'This aircraft represents the future:' U.S. AF reveals $100bn B-21 bomber

'Our nation needs a large fleet of next-generation bombers.'

The first images of the U.S. Air Force's latest stealth bomber have been released. The B-21 is set for production at a whopping $500 million each and will be replacing the B-2 and the B-52.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James unveiled the first artist-rendered image of the Air Force's B-21, which is an all-black plane similar to the current B-2.

"The B-21 will allow the Air Force to operate in tomorrow's high end [sic] threat environment," Secretary James announced. "Our fifth-generation global precision attack platform will give our country a networked sensor-shoot capability that will allow us to hold targets at risk in a way the world - and our adversaries - have never, ever seen."

The B-21 is a nuclear-capable long-range stealth bomber, but very few specifics have been released. It will be produced by Northrop Grumman and will employ existing technology but has yet to be named.

James explained it was designed to resemble the B-2 in a way "that allows the use of existing and mature technology."

Air Force Chief of Staff General Mark A. Welsh III joined Secretary James to deliver a statement before the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Welsh and James delivered the 2017 fiscal year posture statement, which asked for a $120.4 billion budget.

The Air Force wants 100 B-21s, each of which will cost $500 million to produce and equip with new and existing tech.

"The platforms and systems that made us great over the last 50 years will not make us great over the next 50," Welsh testified on February 10 at Capitol Hill.

"There are many other systems we need to either upgrade or recapitalize to ensure viability against current and emerging threats... the only way to do that is to divest old capability to build the new."

Not only will the current and uprising tech be targeted, but the opinions of past and present Airmen will be utilized as well.

James told the Air Force Association's Air Warfare Symposium, "This aircraft represents the future for our Airmen, and (their) voice is important to this process."

Active, Guard, Reserve and civilian Airmen will be periodically asked to submit ideas to improve the craft.

The Air Force announced the B-21 just entered the Engineering and Manufacturing Development phase and is expected to begin testing in the mid-2020s.

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