Possible conflict with China/ The U.S. presents new bomb jet “B-21 Raider”, elusive by radar

The United States has presented a new bomber jet, almost elusive by radar. He was produced in complete secrecy, and his presentation seems to come in response to the Pentagon's growing concerns of a possible conflict with China.

The last American bomber was produced 30 years ago. Almost every aspect of the program is a secret. The planes are so secretive that even when they were given the news Friday in a California Air Force space, only artistic drawings were published. “B-21 Raider” is similar to the nuclear bomber that is also difficult to catch by radar, “B-2 Spirit”, likely removed from use.

The new aircraft is part of the Pentagon's efforts to modernise nuclear weapons involving nuclear ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads issued by submarines. With this Pentagon is shifting from last decades' anti-terrorism campaigns to cope with the rapid military modernisation of China.

By 2035, China is expected to provide 1500 nuclear weapons. These military achievements, and including cyberwar, space skills and other fields, present the most important and systematic infrastructure for US national security”, the Pentagon said this week in the annual China Report.

“We needed a new plane bomber for the 21st century that would allow us to face much more complicated threats, such as threats we fear will one day be faced by China and Russia”, said Deborah Lee James, the Secretary of Air Force when the contract was issued for “B-21 Raider” in 2015.

“B-21 Raider” can afford these much more difficult threats”.

While “Raider” can be compared from outside with the preliminary plane “B-2”, once you get inside, similarities stop, said Kathy Warden, chief executive of the company “northrop Grumman”, which is building “Raiderin”.

The way it works from the inside is extremely advanced compared to "B-2," because the technology went a lot ahead of” said Mrs. Warden.

Other changes may be the use of materials that enables the new aircraft to be more difficult to detect by having new ways to control electronic emissions. That way “Raider” can deceive opposing radars and disguise as another object, some defence analysts said.

In a document by the production company, “Northrop Grumman”, it is said that “technics and new production materials are being used to ensure that the B-21 Raider) defeat systems that cannot defeat access to areas where it intends to go”.

Mrs. Warden could not discuss the details of these technologies, but said it would be harder for the new aircraft to be caught by radar.

When we talk about what's called low surveillance, it'll be really low. That means you'll hear the plane, but you won't see it”, said Mrs. Warden.

Six “B-21 Raider” are being produced as the Air Force plans to build 100 of these. Nuclear weapons or conventional bombs will be placed in them and can be used with or without human crews. Air Force and “Northrop” also indicate the relatively rapid development of “Raideri”: The new aircraft was produced within seven years of contracting, while other combat products, including ships, have taken decades.

The cost of production is unknown. In 2010, the Air Force said the price for buying 100 planes would cost an average of $550 million each, or approximately $775 million today, but it is unclear how much the Air Force is actually spending.

The fact that the prize is not public concerns government overseers.

The “could be a great challenge for us to make our normal analysis of a major programme like this”, said Dan Grazier, senior defence policy associate in the Government Supervision Project.

“It is easy to say that the “B-21 Raider” is going by schedule without yet testing it in flight. But only when one of them moves into the current phase of testing is real problems detected. This is the point when expenses begin to grow”.

Reider will not make his first flight until 2023.

However, using advanced computer software “northrop Grumman” has tested the skills of RAiderí using a digital twin, a virtual copy of the one released Friday.

The previous jet, U.B.-2, was designed to be a fleet of over 100 planes, but the Air Force eventually deployed for only 21 planes, due to spending out of the past spending and a changed security environment after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Besides, not all aircraft "B-2" are willing to be used every day because of the considerable maintenance needs of the outdated aircraft, said Todd Harrison, air space specialist and manager at the company “Meterra Strategic Insights”.

The new plane, “B-21 Raider”, is named after air strikes on the Japanese capital, Tokyo, in 1942 known as “Doolitle Raid”.

He's going to be a little bit smaller than the WB-2's to raise his range, Mrs. Warden said.

In October 2001, the pilots of the old aircraft, U.S.R., set a new record when they flew 44 hours in a row to drop the first bombs on Afghanistan following the 11 September attacks.

The WB-2 often performs long round-the-field missions, because there are few barns around the world that can accommodate the opening of his wings. This limits where the WB-2 can be reduced for necessary maintenance after flight. In addition, barns must have air conditioning because the windows of the old aircraft do not open and the hottest climates can damage the electronic inside of the cabin.

The new plane will also have new hangars to accommodate its size and complexity, Mrs. Warden said.

A recent change is the way the new bomber was introduced. As the two were introduced to the same military area in California, the presentation of the previous aircraft, "B-2gg," took place in 1988 at public ceremonies.

In view of the advanced technology that has been used to produce surveillance cameras and satellites, the presentation of the new aircraft Rider) will be made in secret and within a military facility. The guests, among them Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, will be present at the opening of the object's doors to present the new plane and then the doors will be closed again. /The Voice of America