@RReese08
From what I've read, the big advantage that Northrup-Grumman had over the Lockheed-Martin team was that the roots for what would be the B-21 go all the way back to the 1980s when N-G was developing its design for the Advanced Technology Bomber that would become the B-2. Initial US Air Force requirements called for a high-altitude long-range stealth bomber, which N-G went to work on and supposedly either was close to fully developing or close to it when the USAF changed its requirements to a low-altitude stealth design. Northrup-Grumman switched gears to produce the B-2 Spirit, and the rest is history. But it apparently kept all of its design, research and manufacturing resources for the high-altitude bomber safely stored away in anticipation of the day when it may be useful. Which it did. The B-21 is basically Northrup-Grumman's first ATB design but further refined and engineered for its 21st century mission. Prototypes of both the Lockheed-Boeing and Northrup-Grumman bombers may have been in the air approximately 2017 or so in a flyoff competition for the USAF contract - as the one image of a blurry high-altitude object shows in the video. With Northrup-Grumman winning, finalizing all the engineering, design and manufacturing to produce the first pre-production example didn't take long at all, thanks to all the data they had in hand from 40 years earlier. I think the B-21 looks awesome, but the official rollout this past Friday unfortunately didn't tell its whole story - as intended. The rock show lighting and staging was intentionally both overdone and underwhelmed to intentionally obscure the new bomber's exact features. And its white-ish appearance may in fact be the result of intentional overlighting to obscure its exact coloration. In fact, all the windows on the B-21 appear to have been blacked out to prevent anybody from seeing what's inside. I've read comments in other channels that the B-21 shown on Friday was just a mockup - which is entirely false. Yes, one or more mockups do exist (somewhere) to for design and engineering purposes. But this was the real deal, because to present anything else would just undermine what the "show" was about - a calling card to both Russia and China that their own bombers aren't even in the same league as the B-21. In fact, thanks to Western sanctions that Russia has relied upon for needed technology for its own weapons systems, it may be a very long time before the PAK-DA ever takes off or even be able to taxi down a runway. And China's H-20 still hides behind a sheet and probably won't fly before the B-21 enters service in just a few years. Thanks for the video and keep up the good work!
@gunner2225
The thing that impressed me the most was how smooth it is. If you look at the B2, you can see all sorts of little lines and features, but you see none of that on the B21. To me, that would imply a significantly improved stealth characteristics
@DefinitelyNotEmma
Amazing 3D model. Funny that this is the most detailed look we have on the aircraft yet. Awesome work
@Zackman217
It always gets me excited to see a brand new aircraft getting built, either for commercial use or for the military.
@SnowmanTF2
Northrup-Grumman actually does a surprising amount of subcontracted manufacturing of components for planes known under other brand names, so even if there would not be any planes with their name front and center, they would be unlikely to be out of military or civil aviation manufacturing entirely
@BraeburnTV
I can’t wait to see NGAD. Also, I wonder if the B-21 could conceivably carry a bunch of AIM-260’s and fly in formation with networked 4th and 5th Gen fighters. So instead of Raptor having 6 BVR missiles, they could now fire dozens from someone else’s plane, missile-truck style
@manofcultura
There’s two reasons it’s smaller. The kind of engines that achieve the amazing efficiencies the B21 is rumored to have peak in efficiency at a certain thrust; so if you design a bomber around that thrust you get a weight lighter than the b2. Second, certain radars at low frequencies are great at picking up stealth. The problem with such radars is the probability of detection goes down dramatically if the aircraft in question is physically smaller than a certain ratio of the wavelength. With those two things in mind it makes sense why the b21 is the size it is.
@x70222
The original B2 spirit was such a badass, but the real standout feature for this new generation seems to be versality, and taking advantage of an upgrade in tech. You dont need tons of bombs if you know exactly where to drop them. I think this is a good move and I can see why this went to NG.
@tylerlange4949
7:48‐7:58. This 10 seconds sums up at least 60 years of USAF history. Love it. Very well done.
@liamessex2614
You do deserve so much more, uploading with this often with the quality is incredible.
@dewlittle1211
My biggest concern is that their is supposed to be more of them than the B2. The F22 was supposed to a fleet of 750, and we all know how that went.
@Western_1
"Hey where did the Three Gorges dam go?" *B-21 Raider trying to sneak away with a Three Gorges dam shaped stomach*
@Neomark88
I have to say though this is really an impressive Bomber in Avionics History💫👑🌠
@karstenbley4608
Note: aircraft are always declassified when the airforce already has a replacement for it
@Thunderbox247
4:28 Dam I agree. Also gotta love some classic USA military hardware, there is something so brute forced about all of their designs that I can get behind
@Yuki_Ika7
In terms of modern (past 30 or so years) stealth, it is my firm belief that Northrup-Grumman just does stealth better
@Marylandbrony
I can't wait for the sequel for this video in 50 years to watch with my grandchildren about the American hydra of the B-29 Roadrunner, F-85 Emu, F-90 NeoRaptor and the MQ-50 Kiwi.
@leinad3305
I'm very interested to see what will come of the B-21 once it's officially adopted. It seems like a very versatile reconnaissance, ECW and strike platform which could even be interesting to other nations' airforces, given it's lower price and size, when compared to the B-2, if the US government ever gives Northrop Grumman the go-ahead for any potential export-deals.
@veritasetcaritas
1. Make a Found & Explained playlist. 2. While watching, take a drink every time he says "arnament" or "weapondry". 3. Try to stay sober.
@dr.j5642