. The wingspan may not exceed 35-40 m, and the normal take-off weight will be within 100 tons. The aircraft will receive turbojet engines from Pratt & Whitney. With the help of such a power plant, he will be able to fly at subsonic speed and show high values of the flight range and combat radius. There is no exact information about the vehicle's combat load.
In accordance with the 2015 contract of the year, which determined the conditions for creating a new aircraft, the total cost of the entire development and construction program was to reach 80 billions of dollars. As often happens with bold projects, already in the course of project work, the need to increase funding was identified. Last November, Congress approved a new program cost - 97 billion. Most of this money will go to the production of mass-produced aircraft.
According to current plans, which, however, can be adjusted for economic and organizational reasons, the first prototype of a new type will have to take off no earlier than the beginning of the next decade. The next few years will go to the test and refinement of the machine, after which the company Northrop Grumman will be able to begin mass production of equipment for supply to the air force.
The approved schedule requires the transfer of serial B-21 to the troops at the end of the first half of the twenties. No later than 2025, these machines will have to reach the stage of initial operational readiness. Subsequently, the air force will put a few dozen production machines, the development of which will continue for a long time, until the late thirties or early forties.
The number of required LRS-B / B-21 bombers for several years remained a topic of controversy at all levels. One of the tasks of these machines will be at least a partial replacement of existing types of aircraft. In addition, the Pentagon wants to increase the qualitative and quantitative potential of long-range aviation. As a result, the ability to purchase a significant number of new bombers, up to 130-140 units, was called at different periods.
By now, such plans have been revised and have become noticeably more modest, but still look impressive. Starting in the mid-twenties, the United States Air Force wants to get at least a hundred new aircraft. In the future, the possibility of the appearance of a new order for several dozen machines is not excluded. Nevertheless, a similar contract - if it is signed - will appear only in the distant future.
Numerous statements by officials and various documents clearly show that the military and political leadership of the United States are well aware of the need for the LRS-B program and its result in the form of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bomber. The design of this aircraft has already been launched, and in the foreseeable future it will lead to the desired results. At the same time, disagreements in certain circles and the lack of consensus on the distribution of budget money can lead to known problems.
A few weeks ago, the Deputy Minister of the Air Force pointed out that the current disputes over the financing of state structures are capable of hitting the B-21 project and shifting the timing of the appearance of its real results. The January budget problems were solved in a few days, and this may be cause for optimism. However, the specific situation in Washington may lead to new situations like this, and disagreements among lawmakers will only worsen the situation. Obviously, the Pentagon will be able to bring the project B-21 Raider to the desired final, but when this happens and what will be the final cost of the entire program - it remains only to guess. Too many problems can be in the way of a major, but complex and expensive project.
Based on:
https://defensenews.com/
http://janes.com/
http://globalsecurity.org/
http://armyrecognition.com/
https://media.defense.gov/2018/Feb/02/2001872877/-1/-1/1/EXECUTIVE-SUMMARY.PDF
Information