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U.S. Air Force unveils first official image of B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber
Air Force secretary says name suggestions will come from men and women of the Air Force
(CNN) —
It’s an image that’s being picked apart by military aviation experts around the world: the first official drawing of the U.S. Air Force’s B-21 bomber.
Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James unveiled the artist rendering February 26 based on the initial design concept.
Black, sleek, with swept-back wings and a stealthy design, this aircraft looks a lot like another famous bomber – the B-2 Spirit.
PHOTO: U.S. Air Force
B-21 artist rendering
James seemed to hint at that during her announcement. “The B-21 has been designed from the beginning based on a set of requirements that allows the use of existing and mature technology,” she said at the Air Force Association Air Warfare Symposium in Orlando, Florida.
At first glance, the drawing seems basic. But make no mistake, aviation geeks and America’s military competitors will be picking it apart for clues to learn more about this very expensive and powerful weapons system. China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and just about anyone in the world involved in developing advanced stealth technology will look at this drawing for any indication of where U.S. design is headed.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
Alex R. Lloyd/USAF
The Pentagon has requested $582.7 billion for the upcoming fiscal year. A healthy chunk of that money would go to acquiring new hardware, including F-35 fighter jets. The Pentagon is requesting $10.1 billion for F-35s in three variants: 43 F-35As for the Air Force, 16 F-35Bs for the Marine Corps and four F-35Cs for the Navy.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
Lindsay A. Preston/U.S. Navy/File
F/A-18 Hornet —
The budget request also includes two F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
Chad Slattery/Northrup Grumman/U.S. Navy
MQ-4C Triton —
The Pentagon wants $759 million for two MQ-4C Tritons. It says the drones will "maximize capabilities and extend the reach of our airborne systems."
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
U.S. Navy/Spec. 1st Class Anthony Petry
P-8A Poseidon —
The request includes $2.2 billion to buy P-8A Poseidons -- modified Boeing 737s designed to be submarine hunters.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
MC1 Sean Spratt/U.S. Navy
Arleigh Burke-class destroyer —
The Pentagon wants $3.2 billion to buy two DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
MC1 Brian P. Biller/U.S. Navy
America-class amphibious assault ship —
One America-class amphibious assault ship is included in the Navy's 2017 budget. Amphibious assault ships can deploy aircraft, including the new F-35 fighter jets.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
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U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Huntington Ingalls Industries by ChrisOxley/Released
Virginia-class attack submarine —
The request includes $5.2 billion to buy two Virginia-class attack submarines. Here, a dolphin swims in front of the USS John Warner during its sea trials in May.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
From Lockheed Martin
Littoral combat ship —
The budget request includes money for two littoral combat ships like the USS Little Rock, shown here after it was christened in 2015. The 2017 budget stipulates that the Navy will reduce its planned littoral combat ship/fast frigate procurement from 52 ships to 40.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
John D. Parker/Boeing
KC-46A Pegasus —
The Pentagon wants $3.1 billion to buy 15 KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers. The refueling boom on the Pegasus can pump 1,200 gallons of fuel per minute into another aircraft.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
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U.S. Air Force/Chrissy Cuttita
C-130J —
Eleven C-130J aircraft, of various configurations, are included in the Air Force's 2017 budget request.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
Tech. Sgt. Jason Robertson/USAF
A-10 Thunderbolt —
The Pentagon won't be buying any new A-10 Thunderbolt attack jets, but the budget request includes money that would delay the aircraft's retirement until 2022.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
Petty Officer 1st Class Jeremy L. Wood/US Navy
Black Hawk helicopter —
The Pentagon is asking for $1 billion to buy 36 Black Hawk helicopters.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
Nathan Vanschaik/US Department of Defense
Apache helicopter —
The request includes $1.1 billion for 52 Apache attack helicopters.
Photos: Big-ticket buys in the Pentagon's budget request
PHOTO:
Oshkosh Defense
Joint Light Tactical Vehicles —
The request includes $735 million for 2,020 Joint Light Tactical Vehicles for the Army and Marines. The JLTVs are intended to replace Humvees.
So… what will the Air Force call this new bomber? Leaders of the bomber program will consider suggestions from the men and women of the Air Force, James said, and the name will be announced at an Air Force conference scheduled for the fall.
Until now, the B-21 has been referred to as the Long Range Strike Bomber because it will be designed to launch from the United States and strike any target around the globe.
When Northrop Grumman won the contract to build the B-21 last year, Defense Secretary Ashton Carter said it will allow the United States to “project power across the globe now and into the future.” He called it a “strategic investment for the next 50 years.”
The Air Force image came a few weeks after Northrop Grumman debuted a TV ad during the NFL Super Bowl, which briefly showed animation of what was described as a “stealth bomber.” Unlike the frontal perspective shown in the Air Force image, the ad shows a view behind the aircraft as it takes off, its twin engines propelling it into the sky.
Long term, the idea is for these planes to replace Air Force B-52 bombers, which have been flying for more than half a century – and eventually the B-1 bombers, when they retire sometime in the 2040s.
Related story: Pentagon awards Long range stealth bomber contract
Engineering and development costs are estimated at $21.4 billion (in 2010 dollars) over the entire life of the program.
Officials have been tight-lipped as to the specific capability expectations for the LRS-B, but indications are that it will be stealthy, able to carry conventional and nuclear weapons, and could possibly operate with or without a pilot.
The Air Force said it plans to start testing the plane sometime in the mid-2020s.
CNN’s Barbara Starr and Zachary Cohen contributed to this report.