Northrop Grumman set to unveil B-21 nuclear bomber for U.S. Air Drive By Reuters

© Reuters

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Northrop Grumman Corp (NYSE:) is about to roll out the primary aircraft in a brand new fleet of long-range stealth nuclear bombers for the USA Air Drive at a ceremony in Palmdale, California on Friday.

Comparable in form to the B-2, a “flying wing” design already within the Air Drive’s stock, the B-21 “Raider” may also have the ability to ship nuclear weapons around the globe due to long-range and mid-air refueling capabilities.

Every B-21, which may ship each standard and nuclear bombs, was projected to value roughly $550 million every in 2010 {dollars}, or about $750 million in as we speak’s inflation-adjusted {dollars}. The Air Drive deliberate to purchase at the least 100 of the planes and start to exchange B-1 and B-2 bombers.

Northrop beat out a group comprised of Boeing (NYSE:) Co and Lockheed Martin Corp (NYSE:) when it received the 2015 contract to make the bomber alongside suppliers together with engine maker Pratt & Whitney, Collins Aerospace, GKN (LON:) Aerospace, BAE Techniques (OTC:) and Spirit Aerosystems.

Northrop is asking the aircraft a sixth era plane given its capability to connect with different plane and simply combine future weapons into its programs structure. It additionally options extra sturdy stealth-enabling low observable floor materials that may require much less upkeep and maintain operations prices and downtime to a minimal, Doug Younger, sector vice chairman and basic supervisor at Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Techniques, advised Reuters in an interview.

The rollout at Northrop’s Plant 42 in Palmdale will present the primary pictures of the brand new bomber. To this point, solely artist renderings have been printed.

Six of the planes, which is to have its first flight in mid-2023, are in varied phases of meeting. Greater than 8,000 folks from Northrop Grumman, trade companions and the Air Drive work on this system as we speak which consists of greater than 400 suppliers in 40 states.