Report: Air Force Backs Off Pairing B-21 Bomber With Combat Drone

The concept of pairing comparable unmanned drones with the B-21 Raider stealth bomber is not 'cost effective,' said a top Air Force official in an interview.

Kimberly Johnson

Monday, July 18, 2022 at 02:51 PM ET

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An artist’s rendering of B-21 Raider. [Courtesy: California Military Council]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force has scrapped plans to pair the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber with a comparably sized unmanned combat drone.
This decision was made due to the perceived lack of cost-effectiveness, as removing a crew from a large platform like the B-21 does not significantly reduce its overall cost.
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall stated that the "Loyal Wingman" approach of pairing combat drones with smaller fighter aircraft (like NGAD, F-35, or F-22) is still being considered as a more cost-effective way to build combat mass.

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The U.S. Air Force is backing off a plan to pair the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider stealth bomber with a comparably sized unmanned combat drone, the service’s top official reportedly said, citing the issue of value.

The decision, reported by Breaking Defense, would be an about-face after Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall confirmed late last year that the service would be seeking funding for two classified, remotely piloted, air combat vehicles, which included the concept of pairing unmanned combat drones with the B-21.