B-21 Raider - Discussione Ufficiale

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B-21 ... l'USAF indica le basi che lo ospiteranno ...

Air Force Formally Announces B-21 Bases .....

The Air Force officially announced on Wednesday that the current homes of USAF’s B-1 and B-2 bombers will receive the B-21 Raider when the aircraft comes online in the mid-2020s.

Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson previously assured Congress the current bases will receive the new bomber, and the service’s recent “Bomber Vector” outlined that the Air Force would swap out B-1s and B-2s as Raiders become available.

The Air Force, in the announcement, states it selected Dyess AFB, Texas; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; and Whiteman AFB, Mo., as the reasonable alternatives for B-21s.

“Our current bomber bases are best suited for the B-21,” Wilson said in a release.

“We expect the first B-21 Raider aircraft to be delivered in the mid-2020s.”

Barksdale AFB, La., and Minot AFB, N.D., will continue to fly the B-52, which will remain in service through 2050.

The final decision on B-21 basing will be made in 2019 following an environmental impact study.

Wilson told the Senate Armed Services Committee on April 24 the Air Force expects a minimum of 100 B-21s and assured lawmakers that “if you have a bomber base now, you’ll have a bomber base in the future.”

- Brian Everstine (AFA Daily Report)

 

 

Anche qui ... http://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1510408/air-force-selects-locations-for-b-21-aircraft/...

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B-21 ... trapela qualche nuova informazione ...

The secret B-21 bomber will progress to a major milestone - critical design review - by the end of this year, Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office director Randall Walden said Monday.

Walden also revealed that the B-21 is merely one of 28 programs being managed by the RCO, which he noted is funded at about $30 billion over the five-year future year defense plan.

Walden, speaking at an AFA Mitchell Institute event in Arlington, Va., said the B-21 has already passed its preliminary design review, and noted that the release of drawings for the bomber is progressing well.

As for critical design review, "we haven't done it, but we're on our way," and he predicted it would happen by the end of December.

Major design work on the bomber is taking place at Northrop Grumman's Melbourne, Fla., facility.

He acknowledged that subscale models of the aircraft have been tested in wind tunnels, but said no full-size version has yet been fabricated.

"Component testing" is moving along at an "appropriate" speed, he said.

"We're looking forward to ... an 'on-time' start of production," Walden said.

Fonte: airforcemag.com ... B-21 Bomber Critical Design Review by End of Year ...

Anche qui ... defensenews.com ... The new B-21 Raider could hit a big milestone this year ...

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ASC18 ... il generale Deptula vuole tanti bombardieri ... in particolare almeno 180 B-21 ... 

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The Air Force’s new suggested base force includes 14 bomber squadrons of 12 aircraft per squadron - five more squadrons than it has now - to deal with great power competition. 
But is that enough? 
Retired Lt. Gen. David Deptula, dean of AFA’s Mitchell Institute, said the Air Force should postpone its plans to retire the B-1 and B-2 fleets in about 15 years, and should add to them a fleet of “at least 180” new B-21 stealth bombers, while retaining the B-52.

Fonte: airforcemag.com ... More Bombers, But How Many More ? ...

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E' ufficiale ... i collaudi del B-21 saranno effettuati a Edwards ...

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Edwards AFB was selected as the location of the B-21's Combined Test Force. 
The base is home to the Air Force Test Center, which leads testing and evaluation for the Air Force to ensure aircraft and other equipment meet rigorous standards.
The testing program at Edwards AFB is also designed to provide timely, objective and accurate information to decision makers.
"From flight testing the X-15 to the F-117, Edwards AFB in the Mohave Desert has been at the forefront of keeping our Air Force on the cutting edge," said Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. David L. Goldfein. 
"Now, testing the B-21 Raider will begin another historic chapter in the base's history."

Fonte: af.mil/News ... Air Force announces bases to support B-21 Raider mission ...

Che io sappia lo F-117 è stato collaudato a Groom Lake ed ha trascorso i suoi primi anni di servizio a Tonopah ... senza aver mai avuto niente a che fare con Edwards ... e trovo strano che il generale Goldfein lo associ a quest'ultima base ...

Modificato 17 Novembre 2018 da TT-1 Pinto

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Circa sei mesi fa ...

... airforcemag.com ... B-21 Bomber Critical Design Review by End of Year ...

Dunque ... ci siamo ...

... flightglobal.com ... USAF completes critical design review of B-21 stealth bomber ...

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A Ellsworth AFB i primi B-21 operativi ...

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Ellsworth AFB, S.D., is the preferred location to receive the first operational B-21 bomber and formal training unit beginning in the mid-2020s, the service announced Wednesday. 
Whiteman AFB, Mo., and Dyess AFB, Texas, also are slated to receive B-21s “as they become available,” while Barksdale AFB, La., and Minot AFB, N.D., will continue to host the B-52 Stratofortress.
Ellsworth was chosen because it already “provides sufficient space and existing facilities necessary to accommodate simultaneous missions at the lowest cost and with minimal operational impact across all three bases,” states the release (*).

Prosegue qui ... airforcemag.com ... Ellsworth First to Get B-21 Bomber ...

(*) ... af.mil/News ... Air Force announces Ellsworth AFB as first B-21 base ...

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E' ancora presto per determinare quanti B-21 acquistare ...

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The head of Air Force Global Strike Command believes the bomber force needs to grow, but he thinks it’s too early in the development cycle of the B-21 Raider to decide by how much because the jet’s final cost is not yet known.
Gen. Timothy Ray, speaking with reporters in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, said AFGSC’s “Bomber Vector” was developed before the new National Defense Strategy was written, and he’s not ready yet to say the roadmap should be implemented.

Fonte: airforcemag.com ... AFGSC Chief Says It’s Too Early to Decide Bomber Force Size ...

[cama81]

parrebbe che sia stato avvistato un b-21 volante sui cieli usa

da instagram (con beneficio del dubbio)

 

[Flaggy]

Avendo passato solo a dicembre 2018 la critical design review, propenderei per il fake.

https://www.google.it/amp/s/www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/amp27115013/b-21-raider-first-flight/

[Flaggy]

In effetti il primo è in costruzione.

https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/stealth-suprise-us-air-force-builds-first-b-21-raider-test-bomber-66131

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Primo volo ... Dicembre 2021 ...

... airforcemag.com ... http://www.airforcemag.com/Features/Pages/2019/July 2019/B-21-to-Fly-in-December-2021-More-B-52s-to-Come-Out-of-Boneyard.aspx ...

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A proposito della data del primo volo ...

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The 863-day countdown — if it is accurate — would peg the Raider’s inaugural flight to Dec. 3, 2021. 
And while there’s still ample time for design problems and budget setbacks to delay that schedule, analysts said the Air Force’s disclosure of the first flight date means that the secretive bomber program is likely moving along smoothly.
“A lot can happen in two years. But if they feel that confident about the schedule it’s a good sign that things are on course,” said Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst with the Teal Group.

... defensenews.com ... Coming in 2021: The B-21 Raider’s first flight? ...

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B-21 ... le rivelazioni continuano ... sia pure col contagocce ...

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Acting Secretary of the Air Force Matthew Donovan announced Sept. 16 that the B-21 Raider is being produced in Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, California, facility - the same location as the B-2 Spirit. 
In addition, the 420th Flight Test Squadron at Edwards Air Force Base, California, will be reactivated to support testing of the B-21 Raider, as it did for the B-2.
While speaking at the Air Force Association’s Air, Space and Cyber Conference, Donovan remarked on the Air Force’s B-21 program noting, “the development of the B-21 Raider is on schedule and the first test aircraft is under production at the same production facility in Palmdale, California, as its predecessor, the B-2. The first flight of the Raider will take it from Palmdale to Edwards AFB, where the legacy of excellence will continue with the reactivation of the 420th Flight Test Squadron.”

Fonte ... afmc.af.mil ... https://www.afmc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/1961588/acting-secaf-donovan-announces-b-21-manufacturing-testing-locations/ ...

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Il programma procede ... passo dopo passo ...

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The 420th Flight Test Squadron was reactivated following an assumption of command ceremony here Oct. 4. 
The squadron will plan, test, analyze and report on all flight and ground testing of the B-21 Raider.
The 420 FLTS is organized under the 412th Test Wing, which is part of the Air Force Test Center, headquartered at Edwards. 
The squadron, along with the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, will ensure the Air Force delivers this asymmetric capability to the warfighter.

... edwards.af.mil ... 420th Flight Test Squadron reactivated to support B-21 Raider testing at Edwards ...

[TT-1 Pinto]

Australia ... un sogno ad occhi aperti ?

... aspistrategist.org.au ... https://www.aspistrategist.org.au/is-the-b-21-bomber-a-viable-option-for-australia/ ...

[Flaggy]

Non bastavano i deliri di Carlo Kopp sull'F-22?

Adesso anche i voli pindarici di questo Marcus Heller sul B-21?

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41 minuti fa, Flaggy ha scritto:

Non bastavano i deliri di Carlo Kopp sull'F-22?

Adesso anche i voli pindarici di questo Marcus Heller sul B-21?

Che ci vuoi fare? 

Sono Australiani ... parenti, forse non troppo lontani, dei Canadesi ... 

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Qualche nuova informazione ...

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The first B-21 Raider bomber is coming together at Northrop Grumman’s Palmdale, Calif., facility and will likely be rolled out for public view in 20 months, making its first flight a few months later. 
The Air Force is also planning, in its next budget proposal, to increase the buy to 150 or more aircraft, up from 100. 
The B-21 picture, highly secret for the last four years, is starting to come into focus.
Top Air Force leaders are beginning to speak more openly about the B-21. 
Randall G. Walden, head of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, which runs the bomber development effort, said in October, “We’re ready to start actually building parts.”

... airforcemag.com ... The Raider Takes Shape ...

[TT-1 Pinto]

B-21 ... emergono nuovi dettagli ...

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Fresh images of the classified B-21 Raider bomber, released Jan. 31, show new details of the air intakes, landing gear, and mid-body shape.
The images are the first official artists’s concepts released of the bomber since its name was announced at the Air Force Association Air, Space & Cyber Conference in September, 2016. 
The image released at that time - an artist’ concept portraying the jet in flight from above the front left quarter - was described as deliberately concealing some key aspects of the B-21’s design. 
The Air Force did not say whether the new images, created by Northrop Grumman, have been adjusted to conceal any details.
The images released Jan. 31, which show the aircraft from ground level in the front right quarter, are actually three versions of the same picture, superimposed on a view out a hangar door at Whiteman, Ellsworth, and Dyess Air Force Bases, which are the planned future bases for the B-21. 
Today they are the home of the B-2 Spirit and B-1 Lancer bombers, respectively.

... airforcemag.com ... B-21 Images Show New Details of Secret Bomber ...

[Flaggy]

Che bello, mi sembra di tornare ai tempi delle prime foto tarocche dell’F-117 con gli analisti intenti a ricostruire l'aspetto delle prese d’aria e gli scarichi censurati e a sbagliare di brutto l’angolo di bordo d’attacco e le dimensioni generali.

Carrello a parte (già di per se interessante), sinceramente non è che veda tutti questi gran dettagli in più rispetto alla famosa immagine rilasciata anni fa. In particolare disquisire sulla presenza o meno dello spazio in cabina per la pennichella o per il terzo membro dell’equipaggio a partire da quell'immagine del generale mi pare un pochino ardito…

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Un prima interpretazione dall'equipe di AW&ST ...

 

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Un'analisi di "THE-WAR-ZONE" ...

https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/32044/heres-our-analysis-of-the-air-forces-new-b-21-stealth-bomber-renderings

[Flaggy]

Quelli di AW&ST sono gli stessi commenti scritti a mano su un disegno piuttosto che sul rendering visto prima e dove magari erano messi in bella.

L’arretramento dell’abitacolo era peraltro una cosa visibile anche anni fa e quanto alla forma della parte di fusoliera dietro l’abitacolo, bisogna essere cauti e non farsi eventualmente ingannare da angolazioni e prospettive perché in fondo del B-2 ci sono tante foto in cui può apparire non molto diverso.

Le linee sono comunque molto morbide in entrambi i velivoli e la rastremazione fra alloggiamenti motore e fusoliera può alterare la percezione del profilo. Fermo restando che discutiamo di un rendering...

A mio avviso comunque l'elemento distintivo principale rispetto al B-2 non è nel numero di denti dei portelli o nel bordo d'uscita alare (quanto meno perchè qui il B-21 torna come noto da tempo a un design sacrificato dal B-2 sull'altare della bassa quota), ma nelle prese d'aria che sono ancor più spinte per massimizzare la stealthness.

Già metterle sopra l'ala non è facile, ma incassarle all'interno è ancor più difficile, in particolare per gli effetti agli elevati angoli di incidenza.

Ricordiamoci però che non parliamo di un caccia e che i motori moderni riescono a digerire flussi d'aria anche distorti e anzi danno una mano a tenere incollato lo strato limite aspirandolo e rinnovando quello che investe la porzione d'ala dietro le prese stesse.

Il secondo elemento caratterizzante credo saranno gli scarichi dei motori che però si guardano bene dal mostrarci e che credo si guarderanno bene dal fare per un bel po'...

Modificato 1 Febbraio 2020 da Flaggy

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Il secondo elemento caratterizzante credo saranno gli scarichi dei motori che però si guardano bene dal mostrarci e che credo si guarderanno bene dal fare per un bel po'...

Sempre che quei birichini di AW&ST non prendano a nolo un aereo da turismo ...

 

[Flaggy]

Non credo faranno lo stesso errore due volte, soprattutto ora che devono guardarsi anche dai droni... e comunque ho la sensazione che gli scarichi sarebbero poco visibili anche con immagini del genere...