4 ms·
2 less corners and half the payload?
by morkalork 3y ago
2 less corners and half the payload?
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y agoI think the intention here is for the B-21 to utilize swarms of "loyal wingmen" drones.
- jasonwatkinspdx 3y agoNo, those programs are unrelated to the B-21, and the B-21's design phase precedes the existence of the loyal wingman concept. It also doesn't fit the mission profile of the B-21, as it's job is strategic bombing using stealth, which is done solo not in formations. It'll no doubt have networking capabilities with ISR drones to set up kill chains but on mission it will be completely silent in terms of EM emissions. The B-21 itself is also optionally manned.
- 2OEH8eoCRo0 3y agohttps://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/us-air-force-commits-to-fielding-loyal-wingman-uavs/146802.article https://www.flightglobal.com/military-uavs/us-air-force-comm... > The loyal wingman concept will also be extended to the top-secret Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber. > “The B-21 is a very expensive aircraft. It has a certain payload and range. We would like to amplify that capability. It has the ability to penetrate, which is valuable,” says Kendall. “What we want is something that can go operate with it. I wouldn’t say ‘accompany it’ necessarily. The tactics are very much to be determined.”
- jasonwatkinspdx 3y agoYeah, that's just the usual posturing after programs are already started and everyone tries to hitch to everyone's wagon. The reason why that last sentence is there is even this person knows what they're saying isn't credible vs the actual mission profile of the B-21 and they're doing a PR move to get ahead of that.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- jasonwatkinspdx 3y agoJust to elaborate, the B-2 has the shape it does because it was designed for two missions, one flying at high altitude, the other at low. This requirement significantly complicated the aerodynamics, however the low level penetration mission is now regarded as suicidal, hence, the B-21 is designed for high altitude alone.
- cameldrv 3y agoWhy is the low level mission considered suicidal?
- adgjlsfhk1 3y agoWhen you're flying low, stealth doesn't work because people can look up and see you (and then your 2 billion dollar bomber gets brought down by a 20k dollar shoulder mounted weapon).
- hackeraccount 3y agoWill the radar on a shoulder mounted missile overcome the stealthiness of a B-21? Presuming it has infrared countermeasures as well.
- jandrewrogers 3y agoMANPADS do not use radar, they are all infrared or beam riders. You would not expect a B-21 to ever be within range of those weapons, which are really only designed to be used against helicopters and close air support aircraft.
- jasonwatkinspdx 3y agoStealth reduces detection range, it does not eliminate it. If an adversary has information on the path the target is likely to take it makes things much easier. This is how a F-117 got shot down over the Balkans. They kept using the same route and someone figured it out. At the ranges MANPADs operate, a couple km at most, thermal stealth is effectively impossible.