US Air Force releases new photos of the B-21 Bomber

[F-22Raptor]

She’s an absolute beauty!

 

[SQ8]

View attachment 919207

View attachment 919208

She’s an absolute beauty!

the alien replica vehicle from x files looks less futuristic

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

I can see the B-21 becoming a template for future deep-strike aircraft designs in Europe and China. Obviously, the latter won't be as advanced from a technology standpoint, but it seems "small bombers" could return. Precision-guided munitions are getting smaller without losing efficacy; autonomous munitions with self-contained loitering, targeting, and engagement capabilities will be a thing; and the bombers can fire from afar. @SQ8

 

[SQ8]

I can see the B-21 becoming a template for future deep-strike aircraft designs in Europe and China. Obviously, the latter won't be as advanced from a technology standpoint, but it seems "small bombers" could return. Precision-guided munitions are getting smaller without losing efficacy; autonomous munitions with self-contained loitering, targeting, and engagement capabilities will be a thing; and the bombers can fire from afar. @SQ8

Its the underlying architecture that is key - this thing has more power for electronics than any dedicated jammer and can fly unmanned if needed.

That is likely where most of the future is going - modular systems(not aircraft) where you swap in a cockpit for a human or take out a weapons bay for a electronics one or even change out wings and powerpacks for one tailored for low level penetration versus a better wing loading one for a fighter.

 

[VCheng]

Its the underlying architecture that is key - this thing has more power for electronics than any dedicated jammer and can fly unmanned if needed.

That is likely where most of the future is going - modular systems(not aircraft) where you swap in a cockpit for a human or take out a weapons bay for a electronics one or even change out wings and powerpacks for one tailored for low level penetration versus a better wing loading one for a fighter.

And it can control armed drone swarms as part of its mission.

 

[SQ8]

And it can control armed drone swarms as part of its mission.

There is a youtube talk by Ward Carroll in which his guest gave a little more away on 5th and 6th gen warfare.

In a nutshell - all old tactics are down the drain and even with 5th gen systems he emphasized how signature management actually favors having a mix of 4th and 5th gen out there.

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) - watch if you can - Deep intel on the F-15EX

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

Its the underlying architecture that is key - this thing has more power for electronics than any dedicated jammer and can fly unmanned if needed.

That is likely where most of the future is going - modular systems(not aircraft) where you swap in a cockpit for a human or take out a weapons bay for a electronics one or even change out wings and powerpacks for one tailored for low level penetration versus a better wing loading one for a fighter.

I think it's bonkers how we've gone from obsoleting bombers via stand-off range weapons (especially BMs) to, basically, returning full circle. Why? Because the technology that had supplanted them has gotten so advanced, having a true 'bomb truck' is incredibly valuable. You want to leverage that extra space (versus a FGFA) for fuelling that extra range and endurance.

One B-21 (or an analogous bomber from China) could inflict serious damage in an area by carefully deploying loitering munitions, glide bombs, and small cruise missiles at specific targets. Think of Bakhmut, for example. This 'smart bomber' can park 300+ km away, and send carefully calibrated munitions to load to knock out bridges, powerlines, specific tanks or posts, etc.

If the 'small bomber' becomes pervasive, we might, ironically, see a revival of interceptors too. This time, the focus is -- potentially -- having a large enough fighter to carry high-powered radar, a new type of IRST, and other sensors to find and engage these bombers at 200 km, 300 km, etc away via AAMs or directed energy weapons.

 

[lightning F57]

What's the use case for such a plane, is it for flying over a heavily defended airspace with airplanes and sams to deal with or lighter defended airspace where it can conduct a long range journey to carpet bomb.

 

[PakFactor]

What's the use case for such a plane, is it for flying over a heavily defended airspace with airplanes and sams to deal with or lighter defended airspace where it can conduct a long range journey to carpet bomb.

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) answered that question above:

US Air Force releases new photos of the B-21 Bomber

She’s an absolute beauty!

defence.pk

 

[FuturePAF]

I can see the B-21 becoming a template for future deep-strike aircraft designs in Europe and China. Obviously, the latter won't be as advanced from a technology standpoint, but it seems "small bombers" could return. Precision-guided munitions are getting smaller without losing efficacy; autonomous munitions with self-contained loitering, targeting, and engagement capabilities will be a thing; and the bombers can fire from afar. @SQ8

This shape would also be idea for a future tanker. Tankers are highly visible on radar, limiting how close they can be to the battlefield. Future Tankers, AWACS, and other support platforms are probably going to be more Doritos shaped.

Fast bombers like the B-1B are probably going to be LRASM platforms. Especially along the SLOCs. Low and fast in coordinated attacks against carrier battle groups. So large Chinese surface action groups are going to need at least a medium carrier with a fixed wing AWACS to Keep an eye out for the B-1B and low RCS missiles. China could also build a lengthened version of the J-20, and become an interceptor capable of carrying its own stealthy anti ship missiles or long range air to air missiles like the 300 km one tested on the J-16.

Chinese Aircraft JH-20 - Theater Bomber

China began producing the BADGER at the Hsian Airframe Plant in 1968 and had 32 BADGERs in the operational inventory by 1972

www.globalsecurity.org

 

[alimobin memon]

There is a youtube talk by Ward Carroll in which his guest gave a little more away on 5th and 6th gen warfare.

In a nutshell - all old tactics are down the drain and even with 5th gen systems he emphasized how signature management actually favors having a mix of 4th and 5th gen out there.

@Bilal Khan (Quwa) - watch if you can - Deep intel on the F-15EX

That's why Pakistan Air Force had changed the agenda of Azam Project almost all new 3d radars have some stealth detection capability. Which means low RCS aircraft detection. I believe 4th generation platform equipped with 5th generation or 4.5+ generation technology pose great threat event today and for next 2 3 decades. So Pakistan having 4th generation fleet for next 2 decades is still potent airforce.

 

[lightning F57]

If the 'small bomber' becomes pervasive, we might, ironically, see a revival of interceptors too. This time, the focus is -- potentially -- having a large enough fighter to carry high-powered radar, a new type of IRST, and other sensors to find and engage these bombers at 200 km, 300 km, etc away via AAMs or directed energy weapons.

Interesting you say that, I was wondering why the J20 was larger than other similar class fighter's with huge fuel capacity as well. It can probably perform that interceptor role against these kind of long range bombers, with its PL15, PL21 missiles.

 

[SQ8]

That's why Pakistan Air Force had changed the agenda of Azam Project almost all new 3d radars have some stealth detection capability. Which means low RCS aircraft detection. I believe 4th generation platform equipped with 5th generation or 4.5+ generation technology pose great threat event today and for next 2 3 decades. So Pakistan having 4th generation fleet for next 2 decades is still potent airforce.

Is it so @JamD ?
The Azm was shelved because it was a poorly managed project with unrealistic requirements based on shallow understanding of dependencies.

 

[Bilal Khan (Quwa)]

Is it so @JamD ?
The Azm was shelved because it was a poorly managed project with unrealistic requirements based on shallow understanding of dependencies.

tbh if that's the reason the PAF is throwing around, then it's copium.

Fine, Grade AAA Pakistani Copium. Toasted. Pind-packaged. Imported. @VCheng

 

[alimobin memon]

tbh if that's the reason the PAF is throwing around, then it's copium.

Fine, Grade AAA Pakistani Copium. Toasted. Pind-packaged. Imported. @VCheng

Pind packaged haha.