The US has upgraded its reputation B-2 Spirit cunning bombers with cutting-edge technology, slashing release times and supercharging fight preparation against near-peer enemies.
The decision comes as a result of probable production bottlenecks in Northrop Grumman‘s next-generation B-21 Raider cunning bomb program for the US Air Force.
The US Air Force has updated its B-2 stealth bomber with new open missions systems ( OMS ) software capabilities and other improvements, according to Air &, Space Forces Magazine, which was published this month.
According to the report, the B-2 Systems Program Office and the Air Force Global Strike Command collaborated to create the switch, known as Spirit Realm 1, which aims to keep the bomb trustworthy and relevant until the B-21 is functional.
The time needed for program updates has significantly decreased thanks to the agile software development process used for the B-2, which now takes less than three months in comparison to the previous two-year pattern. That, in turn, allows for quicker integration of new weapons and constant application improvements, immediately enhancing combat potential.
The suspect’s connectivity with other devices is improved by the OMS structures, according to Air &, Space Forces Magazine. It even says the switch includes better shows, flight technology and resilience enhancements.
According to the same report, the B-2 fleet, which is now number 19 after two crashes, will remain the US Air Force’s even perceptive aircraft until the B-21s achieve Ellsworth Air Force Base’s first operational capability. It also notes that the B-21’s initial operational capability ( IOC ) timeline is still undisclosed.
As for further B-2 weapons and hardware upgrades, Asia Times reported in September 2022 that the US deployed the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range ( JASSM-ER ) from a B-2 stealth bomber, potentially serving in a new anti-ship role in the Pacific.
This potential significantly enhances the aircraft’s ability to strike goals at any place, at any time, and greatly extends the range of the cruise missile.
The B-2 may take up to 16 JASSM weapons, including the extended-range JASSM-ER version. Thanks to improved gas power and a more effective turbofan website, the JASSM-ER version has a range of 965 kilometers, compared to the original version’s 400-kilometer range.
The development of crypto technology aims to improve high-frequency transmission security, making it possible to use secure conversation devices in probable future threat scenarios. The B-2 bomber can also use the B61 Mod 12 nuclear bomb for nuclear strike missions without GPS thanks to the upgrade to Radar Aided Targeting System (RATS ).
Combining the B-2 stealth bomber with the JASSM-ER cruise missile is expected to give the US an advantage in overcoming modern air defenses, potentially reducing risks for bomber crews in anti-access/area denial ( A2/AD ) environments.
The B-21 boasts many advantages over the 1980s B-2, with the original being smaller, sleeker, stealthier and future-proofed with empty systems structures. But, given China’s rapid military development and B-21 manufacturing issues, the US may not have much B-21s for a Taiwan strategy, forcing the US to maintain the B-2 in support longer than anticipated.
A 300-plus bomb power with at least 225 piercing B-21s is recommended in a March 2023 report for the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies for the ability to carry out enormous strikes against highly portable enemy forces in a Taiwan invasion and deter unscrupulous aggression in another theater.
Gunzinger points out that China’s military modernization campaign is on track to prepare it for a Taiwanese military occupation by 2027. A full-scale B-21 production rate of 20 or higher is essential.
However, Maya Carlin mentions in an article this month for The National Interest ( TNI ) that plans to build 300 B-21s over the next ten years at a production rate of just 10 aircraft per year at US$ 750 million may not be sufficient to deter US near-peer adversaries.
Carlin claims that Northrop Grumman’s production limitations are to blame for B-21 production shortfalls rather than US budget problems. She adds that while unmanned Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA ) shortfalls for US fighter aircraft can be accounted for, the B-21 bomber cannot be affected by this strategy.
The US Air Force anticipates having 24 to 30 B-21s operational by the early 2030s, with a production rate of up to 10 aircraft per year, according to Asia Times in June 2024, but that production rate is lower than the 20 aircraft per year for older bombers like the B-52 and B-1. B-21 aircraft may be in short supply as a result of this circumstance.
In a January 2022 article for Wild Blue Yonder ( WBY ), Megan Tonner-Robinson and other writers discuss how the US might use upgraded B-2s and B-21s in a Taiwan war with China. They point out that the large number of fighter jets and integrated air defense systems make it impossible for US fighter and strike aircraft to launch an assault in a conventional A2/AD environment.
Tonner-Robinson and others claim that the B-2 and B-21 stealth bombers ‘ advanced technology could enable them to successfully target crucial areas on the mainland, destroying important infrastructure like command centers, runways, fuel depots, and power grids.
They claim that the A2/AD system’s components are vulnerable for US fighters of the fifth and fourth generations to exploit and attack. They point out that the air battle would be one of attrition, with victory going to the side that can survive the longest in the air.
However, Tonner-Robinson and others say that combining stealth attacks, long-range cruise missile strikes, suppression of enemy air defense ( SEAD ) and cyber warfare could shift control of the airspace in favor of the US.
In addition to their deep penetration conventional strike roles, the B-2 and B-21 are slated to become cornerstones of the US air-based nuclear deterrent, with the upgraded B-2 supplementing the next-gen B-21.
Rebeccah Heinrichs and other authors claim that the B-21’s flexibility and extended range make it essential for keeping the growing number of Chinese and Russian conventional and strategic weapons, key facilities, and other items hidden deep in their territories at risk.
Heinrichs and others make the claim that the bombers ‘ incredible warfighting prowess against highly developed defenses gives the US deterrence credibility.
They point out that the B-21 bomber fleet can provide both conventional and nuclear deterrence in various regions, guaranteeing US support for allies and deterring potential adversaries while demonstrating the US’s commitment to global security.
Heinrichs and others point out that increasing the fleet size beyond 100 would lower the costs per plane because the B21’s operating and maintenance costs are comparable to those of other manned aircraft.
To deter near-peer adversaries and effectively engage in potential conflicts, they advise that the US make a plan to buy at least twice as many B-21 bombers as there were.