Northrop Grumman is building the new B-21 stealth bomber for the US Air Force. According to sources, that plane will likely receive a World War II-inspired name.
Warplanes in WWII had names such as the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-29 Superfortress, and the B-24 Liberator.
At this time, the plane is officially known as the B-21. Deborah Lee James, the Air Force Secretary, will be officially revealing the name when she gives her address during the Air Force Association’s Annual Air, Space and Cyber conference.
The Air Force ran a naming competition that received over 4,600 suggestions from airmen. In May, they narrowed that group down to 15.
The other stealth bomber that Northrop builds is the B-2 Spirit. Last year, Northrop beat out Lockheed-Martin for the contract to replace the aging B-52 StratoFortress.
The Air Force estimates that the development cost for the B-21 is $23.5 billion and the per-plane cost at $564 million. Analysts estimate that the total acquisition cost up to $80 billion. The Pentagon doesn’t discuss costs as it may reveal capabilities that are currently secret.
The B-21 was formally named “Raider” in honor of the Doolittle Raiders, the last surviving Doolittle Raider, retired Lt Col Richard E. Cole, was present at the naming ceremony at the Air Force Association conference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-dKP5D4Dvs