| Long Range Strike Bomber | |
|---|---|
 The B-21 Raider was developed as a result of the program | |
| General information | |
| Project for | Strategic stealth bomber |
| Issued by | United States Air Force |
| Proposals | • Boeing/Lockheed Martin • Northrop Grumman |
| History | |
| Concluded | 27 October 2015 (contract awarded for development) |
| Outcome | Northrop Grumman selected to produce its entry as B-21 Raider |
| Related | 2037 bomber controversy |
| Predecessors | Next-Generation Bomber |
The Long Range Strike Bomber (LRS-B) is a development and acquisition program to develop a long-range strategic bomber for the United States Air Force,[1] intended to be a heavy-payload stealth aircraft that can deliver thermonuclear weapons.[2] Initial capability is planned for the mid-2020s. A request for proposals to develop the aircraft was issued in July 2014. The Air Force plans to procure at least 100[3] and potentially up to 200 of the LRS-B aircraft for an estimated $550 million each (2010 dollars).[4][5][6] A development contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman for its B-21 Raider in October 2015. Much about the project is highly classified and little information is available to the public. As of late 2019, it was known that construction of the aircraft had begun,[7][8] and on December 2, 2022, it was unveiled to the public.[9]
- ^ Ed Gulick (12 July 2014). "AF moves forward with future bomber". af.mil. United States Air Force.
- ^ Melody Petersen (7 February 2015). "New stealth bomber contract likely to be boon for Antelope Valley".
- ^ https://fas.org/sgp/crs/weapons/R44463.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Here's an Idea: The Air Force Builds 200 B-21 Stealth Bombers". 22 April 2019.
- ^ "Could the Air Force End up with 200 New B-21 Stealth Bombers?". 22 November 2018.
- ^ "Ten Things We Know for Sure About the Air Force's Secret B-21 Bomber". Forbes.
- ^ "The Air Force Has Started Building the First B-21 Bomber, Which You Haven't Even Seen Yet". 15 July 2019.
- ^ "US Air Force is Building First B-21 Stealth Bomber".
- ^ "Unveiling the B-21 Raider". Northrop Grumman. Archived from the original on 2023-06-29. Retrieved 2023-07-16.