Pentagon Shows Off New Stealth Bomber

Saturday, December 3rd, 2022 -- 6:07 AM

The Pentagon flashed its brand-new stealth nuclear bomber, the B-21 Raider, at a public unveiling event yesterday. The sleek stingray-shaped aircraft looks like a vessel straight out of Star Wars and is estimated to have cost around ~$750 million to build.

Developed in secret by Northrop Grumman over the past decade, the B-21 is the first new US bomber to be unveiled since the Cold War ended. The US wants to order 100 of the jets. The new fleet would represent a pivot in American defense manufacturing away from anti-terrorism capabilities toward equipment for a potential war against a powerful adversary, like China or Russia. 

Amid growing tensions in US–China relations, the latter is quickly expanding its nuclear arsenal, and the Pentagon expects China will possess 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035. The public reveal of the new bomber is part of the US effort to keep up with that potential threat.

While the B-21 was designed to deliver nuclear and conventional weapons in stealth mode (with or without a pilot), the US clearly hopes that any potential foes saw the unveiling of the plane, which Northrop Grumman described as “a visible and flexible deterrent.”

(Morning Brew)

Photo:Northrop Grumman

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