AMERICA’S latest nuclear stealth bomber which its makers say can hit anywhere in the world is to be unveiled.
The B-21 Raider – which will cost £639 million per plane – is to be revealed later today amid heightened fears of nuclear war with Russia.
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The plane will form the backbone of the US airborne nuclear weapons fleet in the future and it is designed to survive after hitting even the most heavily defended targets.
One key feature is the capability for it to carry out unmanned missions, with pilots flying it remotely from America.
The batwing plane is the successor to the B-2, which was itself revolutionary when it entered service, and also made by Northrop Grumman.
Around 100 planes are due to enter service with the US Air Force and it is widely held up to be the most advanced warplane ever built.
“With the capability to hold targets at risk anywhere in the world, this weapon system is critical to our national security,” Doug Young, vice-president of Northrop Grumman’s strike division.
Each plane will cost around £639 million, which is around half the cost of the B-2, and it’s also designed to replace the B-1 bomber.
The B-2 was designed to conduct long-range strike missions in highly-defended areas with a good chance of surviving the mission by evading enemy radar.
Little is known so-far about the B-21 though there was speculation a mysterious shape spotted at the top secret Area 51 could be the plane.
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Satellite photos appear to show a large unidentifiable object sitting at the end of a runway near a large white hanger.
From what information has trickled out, it draws much of its design from its predecessor.
With America’s potential adversaries developing and deploying new sophisticated air-defence systems, much of the focus during development has been on survivability.
The B-21 will need to be capable of penetrating the toughest defences and China has already boasted its radar can detect even the stealthiest aircraft.
As well as conducting bombing missions, the aircraft will be able to gather and share intelligence, helping direct attacks on multiple targets.
The use of open-source software will allow the aircraft to be easily upgraded, ensuring it remains flexible and cutting-edge while extending its useful life.
The Chinese themselves have been eyeing up stealth technology for years.
Images have emerged showing the Xian H-20 stealth deep-penetration bomber, which bears a striking resemblance to its US counterparts.
The giant US defence company won the contract for a new long-range strike bomber in 2015.
It has been named the Raider in honour of the Doolittle Raiders of the Second World War.
On April 18, 1942, 80 airmen in 16 B-25 Mitchell aircraft flew the first raid on Tokyo after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour.
The raid was planned and led by James “Jimmy” Doolittle of US army air forces.
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