The U.S. Air Force has designated airbases on the U.S. mainland that will support the combat operations of the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider strategic stealth bomber when this beast becomes operational in 2025.
The delta-winged B-21, which is currently under development, is also called by some as the "China Bomber" because it was specifically designed to attack China with precision conventional bombs or thermonuclear bombs. The stealthy B-21 is being built as part of the Long Range Strike Bomber program (LRS-B).
It will complement the Air Force's three other strategic heavy bombers: the Rockwell B-1 Lancer; the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit and Boeing B-52H Stratofortress. It will eventually replace all three of these iconic heavy bombers, which comprise the Third Leg of the U.S. strategic deterrent triad.
The Air Force has selected Tinker Air Force Base (AFB) in Oklahoma and Edwards Air Force Base in California to serve as primary support bases for the B-21 Raider. Tinker AFB will coordinate maintenance and sustainment, while Edwards AFB will lead testing and evaluation. The Air Force said Tinker AFB has an air logistics complex suitable for B-21 operations.
USAF spokesperson Ann Stefanek said Tinker AFB and Edwards AFB were the only locations considered because of the unique requirements for the B-21 long-range missions. Edwards AFB previously hosted flight testing of advanced aircraft such as the X-15 hypersonic aircraft and the Lockheed Martin F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter.
Robins AFB in Georgia and Hill AFB in Utah will support Tinker AFB to ensure the B-21 is maintained, overhauled and upgraded. The workforce at the bases will also be equipped to rebuild parts, assemblies, or subassemblies of the aircraft, as well as testing and reclaiming equipment as necessary for depot activations.
What will distinguish the B-21 Raider from the B-2 is the former's enhanced stealthiness and capability to loiter over a target for long periods of time, allowing it to bomb multiple targets of opportunity with precision.
The B-21 is designed to survive daylight raids on heavily defended enemy territory such as those inside China's anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) zone. The B-21 will carry a weapons load of up to 12,700 kg (28,000 lbs).
The Air Force plans to purchase at least 100 B-21s at a cost of $550 million each. The B-21 is a fifth-generation global precision attack aircraft with networked sensor-shoot capability.
The Air Force will transform the B-21 into the world's first unmanned or robotic strategic bomber with unmatched endurance. As a gigantic unmanned bomber, the B-21 will be used to rain down non-nuclear guided missiles or guided bombs onto land or naval targets. The nuclear-capable versions of the bomber will be manned, however.
The B-21 is intended to manage China in a future conflict, according to one military analyst.
