Stealth Air Force Boeing B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber Unveiled [ Picture ]

Stealth Air Force LSB Boeing B-21 Long Range Strike Bomber Unveiled [ Picture ] - Looking very much like the current B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber, the first picture of the coming B-21 LSB or Long Range Strike Bomber appears nearly identical.

Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James revealed the first rendering of the Long Range Strike Bomber, designated the B-21, at the Air Force Association’s Air Warfare Symposium Feb. 26 in Orlando, Fla., and announced the Air Force will be taking suggestions from Airmen to help decide the name of the bomber.

While there are no existing prototypes of the aircraft, the artist rendering is based on the initial design concept. The designation B-21 recognizes the LRS-B as the first bomber of the 21st century.

James said the B-21 will allow the Air Force to operate in tomorrow's high end threat environment, and give the Air Force the flexibility and the capability to launch from the continental United States and deliver airstrikes on any location in the world.

James also explained why the B-21 shares some resemblance to the B-2.

"The B-21 has been designed from the beginning based on a set of requirements that allows the use of existing and mature technology," James said.

The program recently entered into the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and the Air Force plans to field the initial capability of the aircraft in mid-2020s.

Source: USAF

Air Force Boeing B-21 Stealth Bomber Picture (LSB)