Each new B-21 Raider has a cost of roughly $700m, according to the latest estimates. That is up from the initial cost of $500m per plane in 2010.
The Air Force contract with Northrop Group calls for at least 100 new bombers.
B-21 Raiders are named in honor of the Doolittle Rangers, a group of Air Force pilots known for their surprise attack against Japan on April 18, 1942. The blitz forced Japan to recall combat forces for home defense – and it boosted morale among Americans.
Poster Comment:
1) The F-35 is not stealthy as it can be tracked by Iranian radar as well as Russian.
2) wait for the cost over runs, and the need to fix a few hundred parts so the plane can fly in combat.
3) What is the cost per hour to fly an F-35? Was $88,000 an hour.
The newer, but still 1980s-era B-2 Spirit stealth bomber costs $150,741 an hour to fly. The older and notoriously hard to maintain B-1B Lancer swing-wing bomber costs the most of all at $173,014 an hour.