The US Air Force plans to purchase a hundred new generation B-21 Raider heavy American bombers using stealth technology. For this purpose, the military will begin mothballing the B-2 Spirit and Rockwell B-1 Lancer strategic bombers to free up funds to support the B-21 program, Popular Mechanics reports.
The B-21 Raider, designed to penetrate deep into enemy territory, will be equipped with the latest technology to reduce the visibility. The fifth generation bomber is an improved version of the B-2, designed with a flying wing design, and is also capable of carrying thermonuclear warheads.
Details on the technical characteristics of the aircraft are not yet available. As the newspaper writes, the Air Force wants to purchase aircraft and auxiliary equipment for a total of $ 80 billion.
In December 2017, The Aviationist blog reported unusual activity around Area 51, a secret military base in Nevada, which may indicate testing of the B-21 Raider. Enthusiasts and journalists alike noticed the appearance of a large hangar and airstrip. It is assumed that the operation of the systems for suppressing infrared radiation by the aircraft body and its engines was tested at the base.