The US Air Force wants to modernize the B-21 Raider bomber before the first flight
The United States Air Force has requested funding to modernize the B-21 Raider nuclear bomber. The request is included in the research and development budget justification for fiscal year 2024.
The project is designated as “Long-Range Strike Bomber (B-21) Modernization”. The document states that the modernization will include, but is not limited to, the integration of Long-Range Standoff (LRSO) nuclear missiles. LRSO is expected to be commissioned at the end of this decade.
There is currently little information about the advanced nuclear missile. The US Air Force has requested about $1 billion for the development of the LRSO. The new missile will replace the outdated AGM-86B Air Launched Cruise Missile (ALCM) and will have a launch range of 2,400 km.
The request for funding to modernize the B-21 Raider before the first flight does not reflect the poor state of the nuclear bomber development program. The strategic aircraft was originally designed to be receptive to upgrades.
The B-21 Raider was unveiled in December 2022. It is expected that by the end of 2023, the nuclear-powered bomber will be able to make its first flight. Although it has recently become known that the first flight has been postponed for several months.
