In the US press, the B-21 Raider stealth bombers under construction were called the "destroyers" of the Russian S-500 air defense systems
Five B-21 Raider strategic stealth bombers are currently under construction at the Northrop Grumman facility in Palmdale, California, according to The Drive. The publication refers to the statement of the Secretary of the Air Force (Air Force) of the United States, Frank Kendall.
According to American analysts, the first such aircraft may take off in late spring or early summer 2022. At the same time, the US press calls the B-21 Raider under construction the "destroyers" of the Russian S-500 Prometheus air defense systems. But first, these aircraft will need to be tested, and they will arrive directly at the US Air Force only in the middle of the decade. This is despite the fact that the S-500 air defense system has already begun to enter service with the RF Armed Forces.
Presumably, the planes will be stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota, then at Whiteman Air Force Base (Missouri) and Dyce (Texas).
The American publication calls the new bombers the highest priority for the US Air Force. The Pentagon considers the most important task to gain advantages over the Russian S-500 systems. Earlier, another American publication, The National Interest, wrote that the B-21 Raider would be invulnerable to the promising Russian S-500 Prometheus anti-aircraft missile systems. On what basis American journalists make such conclusions, apparently, only they themselves know ... Especially if they, by definition, cannot know all the performance characteristics of the newest Russian air defense-missile defense systems.
Popular Mechanics reports that a promising strategic bomber will be able to carry conventional and nuclear weapons on board. So, it can be equipped with Joint Directed Attack Munition (JDAM) ammunition and AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) missiles, as well as B83 and B61-12 nuclear bombs.
The US Air Force has already supported the acquisition of 145 of these aircraft for the needs of the military aviation... Now all that remains is to resolve financial issues, however, most likely, the Pentagon will be able to provide funding for the production of new aircraft. The goals for which the American military department orders new bombers are too ambitious.
Recall that on January 31, 2020, Northrop Grumman presented images of a promising B-21 Reider bomber. Air intakes recessed into the wing, "two-wheeled" main landing gear, engines inside the airframe - these are the main features of the new aircraft. Experts believe that the new bomber will be less visible to enemy radar systems due to a decrease in effective scattering area (EPR).
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