Photo of the 2nd B-21 taking to the skies for the first time. Posted by the official Twitter account of Northrop Grumman.
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- Thread starter tphuang
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tbh, B21 is a downgrade from B2 except for the software and metallurgy part. We are looking at a 4 engine B2 vs 2 engine B21.
Without high power generation, it will put B21 more at a disadvantage compared to B2. Perhaps, the CCA will make up for that disadvantage.
B-21 has much better engines though, the original B-2 basically just used off the shelf F-110 with no afterburner from the 80s while B-21 uses two medium bypass engines with modified F-135 technology. It's quite possible the two PW-9Ks might actually output more power than four F-118s.
The B-21 is a comprehensive upgrade of the B-2 in terms of its engine, stealth capabilities, and avionics systems. In terms of stealth alone, the B-21 is undoubtedly more advanced than the B-2 from decades ago.
Just as the J-16 cannot be viewed as a simple replica of the Su-27, the B-21 should not be seen as a cheap scaled-down version of the B-2. The next-generation avionics and airframe design of the B-21 grant this aircraft significant modification potential, enabling it to be transformed into a stealth tanker, stealth command aircraft, unmanned bomber, stealth weapons carrier, large electronic warfare aircraft, and more.
Just as the J-16 cannot be viewed as a simple replica of the Su-27, the B-21 should not be seen as a cheap scaled-down version of the B-2. The next-generation avionics and airframe design of the B-21 grant this aircraft significant modification potential, enabling it to be transformed into a stealth tanker, stealth command aircraft, unmanned bomber, stealth weapons carrier, large electronic warfare aircraft, and more.