The United States launched its newest nuclear stealth bomber on Friday.
The US Air Force marked the launching of the highly classified program as its first public debut as part of the Pentagon’s response to China’s military advances.
In an exclusive report released by Associated Press, the “B-21 Raider is the first new American bomber aircraft in more than 30 years. Almost every aspect of the program is classified,” and was made as part of the US’ preparation in response to the growing concern of a potential future conflict with the communist regime.
According to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, “This isn’t just another airplane. It’s the embodiment of America’s determination to defend the republic that we all love.”
The announcement came after the Pentagon issued a warning early December and revealed that China is currently on nuclear pace and would likely field a stockpile of about 1,500 warheads by its 2035 timeline.
In the Pentagon report, titled as “Military and Security Developments Involving the People’s Republic of China,” it revealed that China has “probably” expanded its nuclear program in 2021 and that its stockpiles have reportedly “surpassed 400” warheads.
“If China continues the pace of its nuclear expansion, it will likely field a stockpile of about 1,500 warheads by its 2035 timeline,” the Defense Department said in a statement.
The Pentagon also said this week in its annual China report that “the most consequential and systemic challenge to U.S. national security and the free and open international system.”
According to Deborah Lee James, the Air Force secretary when the Raider contract was announced in 2015, ”We needed a new bomber for the 21st Century that would allow us to take on much more complicated threats, like the threats that we fear we would one day face from China, Russia.”
Warned also added that “The way it operates internally is extremely advanced compared to the B-2, because the technology has evolved so much in terms of the computing capability that we can now embed in the software of the B-21.”
Meanwhile, Austin said that advanced materials are included which are used in coatings to make the bomber harder to detect.
“Fifty years of advances in low-observable technology have gone into this aircraft. Even the most sophisticated air defense systems will struggle to detect a B-21 in the sky.” Austin claimed.
