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The United States is the only country in the world with the ability to field stealth bombers that can carry heavy payloads like thermonuclear weapons in its hull. America’s B-2 Spirit bomber began development in the mid-1970’s and was intended to operate as a unique weapon for America in the Cold War against the Soviets. The only problem was, by the time the bomber entered into service in the 1990’s, the USSR was long gone. The wind was taken out of the sails a little bit and given that each plane cost more than $2 billion, it’s understandable that the government only ordered the making of less than two dozen of these bombers. So, what exactly is a stealth bomber and why are they so expensive to build and maintain?
Stealth bombers like the B-2 Spirit and its descendant, the B-21 Raider, are intended to function precisely how the name suggests: They are invisible to radar and thermal sensors (mostly). The unique shape of the bombers and the radar absorbing coat of paint it wears makes it difficult even for the most advanced detection systems to find. Ultimately, however, the B-2 Spirit is a pain in the neck to maintain and while it is fully capable of remaining undetected, refueling ships that accompany it mid-mission are not. So, what did the Defense Department upgrade? Quite a few things, actually, and though much of the specifics remain classified, there are many inferences to be made about the B-21 Raider based on the statements of the US Air Force at the bomber’s unveiling.
America’s stealth bombers have a unique wingspan that makes it difficult to keep in hangars outside of the US so the capability to make round trips without stopping is a key feature in the aircraft’s capabilities. As mentioned previously, tankers that often perform mid-flight refueling for these long distance missions are not nearly as stealthy as their partners so it is quite likely the B-21 Raider is capable of completing its mission without refueling. It stands to reason that refueling will occur on the return trip, at which point, stealth won’t be so high a priority. But aside from the upgrades in tech, the US military placed two values high on their list that I hold to be crucial improvements in America’s military industrial efficiency: Cost and Upgradability.
The B-2 Spirit costs upwards of $2 billion apiece but the Air Force made it clear to Northrop Grumman Corp., the contractor responsible for the design, that it was aiming to pay no more than a quarter of that price and it appears like Northrop Grumman is on track to meet it. Additionally, the Defense Department tackled a recurring problem with new military tech and that is, by the time a project reaches completion, new and improved tech is already in the market. The military can’t upgrade their new vehicles because their designs made them too expensive to change around. Not with the B-21 Raider, though. The US is implementing a new design principle that requires all the individual pieces that go into its systems to be easily replaceable, making it cheap to upgrade to new technologies. The name of the game here is efficiency and affordability which is the tried and true method of military industrial development for the US since the days of World War II and it’s poised to return to form ahead of the brewing conflict with China in the Pacific. The hope for many is that this bomber will never need to be used for its intended purpose.
Andres Pena is a Pinecrest resident and graduate of New York University with degrees in both English and American Literature and Political Science. For more inquiries on US and Global News, contact andres@communitynewspapers.com or call 305-951-6726.
Miami Community Newspaper is an online newspaper that provides up-to-date local news and information about the Miami community. This daily newspaper provides local news coverage and keeps its readers up to date on the latest developments in the area. Their website also includes a Miami community podcast, where listeners can get the latest news and updates on the Miami community. Miami Community Newspapers is the perfect source for all your local Miami news needs, whether it is from their daily newspaper, podcasts, or other media sources.
