B-21 Raider’s Extended Range Increases Demand for Aerial Refueling Support
A fleet of 100 B-21 Raiders would require extra tankers than the 20 B-2 Spirits presently in service, in addition to a sooner gas switch fee to cut back the time wanted to refuel within the air.
The B-21 Raider, the U.S. Air Drive’s next-generation stealth bomber, is making vital progress in its testing section. As this system strikes ahead, the U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) lately emphasised the pressing want for extra aerial tankers to assist B-21 operations, indicating that present refueling capabilities might not be enough for the plane’s distinctive mission profile.
“We bought a very deep understanding when it comes to how they intend to make use of their new plane,” stated Gen. Randall Reed, Transportation Command chief, after a gathering with Gen. Anthony Cotton, the pinnacle of Strategic Command (STRATCOM). “And that can drive a barely totally different manner wherein we’re to assist them, which really implies that it’s going to be a little bit bit larger requirement particularly within the gas switch.”
A spokesperson later clarified to Aviation Week that the elevated want for aerial refueling is related to the size of the deliberate B-21 fleet, as 100 B-21s in comparison with the 20 Northrop B-2s will want a bigger variety of tankers to assist operations. Reed additionally added that he’s working, along with Cotton, to handle the B-21’s want for a sooner gas switch fee.
Designed as a long-range strategic asset, the B-21’s operational idea hinges on its means to penetrate contested airspace, stay undetected, and conduct exact strikes deep into enemy territory. Nevertheless, as demonstrated by the 24-hour flights carried out with the bombers presently in service, the B-21’s full potential will solely be realized if it receives satisfactory aerial refueling assist to maintain its prolonged missions.
Flight Testing Advances with Minimal Changes
Northrop Grumman has lately confirmed that the B-21 is progressing steadily by its flight testing marketing campaign at Edwards Air Drive Base, California. The corporate has adopted a meticulous method, leveraging ground-based testing and a specialised flying check mattress to preemptively resolve software program and programs integration points earlier than the plane even took off for its maiden flight.
In accordance with Tom Jones, Company Vice President and President of Northrop Grumman’s Aeronautics Methods, the B-21 is now conducting a number of sorties per week, not less than two, shifting in the direction of the objective of constructing the brand new bomber a each day flyer. Jones additionally added that the B-21’s progress has been forward of expectations and with a great margin on efficiency.
Open #B21 #Raider weapons bay doorways. 🧐 https://t.co/hVBR8aqGwW pic.twitter.com/0pQOnlOHir
— AirPower 2.0 (MIL_STD) (@AirPowerNEW1) March 7, 2025
Among the many few particulars disclosed by Jones, there was the notable information that the B-21 only required one software change in a single 12 months of flight testing. He credited this success to each the bottom testing and the over 1,000 flight hours of the check mattress.
Whereas specifics on the check goals stay categorised, Air Drive officers have indicated that the bomber is assembly or exceeding expectations in key efficiency areas.
Rising Dependence on Aerial Refueling
Regardless of its spectacular vary, the B-21 will nonetheless require mid-air refueling to achieve its full mission potential, permitting it to strike targets wherever on this planet from its base, as an alternative of being ahead deployed. Fashionable aerial tankers are anticipated to supply important assist, however considerations have arisen over whether or not the present tanker fleet is satisfactory for the calls for of B-21 operations.
One of many major challenges is that most of the Air Drive’s tankers, particularly the KC-135s, are getting old and aren’t well-suited for operations in contested airspace. Moreover, the KC-46 program, which ought to exchange each the KC-135 and the retired KC-10, has confronted persistent technical points, elevating considerations about its readiness to assist next-generation belongings just like the B-21.
The demand for enhanced aerial refueling capabilities now additionally raises extra questions on future tanker procurement, particularly after the Air Drive beneficial to terminate the Next-Generation Air Refueling System (NGAS) stealth tanker. This tanker was supposed to function inside contested airspace, the place the KC-46 can’t, primarily in assist of the Subsequent-Era Air Dominance (NGAD) manned fighter.
Challenges and Strategic Implications
The push for extra refueling belongings highlights broader considerations concerning the Air Drive’s means to maintain operations over huge distances, notably in a battle with a peer adversary like China. A warfare within the Pacific, for instance, would place monumental pressure on the U.S. army’s aerial refueling fleet.
The huge distances concerned would require a sturdy community of tankers to maintain bombers, fighters, and different plane operational for prolonged durations. Additionally, there’s a want for survivable aerial refueling which may assist belongings nearer to the motion, whereas nonetheless staying outdoors the attain of the enemy.
One other problem is said to the time required for the refueling operation. In truth, an plane as giant as a bomber would wish to remain linked to the tanker effectively over 10 minutes, making it extra susceptible, because it wants to keep up a really exact place, but in addition rising its probabilities of detection.
Touchdown for a sizzling pit refueling may not at all times be an choice, as within the Pacific it could be a lot simpler to discover a runway for a tactical jet than one for a bomber. Additionally, whereas on the bottom for the lengthy refueling operation, the bomber would nonetheless be held in danger by ballistic missiles.
Reassessing the Bomber Fleet’s Dimension
The issues with the less-than-ideal variety of tankers could be additional amplified with a bigger B-21 fleet. In truth, in December 2024, the pinnacle of Air Drive World Strike Command (AFGSC), Gen. Thomas Bussiere, stated the bomber fleet’s size would possibly should be reassessed as demand for bombers is rising.
“Now we have 141 bombers within the stock, between the B-1, the B-2 and the B-52,” stated Gen. Bussiere. “The demand sign for the bombers is larger than any time I’ve seen in my profession, throughout the material of each geographic combatant command.”
Throughout 2024, the bomber fleet needed to fulfill a number of operational commitments, such because the fight mission of the B-1Bs and B-2As within the Center East and the B-1B, B-2A and B-52H Bomber Job Forces (BTF) in Europe and within the Indo-Pacific. Due to this, the service may require extra B-21 Raider bombers past the presently 100 deliberate, so the bomber drive would attain 220 plane to fulfill the necessities with 145 B-21s and 75 B-52Js.
“The final 12 months have in all probability seen the best stage of exercise throughout the globe, each within the European theater and the Indo-Pacific theater,” stated Bussiere. “We’ve completed extra within the final 12 months than I believe we’ve completed within the final 20 years, with a fleet that’s pretty previous and a drive that’s pretty burdened based mostly on the demand sign.”
