By Kris Osborn, Warrior

As photographs of the first “two” US Air Force B-21 bombers blast onto the public scene, most observers can only speculate about the mysterious, yet paradigm-changing suite of technologies said to be woven into the platform. There is, by design, very little information available about those critical technical elements of the platform less visible to the observers eye. Its weapons interfaces, computing, coating materials, stealth components, thermal management and networking technologies are expected to introduce new, paradigm-changing capabilities into the realm of high-altitude stealth bombing. 

What is visible to the eye, when one compares available B-21 images to those of the existing B-2, does seem to indicate what could interesting advances in the realm of stealth, When compared with the B-2, the B-21 is a smoother, more wing-body blended horizontal fuselage with smaller, more conformal inlets on top of each wing. Perhaps of even greater significance, the aircraft itself is considerably smaller and lighter weight than its B-2 predecessor.  Specifically, the wingspan of the B-2 is 172 feet, considerably longer than the 140-foot wingspan of the B-21. There is a huge difference in take-off weight as well; the B-2 is cited with a maximum take-off weight of 336,500 pounds, much more than the 260,000 pound take-off weight of the B-21. 

Smaller B-21

Smaller size and technological sophistication are by no means incompatible but rather somewhat aligned given technological advances in recent years. Why is the B-21 so much smaller? Many of the reasons likely pertain to weight, speed and drag, as a lighter weight aircraft would be capable of sustaining advanced speeds with less fuel and drag, and a smaller airframe would also better enable aerial agility. Certainly a high altitude bomber would not need to dogfight and “vector” like a fighter jet, yetthere is definitely a tactical advantage to a bomber having improved aerial agility. Speed alone is a survivability enhancing attribute for a high altitude stealth bomber as it makes the aircraft even less “detectable” to ground-based radar systems. Additionally, a high altitude bomber would also benefit greatly from an increased ability to maneuver in a hostile, high-threat environment as targets and combat circumstances change quickly. 

Stealthier B-21

It is also entirely conceivable that a smaller aircraft would, quite simply, be stealthier as well. Not only is there less “airframe” or “metal” for ground based radar to bounce electromagnetic “pings” off of and generate a return signal, but a smaller aircraft might generate less of a heat signature. It seems technologically sensible that a smaller airframe such as the B-21 might leverage a new generation of thermal management technology. The closer an airframe is to the temperature of the surrounding atmosphere, the less detectable it is to infrared “heat” sensors. 

The largest reason why the B-21 is smaller than the B-2 may pertain to critical advances in software, AI-enabled computer processing and hardware configurations.  “Lowering the hardware footprint,” as it is called, is a term to explain how advances in software, virtualization, information storage and processing capacity enable a smaller hardware “form factor.” 

B-21 as Flying Sensor

This increases efficiency and allows a smaller platform to accomplish as much or more sensing, computing, networking and data processing as a larger one. This form factor dynamic is not only relevant to computing but also of great relevance to sensing technologies and weaponry. Fewer pieces of hardware are needed when smaller components can combine the functionality of a group of otherwise disconnected sensors into a single integrated system. Essentially, technological progress can enable superior sensing, computing and weapons interfaces in a smaller airframe. 

This kind of streamlined sensing and computing aligns closely with stated concepts of operation associated with the aircraft, as the B-21 has been described by senior Pentagon weapons developers as a “sensing” node and flying command and control platform capable of operating groups of drones and sharing information across land, air, sea and space domains. The bomber will not only conduct bombing missions but also function as a sensing and targeting aircraft capable of exchanging and organizing time-sensitive information from satellites, drones, manned aircraft, ground vehicles and even surface ships

Kris Osborn is the President of Warrior Maven – Center for Military Modernization. Osborn previously served at the Pentagon as a highly qualified expert in the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army—Acquisition, Logistics & Technology. Osborn has also worked as an anchor and on-air military specialist at national TV networks. He has appeared as a guest military expert on Fox News, MSNBC, The Military Channel, and The History Channel. He also has a Masters Degree in Comparative Literature from Columbia University